Fried Shrimp Tacos With Chipotle Mayo

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Craving an easy, fresh, and light summer dinner? These fried shrimp tacos feature corn tortillas, chipotle mayo, and a bright slaw and come together in just 25 minutes. It’s the perfect recipe for easy summer dinners, especially when served with mango pico de gallo and a pineapple coconut margarita.

We’ve been making the most of our long days in the sun this summer, whether it’s a day on the beach, going on a local hike, or just spending time downtown. And there’s just something about completing these days with some homemade crispy shrimp tacos, chips and guac, and a cold margarita that screams summer. 

Made with frozen shrimp, a quick-pickled slaw, and our go-to homemade chipotle mayo all wrapped up in corn tortillas (preferably made from scratch 😋) these fried shrimp tacos are easy to make but have us feeling like we’re at a beach-side restaurant.

Why We Love This Recipe

Key Ingredients

• Corn tortillas – We make our tortillas from scratch and it is probably the single best improvement we’ve made to any of our dinners. We follow the recipe from the Mi Cocina cookbook, and you’ll want a tortilla press and a cast iron skillet. Please do this one small thing for yourself, you deserve it. Of course, store-bought options also work and save some time and effort. Flour tortillas can be used in place of corn tortillas if you prefer, but we find that corn tortillas provide a richer taste that works perfectly for this recipe.
• Frozen shrimp – Small, cooked, tail off shrimp (sometimes called “salad shrimp”) make this recipe so easy and takes out any unnecessary prep work. We also just think they look cute when fried. 
• Coating for the shrimp – We coat the shrimp in egg and then flour. We like to season the flour with a little bit of paprika, cayenne, and salt for added flavor. 
• Chipotle mayo – Chipotle mayo makes the perfect spicy and creamy sauce to compliment these fried shrimp tacos. We use chipotle mayo all the time, so much so that we’re now debating how much is too much for meal prepping. Try our chipotle mayo recipe, or use your favorite store-bought version. 
• Slaw – A little bit of chopped green cabbage, shredded carrots, lime juice, and salt adds a bright, acidic crunch perfect for these tacos. 

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Make Fried Shrimp Tacos

1. Prep the slaw and set aside – Make the slaw by combining chopped cabbage, shredded carrots, lime juice, and salt in a bowl. Put it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. This is also the time to make the chipotle mayo and start the homemade tortillas if you’re making either.
2. Get ready to coat the shrimp – Combine flour and seasonings in one bowl, and a well beaten egg in another. Then defrost your shrimp and pat them dry. And start heating a quarter-inch of vegetable oil in a deep frying pan (we find cast iron works best for this) over medium high heat. 
3. Fry the shrimp – Coat the shrimp in the egg, then in the flour. Fry in batches to avoid over-crowding the pan until golden brown and crispy, about 4 to 5 minutes. The shrimp should be turned once or twice during this time to ensure even frying. Drain the fried shrimp on a cooling rack. Put some paper towels under the cooling rack for easier cleanup.
4. Serve – We recommend building your shrimp tacos with a bed of slaw, a couple shrimp, as much chipotle mayo as you want, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. The extra hit of acid at the end really brightens the flavors in these tacos.

Serving Suggestions

• Appetizers – If you’re having a summer dinner party or just an extra special taco Tuesday, serve an appetizer or two before your tacos. We recommend southwest egg rolls or Mexican bean dip to pair with crispy shrimp tacos.
• Sides – We don’t think it gets better than tortilla chips and dips for a side with tacos. Here are some of our favorite dips: mango pico de gallo, fire roasted salsa, and black bean corn salsa.
• Cocktails – Tacos are one of our favorite dinners to make a special cocktail with, which may be why we have so many great summer cocktails… But I’d highly recommend a pairing of a tequila based tropical drink like our pineapple coconut margarita, smoky pomegranate margarita, or our tequila pina colada. Or check out our pineapple coconut water mocktail if that’s more your style.

Tacos turn any weeknight dinner into an extra special occasion, and these crispy shrimp tacos are no exception. Sitting around the table with loved ones and a build-your-own style dinner like tacos has always been and will continue to be one of my favorite memory making dinners.

Give this recipe a try and let us know in the comments below your favorite taco filled stories! As always, we appreciate your ratings and comments if you try any of our recipes!

Fried Shrimp Tacos FAQs