Baja Shrimp Tacos with Pineapple Lime Slaw

Pineapple lime slaw adds a nice tangy crunch to these Baja Shrimp Tacos. Loaded with garlic roasted shrimp, avocado, sweet peppers, tomatoes, and spicy chipotle mayo making these the BEST shrimp tacos. The perfect quick and delicious meal any night of the week.

Stop what you’re doing right now, because I’m, about to give you something to taco bout.

Not sorry at all about starting this out with the cheesiest of all puns because this recipe really is something to talk about! No need to go all the way to your favorite taco joint anymore, because these Baja shrimp tacos are all you need in your taco life!

Why We Love Baja Shrimp Tacos

• Bold flavors in every bite – Spicy chipotle mayo, sweet pineapple, and zesty lime create an irresistible combo.
• Crispy baked shrimp – A lighter, flavorful alternative to fried shrimp with the perfect crunch.
• Refreshing homemade pineapple lime slaw – Sweet, tangy, and fresh, it balances the spice beautifully.
• Easy to make – Simple steps for a restaurant-worthy meal at home.
• Customizable heat – Adjust the jalapeños and chipotle mayo to suit your spice level!

Not only is this a restaurant quality taco, but it’s also incredibly easy! Don’t let all the steps fool you, these shrimp tacos are easy enough for even the more inexperienced cooks. 

These tacos have some key ingredients that really makes them stand out from your everyday run-of-the-mill tacos. Now be reminded that these are far from your traditional authentic Mexican tacos. This is more of a California-style taco with some new age fresh and fun ingredients.

Ingredient Notes

For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Large Shrimp – with tails removed, thawed, shelled, and deveined
• Pineapple lime slaw (cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, pineapple chunks and juice
• Chipotle mayo (mayo or plain Greek yogurt, lime zest and juice, honey, and adobo sauce)
• Tortillas – we prefer flour
• Baby bell peppers – thinly sliced
• Jalapeno peppers – thinly sliced
• Avocados – sliced or diced
• Grape tomatoes – sliced
• Tomatillo sauce

Of course, with tacos, you can really add or subtract anything you want from the ingredient list. It’s the perfect recipe to really make your own and play with.

I highly suggest not leaving out the pineapple slaw or the chipotle mayo though. Even if you think you might not like it, just give it a try. Both components really make this recipe so amazing!

How To Cook Shrimp For Tacos?

Cooking shrimp for tacos can be done in various ways, grilled, fried, boiled, or my personal favorite, roasted. For these shrimp tacos, I used my all-time favorite Garlic Roasted Shrimp recipe.

I love this way of cooking shrimp because you simply just take your thawed, shelled, and deveined shrimp, toss in the coating, and throw it in the oven until fully cooked.

Why Use Shrimp? 

I love cooking with shrimp because it’s a great healthy convenience food. Not only is it something you can buy frozen and quickly defrost, but it’s also super quick to cook, taking only a few minutes.

It’s also great for those trying to watch what they eat with only 84 calories 20 grams of protein, very little fat. With all of those facts, what’s not to love about shrimp!

Shrimp Tacos are the Perfect Party Food!

With warmer temps coming, we all know that means lots of weekend backyard parties. The hardest part of entertaining can often be figuring out the right spread to make everyone happy. For your next party choose a Mexican theme and make this shrimp taco recipe into a taco bar!

Just lay out all the pre-prepared ingredients into separate bowls and let everyone create their own masterpiece. To complement the taco bar check out some of my favorite Mexican themed drinks, sides, and desserts.

What to serve with your tacos: 

Beer Margaritas or Sangria Mexican Mule

Creamy Chorizo Cheese Dip

Easy Spanish Rice

Un-Fried Fried Ice Cream

Tips for Assembling Your Shrimp Tacos

When it comes to tacos its all about how you put it together. You want that perfect layer combo to make sure you’re tasting all the flavors every time you take a bite. Here’s how I like to put mine together:

• Lay your shells on a plate, or in a taco holder
• Sprinkle the slaw first
• Lay down the shrimp
• Add the toppings you desire
• Top off with your sauce (for the perfect sauce distribution, put it in a sandwich bag, cut a small hole in one corner of the bag, and squeeze the sauce out like icing.)

Have A Fiesta With More Mexican Dishes

Southwest Chicken Quesadilla Salad – A flavorful, texture-packed salad that’s quick and easy for busy nights or lunch.

Crock Pot Mexican Casserole – A hearty, protein-packed dish with quinoa, black beans, and ground chicken or turkey.

Taco Pizza – Made with refrigerated pizza crust and pre-cooked chicken, then topped with taco favorites and crunchy Doritos.

Rio Grande Chicken Quesadilla – Seasoned chicken and refried beans come together for a simple, satisfying quesadilla.

Easy Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas – Oven-ready in 15 minutes, these enchiladas are fast, flavorful, and perfect for busy nights.

Baked Chipotle Chicken Taquitos – Crispy, baked taquitos filled with chicken, beans, cheese, and a spicy tomatillo avocado salsa.

Make It Taco Tuesday Every Day!

Who says tacos only get one day of the week? If it were up to me every day would be a Baja shrimp taco day because they are just that good! If you’re looking for a simple, yet unique dish that everyone will love, then look no further. This recipe is a sure-fire crowd pleaser!

Baja Shrimp Tacos with Pineapple Lime Slaw

Yield: 6 Tacos
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes

Pineapple lime slaw adds a nice tangy crunch to these Baja Shrimp Tacos. Loaded with garlic roasted shrimp, avocado, sweet peppers, tomatoes and spicy chipotle mayo making these the BEST shrimp tacos. The perfect quick and delicious meal any night of the week.

Ingredients

Shrimp

• 1½ pounds garlic roasted shrimp (with tails removed)

Pineapple Lime Slaw

• 3 cups shredded cabbage
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 3 tablespoons pineapple juice
• 1/3 cup pineapple, chunks
• large pinch kosher salt

Chipotle Mayo

• 3/4 cup mayonnaise (or plain Greek yogurt)
• 1½ tablespoons lime juice
• 2 teaspoon lime zest
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon adobo sauce

Other

• 6 small flour (or corn) tortillas
• 4-5 baby bell peppers, thinly sliced
• 2 small jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced
• 1-2 small avocados, sliced or diced
• grape tomatoes, sliced
• tomatillo sauce

Instructions

1. Prepare slaw by combing all ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside. (can be made ahead of time. store covered in refrigerator until ready to assemble)
2. Prepare chipotle mayo by combing all ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. (can be made ahead of time. store covered in refrigerator until ready to assemble)
3. Prepare garlic roasted shrimp per recipe directions here.
4. Warm the tortillas for 10-15 seconds in the microwave. Assemble tacos by adding slaw, avocado, peppers, tomatoes and shrimp to tortillas. Serve with chipotle mayo and tomatillo sauce and if desired. Enjoy!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• Taco Holders Set of 2 Premium Stainless Steel Stackable Stands, Each Rack Holds 2 or 3 Hard or Soft Tacos, Five Styles Available By 2lbDepot
• Glass Mixing Bowls – 10-Piece Nesting Set
• Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet - USA Made Aluminum Sheet Pan, 2-Pack

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6
Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 542
Total Fat: 32g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 25g
Cholesterol: 14mg
Sodium: 329mg
Carbohydrates: 61g
Fiber: 10g
Sugar: 12g
Protein: 11g

Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used.

Originally posted in March 2019