Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Salsa
These shrimp tacos are perfect for a casual and fun summer dinner party. You can prepare most of the recipe ahead of time, then just fire up the grill and lay out all of the components for everyone help themselves. It’s one of those recipes with a long list of ingredients but please don’t let that discourage you; they are truly very quick and easy to make!
As with all of my shrimp recipes, I recommend buying frozen shrimp labeled “shell split and deveined.” Most shrimp are cleaned and flash frozen shortly after being caught, so the “fresh” shrimp you see in the seafood case at the supermarket is typically thawed frozen shrimp. Who knows how long it’s been sitting there, so you’re better off buying frozen and defrosting it yourself. Come dinnertime, all you have to do is run it under warm water to defrost, then peel.
Begin by making the avocado salsa. Combine the garlic, shallot and jalapeño pepper in a food processor and process until finely minced. For the jalapeño pepper, I like to cut the flesh off the seeds and stem, leaving the spiciest part of the pepper behind. Of course, if you like more heat, throw in some of the seeds. (If you touch the seeds, just be sure to wash your hands well and avoid touching your eyes.)
Next, seed and chop the tomato and add it to the jalapeño mixture.
Cut a grid into the avocado, then use a soup spoon to scoop out the chunks.
Add the avocado to the jalapeño mixture, along with the salt, fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro. Stir to combine. When you taste it, you might worry it’s too spicy but, rest assured, it’ll be perfect combined with the shrimp and fixins in the tortilla. It’s not intended to be eaten on its own like guacamole.
Next, toss the shrimp with olive oil, chili powder, salt and a hint of cayenne pepper.
Grill the shrimp over medium heat. The reason I use large shrimp for this recipe is so that they don’t fall through the grates. If you’re worried your shrimp will slip through, you can always thread them on skewers or just cook them indoors in a saute pan. Either way, be careful not to overcook them — they only need a minute or two per side.
Finally, heat the tortillas on the grill or in the microwave, and assemble the tacos with all the fixins. Serve with Margaritas and enjoy!
Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Salsa
Ingredients
For the Salsa
- 1 small shallot
- 1 jalapeno pepper, quartered and seeded
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 tomato, seeded and chopped
- 1 avocado, peeled, seeded and cut into chunks
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, from half a lime
- 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
For the Shrimp
- 1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Scant 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1-1/2 pounds large or extra large shrimp, peeled and de-veined
For Assembling
- 8 - 10 six-inch corn or flour tortillas
- Approximately 2 cups chopped red cabbage, for garnish (I buy it pre-chopped in a bag)
- 2 limes, cut into wedges, for garnish
- Approximately 1 cup sour cream, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the Salsa: Put the shallot, jalapeno and garlic in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely chopped (a mini food processor is best, but large will work too). Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Add chopped tomatoes, avocado, salt, lime juice and cilantro and stir to combine. Set aside. (If not using right away, place a piece of saran wrap inside the bowl and directly over salsa to prevent discoloration and refrigerate.)
- Make the Shrimp: Heat grill to medium. Meanwhile, mix the olive oil, chili powder, salt, cayenne pepper and shrimp in a large bowl. Stir until shrimp are evenly coated with seasoning. Grease grill with a wad of paper towels dipped in vegetable oil or non-flammable cooking spray. Place shrimp on grill and cook until just opaque, about 1-1/2 - 2 minutes per side. Cover to keep shrimp warm.
- Grill the tortillas until warm and slightly charred, about 20 seconds per side. (Alternatively, heat tortillas in microwave according to package instructions.)
- Spoon avocado salsa generously over warm tortillas, then top with 3 shrimp, red cabbage and dollops of sour cream. Serve tacos with lime wedges on the side.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (4 servings)
- Calories: 517
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Sugar: 7g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 30g
- Sodium: 1075mg
- Cholesterol: 244mg
Reviews & Comments
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Very simple and easy to make. Totally impressed everyone who tried them. I normally don’t cook at all, but Ive been exploring and this recipe was my first. I plan on making it again and again because I absolutely love it! I, too, will use the salsa with other recipes I’ve got planned.
Thanks so much!
I love this salsa and have used it on steak tacos as well. Might have been even better than the shrimp.
We made these several times over the summer and they were a perfect, quick meal. We made them without the cabbage and sour cream, but added a little broccoli coleslaw. We had unexpected guests one evening when we were making these, and they LOVED them. Thanks for another great recipe!
I’ve made this recipe on a number of occasions over this past summer for some house-party/barbeques. The salsa was a huge hit and I had everyone asking me for the recipe. Even my husband who is a true English ‘meat & potatoes’ kind of guy could not get enough. The second time I made it I reduced the salt content just slightly but other than that it was fab! I’ve made this with prawns, cod and chicken now and they all go incredibly well with the salsa. This recipe is definitely one that I will make again and again.
The first time I made this recipe my daughter said, “Mom, you could open a restaurant.” No, thanks, but thank you Jenn for making me look good again. These are perfect! For a crowd, I have also prepared your blackened tilapia when serving this recipe. It is also wonderful in these tacos.
Absolutely, positively, amazing these tacos are. I make them all the time, but I make the avocado salsa more (probably at least once a week) to go on various foods. I didn’t change a single thing in this recipe because it is perfection AS IS! Thank you so much!
The Avocado salsa was Devine! I added a bit of lime juice and salt to the cabbage and some zest to the sour cream…flavor bomb!
I made these recently with rave reviews from my boyfriend. I’m about to make them again tonight for him and his dad! A must try and super easy!!
I just made these – they were quick and easy to make and soooo good! I made the shrimp on my skillet as my BBQ is out of propane and it worked out perfectly. My husband loved them too and I will add these to my meal rotation. Your recipes are always a hit in my house!
We had these last week and they were delicious – I’m planning to make them for friends tomorrow night. I am wondering how far in advance the salsa can be made, (ie, night before, morning of?) as well as how early I can defrost the shrimp and coat it in it’s sauce?
Thanks!
Hi Gloria, You can defrost the shrimp and coat it the morning of the dinner but I’d wait to make the avocado salsa until about an hour or two before serving (and press plastic wrap directly against it), otherwise it’ll turn brown.
These were wonderful. Very easy to make. Used skewers for the shrimp. Will make again and again. Thank you.
Hello Jenn,
Read it, cooked it and eat it ! Everything was real great taste and my husband and I loved it.
Thank you for giving me so good and easy ideas.
Greatings from France.
Martine
This was so good my kids were fighting over the last Morsel of salsa. Make double for your crew!
Five stars
Tastiest & Easiest ‘go to meal’ in my recipe box.
This shrimp dish comes together in no time and is so delicious that I make it once a week. I usually have everything on hand including the frozen shrimp!
Absolutely delicious – quick & easy weeknight dinner. I sauteed the shrimp on the stove for a few minutes; I imagine they would be even tastier on the grill. This recipe was such a hit that 3 adults devoured every drop. This would only serve 4 people with more self-restraint than I. 🙂
Made these tacos tonight. We were out of propane fuel for the grill so I broiled the shrimp and it worked out fine! They were delicious!
These are delicious! The shrimp on the grill is perfect and I love the flavor of the avocado salsa. The only thing I changed is that it was a bit too salty the first time I made it, so I reduced the salt in the salsa by about half when I made it today and it was perfect.
Hey Jenn,
Wanted to make these for New Years Eve dinner but due to the weather we won’t be able to grill the shrimp. Any suggestions for the best alternative to grilling?
Hi Tisa, You can broil them in the oven – cook time will be about the same. Happy New Year!
Is that white cream sour cream on the tacos?
Yes Jerrika, the tacos are just garnished with sour cream.
I made these for friends…one of which does not even like shrimp. She tried it because it looked so good. I’m now sending this link to her hubby so he can make it too. Totally awesome and easy!
Can I subtute with chicken breast instead of prawns keeping same recipe ?
Sure! (The chicken will take a little longer to cook than the shrimp.)
These tacos were AMAZING!!! The shrimp was very flavorful and the salsa incredible. I added one diced mango to make an avocado mango salsa. Dinner is always a hit with your recipes, Jenn!
I just made these last night for dinner!! So yummy.
As usual, your recipes are terrific! We really enjoyed these and will make them again and again. The only thing I will change in the future is to use less salt in the salsa. I thought 3/4 tsp seemed like a lot, so I started with 1/2 tsp. But even then, it was a bit too salty for me. But no one at the table made that comment, so it’s probably just me! Thank you, Jenn!
I am looking forward to trying this delicious looking recipe. However I hope you will encourage readers to buy only US farmed and shelled shrimp. If you google “slave trade and shrimp” you will be horrified. The major newspapers like the NY Times and the Washington Post covered the issue within the last several months. Especially avoid shrimp from Thailand. That said, I can’t wait to try this.
Okay, after eating your food for over a year, it is time to say Hello!…and, that these tacos are crazy good! I agree with previous reviews when I say to not change it or leave anything out. The recipe is perfect. I found you a while back when googling a new margarita recipe….I am now known as the Margarita Lady within our group. Everyone needs to make them also! Your story, your food, your posts, I love them all! And, if you’re ever in San Fransisco come on over for dinner! Chances are you’ll recognize the food! Thanks for great food every time and keep it up! We all appreciate your flavor!
I live in GA and subsequently have consumed a lot of Hispanic food. These tacos are KILLER. Do not deviate, they will NOT be hot. Just Full of flavor. I will not forget this recipe!
Loved this . It was just simple and delicious
Wow, these were such a huge it!! I had to tone done the spice in the shrimp for my youngest, so I used 1/2 teaspoon chili powder and 1/2 cumin and skipped the jalapeno in the salsa. Nothing was left. Next time I make these (and the request was to have them again the next night), I will double the recipe. Another great one, Jenn! Thank you!
Just amazing! Best salsa ever! Highly recommend! Easy&delucius!
Hi Jenn,
I make these all the time for the family, but I would like to make this for neighbours this week and wondered what salad or side with go with the tacos?
Mary, I think this would be delicious with the Mexican Rice Pilaf, the Corn Salad with Scallions and Basil or the Caramelized Onions and Bell Peppers. I hope you enjoy whatever you make!
This is one of my and my husband’s favorite dishes! So fresh, light and delicious! I have made it a number of times and my husband requests it as well. Thank you for all of your wonderful recipes. I enjoy making any from your website because I know we will love it!
A must try! So simple and easy to make.
This was a wonderful recipe. Really enjoyed the taste and will be making it again.
Wonderful recipe! I have made it several times and always a hit with the family. I love your recipes. I have tried several and they are all delicious. Thank you so much for sharing them.
We have made this recipe several times and it is always a hit. We decided to make it while my brother was visiting this past week and it got rave reviews. The salsa is so good that I have learned to double the recipe. We sometimes make the salsa recipe on it’s own – it truly is that good – and serve it with the grilled tequila lime chicken recipe from this site.
I’ve made these twice and they are delicious! My husband and I love this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing. Served the black bean, corn & avocado salad along side.
Oh my goodness, these are soooo good! I am a new avocado fan and these tacos are to die for! I followed the recipe exactly except, I grilled the shrimp on skewers. We like it extra hot, hot, hot, so I used the jalapeno seeds and added more jalapenos in the tacos. I already sent this recipe to my daughter as she got tired of hearing me rave about how good these are. Thank you, Jenn! 🙂
These are WONDERFUL! I made these for friends the other night and they couldn’t stop raving about how good they are. And the best part is that it was so easy to make. Will definitely be making these over and over. Thank you for the recipe!
The Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Salsa was the best seafood taco I have ever tasted!
Made these tacos last night. Fantastic recipe…thank you so much. Will make these often.
Just wondering if you had the nutrition content for this recipe- Shrimp tacos with avocado salsa.
I made it last night and it was delicious. Thank you for the recipe!!
Hi Amanda, Just added it and you will find it right underneath the recipe. Glad you enjoyed 🙂
wondering if the nutrition info is per taco or all 4 … trying to figure out weight watchers points.
HI Jaime, The nutritional information is for 2 tacos. Hope that helps!
I made this recipe the other day it was fantastic, so good cant wait to fix it for friends.
We made your grilled shrimp tacos today. What an outstanding recipe. Very easy and so delicious. This will be a “keeper” for our family. Looking forward to trying other recipes of yours. Thank you so much!
I might have missed this but it says this makes four servings. How many tacos in one serving?
Hi Ryan, It’s 2-3 per person.
These are the best tacos ever! Do not skip the salsa, also great on chips. Mmmm good!
Wow. stumbled on this recipe when the SO wanted shrimp tacos last minute. I googled shrimp taco recipe and this was one of the first that came up so I quickly just printed it. Went to the store got the ingredients and cooked. First I have to say, I am by no means a cook. I try to cook and most my stuff comes out okay, but every time I first try a recipe, I need to practice it a few times before it comes out great. This was sooooo easy and cannot believe how good it came out on my first try!! SO was very happy and had three full tacos even though he was stuffed after the second! Thank you so much for this awesome recipe! I cannot wait to try more!
I’ve been craving shrimp tacos lately. I found this recipe the other day and made them for dinner last night. I was not disappointed. They were go good and full of flavor. It was raining so I cooked them in a frying pan ont he stove, still turned out great. I cannot wait until the weather gets better so I can try them on the bbq. Thank you for the great recipes Every one I have tried has been yummy.
Made this tonight. Only thing I changed was to pan sear the shrimp since it is 3 degrees here and I doubled salsa. Both shrimp and salsa were fabulous! Will absolutely make again. Thanks!
Made this for a weeknight dinner. I used my indoor grill pan as I didn’t want to grill outside in the cold. It came out GREAT! Very tasty, the avocado salsa is wonderful. The kids and adults ate every last bit.
These were the BEST shrimp tacos! Not only was the shrimp super tasty but mild enough for my two young boys. But the avocado salsa was the show-stealer. It was a perfect balance of lime, salt, and veggies. Healthy and TASTY. We also grilled the flour tortillas, which we’ve never done, and it really added a new dimension to not only the taste but the overall experience. You must try this recipe.
We had the shrimp portion last night and it was super quick and really good. The shrimp were mild enough for our children to eat as well. This was a last minute dinner idea, so we did not have the ingredients on hand to make the salsa. Rather, I took the cabbage I had in the fridge and made a quick slaw out of a tablespoon or so of mayo, lime juice, sliced green onion, and some salt and pepper. I added that to my tortilla with the shrimp. Made some quick black beans…opened can and rinse beans. Heated beans in a pot with some chicken stock, a clove of garlic, half of a peeled carrot, a bit of celery and 1/4 of an onion (nothing needs to be chopped). Simmer for 15 minutes and you’ll have some pretty tasty canned black beans.
Definitely a family dish for me! It brings everyone together every time! Whole Foods corn tortilla (the yellow one) delivers even a better texture.
Along with your Baja FIsh Tacos, this has been my go-to dish whenever I have good friends over!
Great tip on the corn tortillas. Thank you!
I made these last night for my family and they were soooo delicious! My family loved them and ate every bite! The salsa is delicious with the shrimp! Def going to make these again!
These are the best shrimp tacos!! Kids love them! try it!
My husband and I just made this about a week ago when we had our parents over for a pool party. It was so, so yummy and fun to make. We had Spanish rice on the side and the avocado salsa was so good that I mixed them together. Everyone had fun wrapping their own and the shrimp was tender and moist. Thank you so much Jennifer for such wonderful recipes!
Just another of my “go to” meals from this site! My only modification is to substitute red pepper flakes for the jalapenos and to eat the avacado salsa & shrimp in a bowl separate from the tortillas. I like mine crispy, so it’s alot less messy that way and still tastes srumptious!
This was delicious. The avocado salsa stole the show! I bet that salsa would be great with other things, too (like dipping chips in it!)
GREAT receipe!!! Have made it several times. Loved the combination of flavor with avocado,
tomatoes, red cabbage with the shrimp.
This is the best shrimp taco recipe! Kids and hubby love them!
Made these for company along with chicken enchiladas and Mexican rice. Awesome tacos and the salsa ~ to die for. Had some left over and the avocado did not brown at all. Thank you ~ fun to try new recipes. Will make again soon.
Made them again to rave reviews. I doubled up the avocado salsa — it went fast!
I made these tacos for my family the other night and they were amazing! I would not change a thing!
A delicious summer treat. I substituted greek yogurt for the sour cream for a lighter version.
These shrimp were delicious! I ended up broiling them in the oven for just a few minutes per side and they were super sweet. The avocado salsa had a nice kick to it!
My husband and I just made this about a week ago when we had our parents over for a pool party. It was so, so yummy and fun to make. We had Spanish rice on the side and the avocado salsa was so good that I mixed them together. Everyone had fun wrapping their own and the shrimp was tender and moist. Thank you so much Jennifer for such wonderful recipes!
I enjoyed this dish. Pan sauteed the shrimp instead of grilling, so maybe that changed the flavor profile a bit. The avocado salsa was great though, hard to keep from just eating it with chips!
Wow! We’re getting ready to head home to Seattle and I will definitely plan to make these upon landing!
this is the first time ive ever commented on a blog, but i felt absolutely compelled to after making these because this was hands down the best meal i have ever prepared. my whole family was raving about them, i felt like a rockstar at dinner. thank you!
Jenn — made these Friday night along with your quinoa, corn, tomato, and avocado salad and your margaritas!! Everything was delicious — there was not a morsel left. Thanks so much for these great recipes!!
I made these for dinner tonight; they were delicious! Can’t wait to enjoy them again soon. Great summer recipe.
Thank you for all the recipes. Tonight I made the shrimp tacos w/ avocado salsa, it was fabulous, LOVE it! I am a huge fan for a long time. Do you have some recipes for sack lunches for kids too? Thank you again.
These look and sound amazing – can’t wait to try them! 🙂
Made these last night and they were amazing!! Very easy to make too. I was wondering if you have a good recipe for fish tacos?
These look fab! I can’t wait to try them out!
Jen, thank you for all the recipes. Tonight I made the shrimp tacos w/ avocado salsa, it was fabulous, LOVE it! I am a huge fan for a long time. Do you have some recipes for sack lunches for kids too? Thank you again.
When I showed the picture of these to my husband his exact response was. “Yes, Yes, Yes!!” We are very excited to try this recipe 🙂
Just finished dinner and these tacos were fantastic!
Georges at the Cove in La Jolla….one of my all time favorite places to be !!!! This recipe is “spot” on! So good that I can almost believe I’m back at that rooftop table enjoying the blue sea, sunshine and delicious shrimp tacos at Georges. Thank you so much for an incredible recipe that brings back so many wonderful vacation memories.
I was wondering if you knew how many calories each one has
Sorry, Morgan, I don’t have nutritional info. for my recipes.
There are several websites that allow you to enter ingredients to calculate the nutritional content. I’ve tried this one and it works fairly well. http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-calculator.asp
Thank you, Sally!
I know what I’m making this weekend! Thanks for the wonderful recipe
Saw this recipe while at work wondering what to make for dinner! So simple and so good! Another hit – thank you!
You’ve done it once again…..another delicious recipe! I just finished these and they are truly wonderful. I look forward to new posts to see what is on our menu for the day! Never a disappointment!
I love shrimp tacos I will be trying these this weekend
Can’t wait to try these – with a few easy adaptations, they are totally okay for the Paleo diet. Bonus!!
love shrimp tacos, can’t wait to try these !
Love shrimp tacos, can’t wait to try this recipe !!
Just a quick FYI: I would find comments from people who have actually made your recipies much more helpful than people just saying YUM, sounds good, think I’ll try it, etc. Just my opinion.
Can’t wait to try these – I love George’s!!
The salsa looks delicious – a great addition to summer recipes!
Looks amazing!
Shrimp and fish tacos are my favorites. Can’t wait to try this!
This looks delicious and perfect for “grilling weather”. I can’t wait to try it!
Sounds wonderful, much like my recipe for Pico de Gallo. Love the heat, and eat it with tortilla chips. I like the idea of shallots rather than onions. I will rry that the next time.
Ooooh, I have just about everything to make these except the shrimp. Never tried shrimp tacos, but these do look amazing!!
To follow up my own reply, I DID try this last week and it was amazingly good! I had some chicken breast in the fridge, so I used that in place of shrimp and pan grilled them on the stove. Very yummy, very moist, great for tacos.
YUM this looks SO GOOD can’t wait to try!
Looks fabulous!
Never had shrimp tacos, but I will soon add them to my menu! Yum!
Yummy! This looks so good. I think I’ll try it for dinner next week!
I’ve never had shrimp tacos, but these look incredible – I will need to remedy this situation very soon!