The Only Shrimp Taco Recipe You’ll Need This Summer

Whenever I’m at the beach, I can feel my entire system resetting. Since our family’s schedule is mostly cleared, we can downshift into a more relaxed state of mind during that time. When I’m in Malibu, my favorite time of day is right before sunset. Everything is golden, and you can see everyone gathering around the grill, preparing ingredients at the farm stand, and holding a cold drink in hand. And this summer, our MVP has been these grilled shrimp tacos with grapefruit-avocado salsa. They’re known as the best shrimp tacos on the planet. Call us obsessed.

Now that I’m back in Austin, I’m all about bringing that laid-back California vibe home with me (even while juggling a busy work schedule and the realities of carpooling the kids from one activity to another). For me, the best way to get into the summer spirit is to cook (and eat!) as many meals outside as possible. This shrimp taco recipe is the perfect excuse to enjoy an outdoor meal any night of the week. Let’s get started. Let me show you how easy it is to put together.

Grilled Shrimp Taco Ingredients

This is a short and sweet list of ingredients that I think are the basic requirements for a great summer recipe. Here’s what to buy at the grocery store:

• Lime
• grapefruit
• honey
• garlic
• chili powder
• mayonnaise
• Shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• cabbage
• Corn Tortillas
• avocado
• master
• Jalapeno

How to Make the Best Shrimp Taco Recipe

Marinate the shrimp

The key to keeping this recipe simple is to have the ingredients do double duty. The marinade doubles as a base for the creamy sauce, and the grapefruit salsa uses several of the ingredients in the marinade. Again, I like a short grocery list.

To make the marinade, whisk the zest and juice of the citrus fruits with the honey, garlic, chili powder, and olive oil. Then place the shrimp in a bowl and pour over half of the marinade. Keep these shrimp in the marinade for only 30 minutes to 1 hour maximum. If you soak longer than that, you run the risk of the shrimp starting to “cook” on the citrus. (We don’t make ceviche here.)

Make quick crema

This sauce is a great way to add flavor to your shrimp taco recipe. All you need for the cream sauce is a pre-made marinade that you mix with mayonnaise or sour cream. Mix it with the shredded cabbage for 5 seconds and then drizzle the rest over the finished tacos.

Mix the salsa

I made grapefruit the main ingredient in this addictive salsa. It’s incredibly easy and takes tacos to the next level. Mix the avocado and grapefruit chunks together, then add the cilantro and adjust the jalapeño to add as much heat as you like. Double the recipe and serve as an appetizer with tortilla chips.

How to Cook Shrimp for Tacos

Trust me. maximum Delicious shrimp get that char, which means a quick cooking method is the best way to go. I like to cook shrimp in a cast iron skillet over high heat on the grill grates. This allows for a quick sear while keeping the shrimp from getting through the grates.

Add the shrimp to the pan and when you hear them sizzle, resist the temptation to move or flip the shrimp until the first side is nice and caramelized.

Assemble the taco

To serve, top a charcoal corn tortilla with the cabbage slaw, grapefruit salsa, and grilled shrimp. Garnish with cilantro and a drizzle of crema and serve with a lime wedge. Voila—the best shrimp tacos you’ve ever had.

Tips for Shrimp Taco Success

Change the toppings

If you want to skip the salsa, add creamy avocado slices, fresh cilantro slices, and a few slices of fresh lime. Pico de gallo is always welcome!

Change your protein

You can also make them into fish tacos using the same marinade, sauce, and salsa. Cod or halibut fillets work great in this recipe.

Think easy

I use a few key shortcuts when making this shrimp taco recipe.

• Use a bag of pre-shredded cabbage.
• Buy raw shrimp that has already been peeled and deveined.
• You can grill corn tortillas right on the grill and cook them outdoors (with minimal cleanup!).

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