Hey there! I’m super excited to share my favorite hack for making amazing shrimp tacos using frozen cooked shrimp. As someone who’s always rushing to get dinner on the table I’ve perfected this recipe to be both delicious and super quick. Let me show you how to transform that bag of frozen shrimp in your freezer into restaurant-worthy tacos in under 30 minutes!
Why Choose Frozen Cooked Shrimp for Tacos?
Look, I get it – fresh shrimp sounds fancy. But here’s why frozen cooked shrimp is actually amazing for tacos:
- Saves tons of prep time (no peeling or deveining needed!)
- More affordable than fresh shrimp
- Actually fresher than “fresh” shrimp at the seafood counter
- Always ready in your freezer for last-minute meals
- Consistently cooked – no worrying about under/overcooking
What You’ll Need
For the Shrimp:
- 1 pound frozen cooked shrimp (peeled and deveined, tail-off)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Assembly:
- Corn or flour tortillas (6-inch)
- Shredded cabbage or coleslaw
- Diced avocado
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
For the Sauce (pick one):
-
Quick Crema:
- Mayo
- Sour cream
- Sriracha
- Pinch of salt
-
Garlic Mayo
- Mayonnaise
- Grated garlic
- Water (to thin)
- Salt
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Thaw Those Shrimp!
This is super important y’all! Here’s my quick-thaw method
- Place frozen shrimp in a colander
- Run cool water over them for about 5-10 minutes
- Gently separate shrimp as they thaw
- Pat dry with paper towels
2. Season and Heat
1. Heat skillet over medium-high heat2. Toss thawed shrimp with oil and seasonings3. Cook for 2-3 minutes until heated through4. Don't overcook! (Nobody likes rubbery shrimp!)3. Warm Your Tortillas
Pro tip: Don’t skip this step! Warm tortillas are WAY better:
- Heat in microwave with damp paper towel
- Or warm in dry skillet for 30 seconds each side
- Keep warm wrapped in kitchen towel
4. Make Your Sauce
Mix your chosen sauce ingredients until smooth. If too thick, add water bit by bit until it’s drizzle-able.
5. Build Your Tacos!
Here’s how I layer mine (from bottom to top):
- Warm tortilla
- Sauce drizzle
- Shredded cabbage
- Seasoned shrimp (about 4-5 per taco)
- Diced avocado
- Cilantro
- Fresh lime squeeze
Tips for the Best Results
- Buy the right size shrimp – medium or large work best (31-40 count)
- Look for “easy peel” frozen shrimp without added sauces
- Keep toppings cold while cooking shrimp
- Set up a taco bar so everyone can customize their own
- Don’t overload the tortillas (they’ll break!)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using hot water to thaw shrimp (makes them rubbery)
- Overcooking the already-cooked shrimp
- Forgetting to pat shrimp dry before seasoning
- Using cold tortillas (they’ll crack!)
Make It Your Own!
Feel free to switch things up with these variations:
- Try different sauces (mango salsa, pineapple salsa)
- Add extra crunch (sliced radishes, pickled onions)
- Make it spicy (jalapeños, hot sauce)
- Go low-carb with lettuce wraps instead of tortillas
Storage Tips
Got leftovers? Here’s what to do:
- Store components separately
- Keep cooked shrimp in fridge up to 2 days
- Reheat shrimp briefly in skillet
- Make fresh tortillas when serving
And there you have it – my foolproof method for making awesome shrimp tacos with frozen cooked shrimp! Trust me, once you try this method, you’ll always keep a bag of frozen shrimp on hand for taco emergencies.
What’s your favorite taco topping? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear your ideas!
What to Serve with Shrimp Tacos
- Mexican Rice – Make easiest Spanish rice to add as a side with these shrimp tacos. We love easy sides and this one goes perfectly with shrimp tacos.
- Cilantro Lime Rice – This delicious cilantro lime rice is so flavorful and easy to make.
- Refried Beans – Make Easy Crockpot Refried Beans Recipe for an easy side dish.
- Salad – If you are on a low carb diet, top these shrimp and the Cole slaw on a green salad.
- Corn Salad – I love making this Corn Salad for a simple side dish with leftover corn.
Shrimp Taco Topping Ideas
- Shredded Cheese or Cotija Cheese
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole
- Sour Cream
- Salsa
- Red Onion
- Avocado
- Salsa Verde
- Sautéd Red Peppers and Onions
This is one of your favorite recipes. We have used raw shrimp and pre-cooked shrimp to make this recipe. Just make sure to peel and devein the shrimp. It will take a few minutes longer to cook through.
In my opinion, the most important part of shrimp tacos and fish tacos is the slaw mix that goes in the taco. This mix is generally made with shredded cabbage and seasonings (spices) that give the taco recipe it’s flavor. There are tons of different types of slaw recipes but to keep things quick and easy, I love using the prepackaged cole slaw mix so I can save time chopping all those vegetables! You all already know that I love saving time in the kitchen and this recipe is no different.
If you have leftover shrimp tacos, I would store the slaw and shrimp in separate containers. This prevents the shrimp from getting soggy. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Once you are ready to serve again, top the ingredients in a corn tortilla or on a salad.
EASY SHRIMP TACO RECIPE #foodie
FAQ
Can I use frozen shrimp for tacos?
Set aside for a few minutes to marinate . So long as the shrimp are peeled, they can be cooked straight from frozen! Make sure to prepare/gather all your other taco components before you cook the shrimp because they will cook fast.
How do you cook frozen already cooked shrimp?
Do you have to thaw frozen cooked shrimp before cooking?
Shrimp: Shrimp can be cooked from frozen, but they will cook more evenly if thawed first. If cooking from frozen, add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
How to make shrimp tacos?
1. Season the shrimp with olive oil and all the spices in a bowl. 2. Cook the shrimp in a hot pan until they’re pink and just cooked. 3. Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet until they’re warm and pliable. 4. Assemble the tacos. Lay shrimp on each tortilla and add your favorite toppings.
Can you cook frozen shrimp in tacos?
Plain frozen shrimp works best for soaking up the flavors in the tacos. With the right bag of frozen shrimp, you’ll have deliciously cooked shrimp ready to heat and add to tacos in minutes. Thawing frozen shrimp is the first and easiest step. Simply place the frozen shrimp in a colander and run cold water over the shrimp just until they separate.
How do you season shrimp tacos?
Mix up the spices used to season the shrimp. Cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes, lemon pepper, or taco seasoning all work well. For spicy shrimp tacos, toss the cooked shrimp in hot sauce or serve with sliced jalapeños. Try mango, pineapple, or peach salsa for a sweet and spicy twist. Grilled fruit also tastes amazing.
How to cook shrimp tacos in a crock pot?
Step 1 – Preparing the shrimp is the easiest part – In a large skillet add the shrimp, taco seasoning, salsa, broth and squeeze of lime. You can cook the shrimp in olive oil or butter. Step 2 – Cover and heat over medium high heat until the shrimp is cooked through. This should only take 5 minutes.
Can You Freeze frozen shrimp?
Make sure the shrimp have been cooked prior to freezing. The bag should say something like “fully cooked” or “cooked shrimp.” Raw frozen shrimp will have different cooking instructions. Finally, watch out for added sauces or marinades on the shrimp. Plain frozen shrimp works best for soaking up the flavors in the tacos.
What to put on shrimp tacos?
Seasoning Blend: A quick mix of chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Corn or Flour Tortillas: Corn torillas are the best choice for authentic shrimp tacos. But feel free to use flour is you prefer. Taco Toppings: Shredded cabbage, chopped onion, diced avocado, pico de gallo or salsa, queso fresco – you pick!