Quick and Easy Blackened Shrimp Tacos for Busy Nights

Picture this: it’s a whirlwind of a day, chaos everywhere, and all you crave is something quick yet delightfully satisfying.

Enter these blackened shrimp tacos. They’re like a mini-vacation on a plate—spicy, zesty, and wrapped in a warm tortilla hug.

Perfect for when the clock’s ticking, yet your taste buds demand a fiesta.

Steps

Combine mayonnaise, honey, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, salt, and freshly cracked pepper in a bowl to create the coleslaw dressing. In another bowl, mix coleslaw mix and green onions, adding about three-quarters of the dressing. Stir until well-coated, refrigerate, and add more dressing if needed before serving.
For the smoky garlic lime sauce, mix mayonnaise, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and fresh lime juice in a small bowl. Retain the remaining lime half to be served as wedges alongside the tacos.
Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and toast the corn tortillas on both sides until edges brown. Keep the toasted tortillas stacked and covered with a towel until serving time.
Prepare the blackening seasoning by combining smoked paprika, dried thyme, dried oregano, cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and freshly cracked pepper. Coat the shrimp with this seasoning mix.

In a large skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic over medium heat for about a minute until fragrant. Add the seasoned shrimp to the skillet and cook until firm and opaque, roughly 3-5 minutes, then remove from heat.
Assemble the tacos by placing about 1/4 cup of coleslaw on each tortilla, adding three shrimp, drizzling with smoky garlic lime sauce, and garnishing with sliced green onions. Finish by squeezing a lime wedge over the top.

How many shrimp tacos does this recipe make?
The recipe yields six tacos in total. It uses half a pound of shrimp, with three shrimp allocated per taco. The number of tacos per serving can vary based on personal preference.
Can these shrimp tacos be made less spicy?
Yes, you can adjust the spice level to suit your taste. For a milder flavor, reduce the amount of cayenne pepper in the blackening seasoning by half. Conversely, to make the tacos spicier, increase the cayenne pepper.
What should I serve alongside Blackened Shrimp Tacos?
These shrimp tacos pair well with side dishes such as Cumin Lime Sweet Potatoes, Warm Corn and Avocado Salad, Chili Roasted Sweet Potatoes, or Cilantro Lime Rice.
Why should I toast the corn tortillas?
Toasting the corn tortillas enhances their flavor and helps them hold together better, allowing you to fill them without worrying about them tearing.
Is the smoky garlic lime sauce necessary for the tacos?
While the smoky garlic lime sauce adds a delicious zest that complements the flavors of the blackened shrimp and coleslaw, you can choose to omit it or substitute it with another sauce if preferred.

Toast Your Tortillas: Enhance the flavor and sturdiness of your tacos by toasting the corn tortillas before filling them. This step not only improves the taste but also helps prevent the tortillas from tearing when loaded with ingredients.
Adjust the Spice Level: Customize the spiciness of your blackened shrimp by modifying the amount of cayenne pepper in the blackening seasoning. Reduce it for a milder flavor or increase it for more heat, according to your preference.
Prepare Coleslaw in Advance: For a crisper coleslaw, wait to add the dressing until just before serving. If you prefer a softer texture, mix the coleslaw and dressing ahead of time and refrigerate until needed.
Sauté Shrimp Quickly: To avoid overcooking, sauté the shrimp only until they are firm and opaque, which typically takes about 3-5 minutes. Removing them from heat promptly ensures they remain tender and flavorful.

Cast iron skillet or heavy-duty skillet (for toasting tortillas and cooking shrimp)
Citrus juicer (for extracting lime juice)
Spice grinder (if you need to grind spices for the blackening seasoning)
Mixing bowls (various sizes for sauces and coleslaw)
Tongs (for handling hot tortillas and shrimp)