Grilled Baja-style shrimp tacos couldn’t be any quicker and any easier to prepare using mostly kitchen staples.
I am a planner. I have lists in my office and in my kitchen. I love completing a task and crossing it off. I love it so much that sometimes I even add something that I’ve already done to the list just so I can cross it off. I bet I’m not alone!
But, no matter how much I plan, stuff just happens. Schedules change. Crazy weather hits us. Kiddies get sick. Grocery store visits are missed.
So, if I combine my planning tendencies, with my love of cooking, and my crazy, sometimes total hot mess of a mom life, it is crucial that I have a well-stocked kitchen. In my kitchen, my freezer real-estate is highly treasured! I only put into my freezer what I know will come out prized! There is nothing in the back hiding away gathering some freezer burn and being forgotten about. I value every nook in that space.
For quick weeknight family dinners or unexpected schedules, like the one I am experiencing tonight, my freezer is invaluable for making meals in a jiffy.
One of my freezer must-haves is shrimp. Frozen shrimp is like a dinner safety net for me. With just a few pantry items and hopefully some lingering fresh ingredients, I can always make an enjoyable dinner with frozen shrimp. Its versatility can take you in many different directions.
I usually purchase easy-peel and deveined shrimp, but most likely I stock whatever was on sale at the time. And I am a sucker for jumbo shrimp so I almost always go for this size.
Tonight, after I pulled my reliable bag of jumbo shrimp out of the freezer and let them thaw and then scanned my fridge and pantry for some goodies, I have decided some Southern California cuisine is a menu-must-do.
I’m making Tacos and it’s not even Tuesday!
Traditional Baja tacos include fried fish, shredded cabbage, and a creamy white sauce. So, you can imagine how excited I was when I spied some leftover cabbage AND tortillas in my fridge.
I’m tossing the thawed and peeled shrimp with some cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper and a squeeze of lime and letting them sit for just a few minutes. (I don’t want them sitting too long in the lime juice because the lime will start to “cook” the shrimp and ceviche is not on the menu tonight).
While the shrimp hang out, I grab some other kitchen must-haves. I mix some mayonnaise, a little sour cream, apple cider vinegar and honey in a bowl. And because we love the heat, I add a dash of cayenne. I toss this slaw sauce with the cabbage that I have sliced into thin ribbons. The color is spectacular!!!!
For this Baja-style taco, I’m mixing up this killer, fiery, creamy sauce with mayo, sour cream, lime, chili powder, and chilpotle powder. I prefer the tang of Greek yogurt for a healthier option, but I’m using what’s on hand here. 
Oh, yeah! I spy a tomato, jalepeno, one lonely avocado and even some cilantro leaves in the kitchen too! Taco necessities. 
My grill pan is hot and my shrimp are ready to be seared!
Plump, grilled sweet shrimp are the easiest and quickest filling for tacos and that is why you will always find that shrimp in my freezer.
I even have time to saute and season up some frozen corn (freezer must-have) and black beans (pantry must-have) for a side dish.
In just 20 minutes, I am serving my family a flavor-packed dinner!
The creamy sauce gives the perfect kick!
The warm tortillas hug and hold these fresh (and frozen) ingredients perfectly! And a few sparse leftover cilantro leaves take the whole taco to the next level! 
Total spontaneous dinner winner!!
What is one of your freezer must-haves?
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp sour cream
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp honey
- dash of cayenne
- 1/2 red cabbage thinly sliced
- 1/2 cabbage thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- 1 tbsp mayonaise
- 1 slice of lime squeezed
- 1 tsp chilpotle chili powder
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 2 lbs peeled thawed shrimp (I used jumbo)
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- pinch of salt
- pinch of pepper
- squeeze of lime
- olive oil for grill pan
- sliced tomato
- thinly sliced jalapeño
- sliced avocado
- cilantro leaves for garnish
- tortillas warmed in the oven or microwave
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Combine first 5 ingredients and stir to combine. Toss in the cabbage and toss to coat. Set aside.
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Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir to combine and set aside.
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Combine all ingredients in the bowl and toss. Let sit for 10 mins. Sear on a hot grill pan on both sides until shrimp is opaque.
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Warm tortillas.
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Top tortillas with the slaw and the fresh ingredients.
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Top with the shrimp and drizzle the spicy cream sauce on top.
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Garnish with cilantro.
I buy the 2 lb. bag of shrimp and cook the entire bag, but expect leftovers.
Adjust the seasoning for both sauces to your liking.
Try Greek yogurt as a healthy alternative.
Go traditional, and do this recipe with fried fish.
Made this for myself then again during a cottage vacation with my brother and sister last month Tonight I tried it with my wife who doesn’t do to spicy but she loved it too. So far everyone has loved it. I added shredded cotija cheese. Awesome. Thanks.
It sounded like a good recipe. It wasn’t spicy and it was rather bland. I followed the recipe to a “T”.
Sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy this. As with all recipes, it’s a good idea to taste and adjust seasonings to your liking so you can get that kick of spice you’re longing for. Thanks for checking out the recipe though.
Well this is my 4th time making them and they are awesome!
The only thing I changed was I add 2 canned chipotle peppers to the sauce instead of powered and the fam loves them! This is my go to baja taco recipe. Thank you!
This is awesome news! Thank you for sharing with me! I’ll have to try the peppers next time.
This look absolutely YUMMY!!!
Shrimp usually isn’t my go-to meat, but I would definitely make these!! These look incredible!
I love this, love, love shrimp. The sauce looks yummy. I’m looking forward to giving this a try. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Nicki! Hope you love it!
Layers of taco deliciousness! Between the slaw, the dressing and the shrimp I’m all in on these tacos.
Awesome! There is a ton a flavor!
Who doesn’t love Taco’s!? These look wonderful and I love all your photos. Makes it so simple to make and see what you did. Thanks
Thanks, Rebecca! Nothing like a crisp taco for dinner!
Tacos are always a good idea. These baja shrimp tacos will be a nice switch up from the regular ground beef or turkey ones.
ALWAYS a good idea, any day of the week! lol
Frozen shrimp is so nice to have on hand. Looks delicious!
Thanks! Shrimp is so versatile!
this looks delicious! I love tacos and shrimp!!
I like all kinds of tacos. Unfortunately my husband doesn’t think along the same lines as I do. I will make these when he won’t be around.
There are plenty of things I make when my husband is traveling! lol
These look like the perfect lunch for today! Too bad I don’t have shrimp in the house. I’ll pick some up this weekend, though!
Perfect for lunch or dinner! Enjoy!
Wow that looks amazing! My husband would love this, may need to add it to my next meal plan.
Do it, Tiffany! It’s a family favorite!
These tacos look amazing!! I always go out and buy tacos, but now I’m inclined to try and make my own! Thanks for the great recipe and the delicious-looking photos.
Joanne | https://fung-shui.com
You are welcome, Joanne! Thanks for stopping by!
I really love tacos. I also like trying different variations so it is never boring. I will be trying this recipe soon!
I agree…tacos are awesome and easy and anything is possible with them! Hope you enjoy this one!
These look amazing! Saving this recipe for taco Tuesday.
Thanks!I think their simplicity made them even tastier! lol
The spicy sauce on the shrimp remind me of Bang Bang Shrimp from Bonefish. Have you had it before?? I like your version better thought since it’s not fried. I gotta try it out next week! I am always struggling to get a meal on the table after a long day of working so this is perfect for me 🙂
Thank you! I haven’t had that sauce from Bonefish but it sounds tasty! Anything fried is amazing, but this was a fast and healthier option, indeed!
Yum! I love shrimp tacos and these look amazing!
Thank you, Anne!!
These are perfection! I love shrimp so much. Shrimp anything and shrimp everything.
I agree, Kristin! Shrimp love!
These look scrumptious! I love the combination! Excited to give these a try!
Thanks, Lori! I hope you enjoy it! …and you can’t eat just one!
These look so yummy!! I always make tacos have I have never thought to make shrimp tacos, I don’t know why but I cannot wait to try these ones out!
I hope you like them! Shrimp is so versatile for a taco! Enjoy!
Omg these look amazing, I love shrimp tacos! Definitely going to try making these 🙂
Thanks! Enjoy!