Baja Shrimp Tacos Recipe

Baja Shrimp Tacos - Juicy, Succulent Shrimps with fragrant garlic, spicy chipotle, and smoky cumin makes for an appetizing shrimp taco that tastes so good 😋 The creamy crunchy Mexican Coleslaw with Guacamole and Chipotle Mayo adds a touch of richness to the overall taste of this seafood taco 🌮

Crispy tortillas with smoky Baja Shrimp tacos and creamy Mexican coleslaw will force you, guys to make this at least once a week. Have you tried my Blackened Shrimp Tacos or Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos with Pineapple Salsa (just 10-minutes) or Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa

Jump to:

• 🍤Baja Shrimp Tacos Recipe
• 👩‍🍳 Ingredients
• 🍳 Instructions
• 💡Key Tips
• 📖 Variations
• 🔥 Is this Spicy
• 🌮 What Kind of Tortillas Should I use?
• ⏰ Ahead of Time?
• 🍹Side Dishes
• Tips for Perfect Taco Assembly
• More Shrimp Recipes
• Baja Shrimp Tacos Recipe

🍤Baja Shrimp Tacos Recipe

This recipe for Baja Shrimp Taco is dedicated to all the Muchachas and Muchachos out there. Busy day? Feeling Hungry? Quickly put together this taco and get back in action.

In my home, we love this Baja Shrimp taco recipe. I find the recipe soul-satisfying. The shrimps are perfectly cooked without being chewy. It's not that spicy so my kids love it. And, finally, the crispy tortillas and the fresh coleslaw mix every bite worth it.

Baja Shrimp taco got popular after people loved Baja fish taco which is basically beer-battered cot or mahi-mahi or halibut tucked into crispy corn tortillas.

Soon people tried it with shrimps (leaving out the breading) and they loved it. Restaurants like El Pollo Loco serve one of the best Baja Shrimp tacos.

Shrimp in a Taco feels rich, appetizing, juicy, fun, and so flavorful. If you are someone who has loved seafood tacos or shrimp tacos then you should definitely try these Air Fryer Shrimp tacos with Pineapple Salsa or these Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa or this Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajita.

I love tacos. Especially with Fresh Ingredients. And this Mexican Seafood taco is packed with freshness. The coleslaw, the juicy shrimps feels so fresh. Just like these Instant Pot Shredded Hawaiian Chicken tacos and this Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken tacos

A taco is supposed to be filling. I don't like street-side tacos which have more empty shells and less filling. For me, a taco should be loaded with flavors. Just like this Authentic Mexican Chicken Tinga Taco and this Mexican Shredded Chicken Carnitas taco and this Chipotle Grilled Chicken Tacos.

👩‍🍳 Ingredients

• Jumbo Shrimps
• Olive Oil and Butter - I like the combination of both to sear shrimps
• Spices - Garlic Powder, Ground Cumin, Chili Powder, Cayenne Pepper, Salt, and Freshly Ground Black Pepper.

Chipotle Mayo

• Mayonnaise
• Lime Juice
• chipotle chilis from 1 can of chipotles in adobo sauce

Mexican Coleslaw

• Shredded Cabbage
• Mayonnaise
• Red Onions
• Freshly chopped Cilantro
• Lime Juice

See the recipe card for quantities. And, check out the video for a visual🎥

🍳 Instructions

STEP 1: Marinate Shrimps

Pat dry the Shrimp using a paper towel. This step is very important and moist shrimps do not cook well.

In a ziplock bag combine Shrimps with spices and olive oil. Coat shrimps evenly. Place it in the refrigerator for 20-minutes. You can also use a shallow plate to do the same thing.

STEP 2: Make Mexican Coleslaw

In a medium-sized mixing bowl combine shredded cabbage, sliced red onions, lime juice, fresh chopped cilantro, and mayonnaise. Keep this in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes.

STEP 3: Make Chipotle Mayo

In a medium-sized mixing bowl combine Mayonnaise, Lime Juice, and Chipotle Chili in Adobo Sauce. Give all of this a good mix and your Chipotle Mayo is ready. You can use this mayo for a variety of recipes such as tacos or burrito bowls or any Tex-Mex or Mexican recipe.

STEP 4: Sear Shrimps

In a pan, add some olive oil along with a tablespoon of unsalted butter. Once the butter melts and the oil shimmers add shrimps in one single layer. Shrimps cook in less than 2-minutes. So keep a close eye on them Flip over and cook the other side as well. You'll know your shrimps are cooked when they turn opaque white with light red spots around the tails. DO NOT overcook your shrimps

STEP 5: Assemble Tacos

Finally, Assemble Tacos in crispy corn tortillas or flour tortillas. Add Mexican coleslaw, followed by Baja Shrimps, and finally a layer of spicy Chipotle Mayo. Add some Guacamole for more flavor.

HINT: To make it Kid-friendly, just add 1-2 tablespoons of Honey or while making chipotle mayo.

See this Honey-Chipotle Chicken taco and add more variety to your recipe.

💡Key Tips

• Pat dry Shrimps: Make sure you pat dry your shrimps before coating them in spices.
• Thaw Frozen Shrimps: If you are using frozen shrimps then make sure you thaw them out before cooking.
• Use Olive Oil: Don't forget to add olive oil while coating your shrimps.
• Refrigerate: Don't skip refrigeration part of shrimps and coleslaw.
• Use Both Olive Oil and Butter: Always use a combination of butter and olive oil to sear shrimps for added richness.
• DO NOT Overcook Shrimps: Do not overcook your shrimps or else they'll become rubbery and chewy.
• Crisp up Tortillas: Crisp up your corn tortillas or flour tortillas in a dry pan over medium high heat for few minutes until they look crispy on the outside but are soft on the inside.
• Save time: Save time with some preshredded Cabbage. Combine with it red onions, lime juice, and cilantro to make homemade coleslaw.

📖 Variations

• Spicy - You can add crushed red pepper flakes while coating your shrimps in spices for more heat.
• Jalapeños: For more heat you can add some chopped Jalapeños while serving your tacos.
• Sriracha - You can also add some Sriracha on the tacos before serving for that extra bit of heat.
• Red Wine Vinegar - You can add just a few drops of red wine vinegar in your coleslaw as it brings out the color of veggies vividly and also adds depth of flavor.
• More Garlic - While searing shrimps you can add 2-3 cloves of minced garlic just for 30-seconds and then add them to your tacos. This is totally optional but it would add a garlicky kick to your Baja Shrimp tacos.
• Low Sodium Soy Sauce: To add a saucy taste to your Shrimp tacos you can add some soy sauce while marinating shrimps.
• Sweet Chili sauce: To balance of the heat from spices you can add some sweet chili sauce while coating shrimps.
• Honey: If you feel like your sauce is too spicy, you can add 1 tablespoon of honey to balance the heat.
• Shredded Iceberg Lettuce: Instead of Shredded Cabbage you can use shredded iceburg lettuce.
• Chopped Green Onions - To garnish your tacos you can use some freshly chopped green onions.

🔥 Is this Spicy

Yes, but not that spicy that you'd be reaching out for a bottle of water after taking the first bite. Chipotle Mayo can be a bit spicy. But, you can reduce the chipotle chilies in adobo sauce if you want. To make it Kid-friendly, just add 1-2 tablespoons of Honey or while making chipotle mayo.

🌮 What Kind of Tortillas Should I use?

I would prefer corn tortillas any day over flour tortillas. But, these days you can literally make any taco with any of the two.

I like to choose small street-side taco-sized tortillas to get that restaurant-like taste. You can use any tortilla that you like.

⏰ Ahead of Time?

Yes, definitely. You can make your Mexican Coleslaw and Chipotle Mayo ahead of time. When you are ready to serve just cook your shrimp and tuck them in crispy tortillas.

🍹Side Dishes

You can serve them with:

• Homemade Pico de Gallo
• Refried Beans
• Beans and rice
• Corn Mango Salsa
• Roasted Tomato Salsa
• Pineapple Salsa

Tips for Perfect Taco Assembly

How you assemble your taco decided how good your taco would taste. Use these pointers and assemble your Baja Shrimp Taco like a pro.

• You can use a taco holder or just lay your tortillas on a plate.
• Start with coleslaw.
• Place Shrimps.
• Add Chipotle Mayo.
• Finish of your desired toppings.

More Shrimp Recipes

Cajun Shrimp and Rice

Peanut Shrimp Pad Thai

Sweet Chili Garlic Shrimp

Crispy Honey Sesame Shrimps

Creamy Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry

Air fryer Firecracker Shrimps

Coconut Shrimps

Shrimp Fried Rice

I hope you liked this recipe. If you happen to make this recipe, then comment below and rate this recipe. Also, tag me with #recipemagik on Instagram.