Fried Shrimp Tacos

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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 under 30 minutes.

Crispy fried shrimp tacos on a plate with tortilla chips and lime wedges.

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.

What This Recipe Entails

These crispy shrimp tacos make for an easy, flavorful summer dinner with just four main ingredients: corn tortillas, fried shrimp, chipotle mayo, and slaw. They’re quick to prep, satisfying to eat, and easy to scale – perfect for a casual weeknight meal for two or a fun dinner party with friends.

Prep time: 15 minutes (or about 30 minutes if you’re making tortillas from scratch)
Cook time: 10 minutes
Serves: 2 (but easily doubled)

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.
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 – 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.

How To Make Shrimp Tacos

Prep the chipotle mayo and slaw and set aside – Make the chipotle mayo (directions here) and make the slaw by combining chopped cabbage, shredded carrots, lime juice, and salt in a bowl. Put them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
Make the homemade tortillas following your favorite recipe – Or don’t, but you’re missing out!
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.
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.
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, avocado chorizo spring 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 or our tequila pina colada.

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!

Expert Tips

Homemade corn tortillas – Homemade tortillas are one of the nicest things we’ve ever done for ourselves. So if you’ve ever been tempted by making your own, this is your sign to take the jump. They’re easy to make and blow away anything you can get from the store. You can even make them ahead of time and reheat for dinner if you’re worried about the added time.
Shrimp – We find the “salad shrimp” (small, cooked, and tail off) are perfect for this recipe. The shrimp are the right size for tacos, and having them pre-prepped makes this recipe so easy.
Don’t forget the fresh lime – While not mandatory, we find a little squeeze of fresh lime on each tacos really brings out the best in all the great flavors.
Leftover shrimp – Leftover fried shrimp keeps for 2 days in an airtight container in the fridge. We recommend reheating leftovers in a frying pan with a little bit of oil over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, or until crispy.

FAQs

Small “salad shrimp” work best for making fried shrimp tacos. They’re easy to use, especially when pre-cooked and de-tailed, and the perfect size for tacos.

Chips and homemade guacamole are always our favorite side for any kind of tacos. But for shrimp tacos we also like to add either a tropical inspired side like mango pico de gallo or a summery dish with a little heat like our slow cooker street corn dip.

We like to add a little bit of paprika, cayenne, and salt to the flour mixture before dredging and frying the shrimp. The little bit of spice and some extra flavor really makes the shrimp pop.

Love this recipe? You may enjoy these other easy dinners for two:

Tell us what you think!

We hope you enjoy this recipe! When you try it out, please leave a review and a star rating in the comments below. Happy cooking! – Nicole and Alex

If you have any questions regarding the information presented in this post, please refer to our Nutrition Disclaimer here.