These Simple Grilled Shrimp Tacos are sure to please. Citrus flavor and touch of heat bring these shrimp to life. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
If you’re craving something light, flavorful, and easy to prepare, these simple grilled shrimp tacos are the perfect answer. Bursting with fresh flavors and ready in under 30 minutes, they make an ideal weeknight dinner or a quick option for casual gatherings. With just a few key ingredients and some easy steps, you can enjoy a delicious, healthy meal that feels like a treat.
Why you’ll love Simple Grilled Shrimp Tacos
- Easy and delicious!
- Healthy meal that everyone will love!
- A fresh, spin on the classic meat tacos!
- Tasty citrus flavor!
- Great with a variety of toppings!
Simple Grilled Shrimp Tacos-Ingredients
- 2 lbs raw deveined shrimp
- 1 lime (zest and juice)
- 1 orange (zest and juice)
- 1/4 cup Tequila
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Simple Grilled Shrimp Tacos-Instructions
Preparing the Shrimp
Start by preparing your shrimp. If using frozen shrimp, ensure they are fully thawed before you begin. To do this quickly, place the shrimp in a colander and run cold water over them for 5-10 minutes, tossing occasionally.
Once thawed, you’ll want to peel and devein the shrimp if this hasn’t already been done. For best results, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. This step is crucial because dry shrimp will sear better on the grill, leading to that desirable charred flavor.
Marinating the Shrimp
Marinating your shrimp will infuse them with flavor and ensure they remain juicy and tender on the grill.
In a medium bowl, combine the zest and juice of an orange and lime, tequila, olive oil, black pepper, chili powder and cayenne powder. Whisk together until the marinade is well-blended. Add the shrimp to the bowl, tossing to coat them evenly with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes. Avoid marinating for too long, as the acidic lime juice can start to “cook” the shrimp, leading to a less desirable texture.
Grilling the Shrimp
Now that your shrimp are marinated, it’s time to fire up the grill. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, ensuring the grates are clean and well-oiled to prevent sticking.
If you’re using skewers, thread the shrimp onto them, leaving a bit of space between each piece. This makes flipping easier and ensures even cooking. Alternatively, you can place the shrimp in a grill basket which makes the grilling process easy and ensures that you don’t lose any shrimp to the grates.
Grill the shrimp for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until they turn pink and opaque. Be careful not to overcook them, as shrimp can become rubbery if left on the grill for too long. The perfect shrimp should be slightly firm to the touch and have a nice char on the outside.
If you don’t have access to an outdoor grill, you can use a grill pan on the stovetop or even broil the shrimp in the oven for similar results.
Assembling the Tacos
With your shrimp perfectly grilled, it’s time to assemble your tacos. Start by warming your tortillas. You can do this directly on the grill for a few seconds on each side, or in a dry skillet on the stovetop. Warm tortillas are more pliable and less likely to break when you fold them.
Layer a few shrimp onto each tortilla. You can finish with a squeeze of lime juice to add brightness to the flavors. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Great Toppings for Tacos
- Queso: Roll up your taco and pour it over the top for some creamy, cheesy goodness.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: One of the most common toppings, shredded cheddar cheese elevates the flavors of meat and vegetables.
- Fresh salsa: A staple found in many Mexican dishes, salsa adds some spice and tons of flavor and texture.
- Guacamole: This creamy mixture is a combination of mashed avocados, onion, garlic, peppers, lime juice, salt and pepper. A delicious topping that you can add to the inside or outside of your taco!
- Habaneros: Years ago the habanero was listed as one of the world’s hottest chilis. However, in recent years, it has been displaced by hotter peppers. The habanero is categorized in the extra-hot zone on the Scoville heat scale, ranging from 100,000-350,000, just below the super-hot peppers. Cut them up and add some real heat!
- Tomatoes: Add a little juicy sweetness to your taco! Tomatoes also pair well with meats and other vegetables.
- Grilled onions and peppers: Both go well with tomatoes and other vegetables that you may add to your taco. The onions will add a light and sweet flavor while the green peppers will add a little grassy bitterness.
- Jalapeños: For those that like a little more milder spice, cut up some fresh jalapeños. Jalapeños range from 2,500 to 8,000 on the Scoville heat scale. Much milder than a habanero.
- Black, kidney or refried beans: What’s Mexican food without beans? Black beans, in particular, add an eye-catching, striking color to your dish.
- Corn: Adds a sweet, starchy, and crunchy taste to your taco.
- Shredded lettuce: Adds a little texture and crunchiness to your taco.
- Chillies: Chillies have a variety of flavors including smoky, spicy, earthy, sweet, and grassy. Depending on your mood, add some of your favorites!
- Sour cream: Adds a tart, creamy, cool taste to your taco.
- Hot sauce: A spicy condiment made from hot chili peppers that raises the heat intensity in your taco. Depending on the hot sauce, temperatures may range from mild to super-hot!
- Cilantro: Cilantro is a relative of parsley and is used as an herb or spice. Adding it to your taco will add a little fresh, citrusy flavor.
Try them all or just add your favorites. There’s no wrong way to build your taco!
Fire up Simple Grilled Shrimp Tacos for your next meal!
Simple, flavorful, and quick to prepare, Simple Grilled Shrimp Tacos are sure to become a staple in your meal rotation. They offer a delightful balance of smoky, charred shrimp with fresh, zesty toppings that can be easily customized to your taste.
We’d love to hear how your tacos turned out! Share your experience in the comments, and let us know if you added any of your own twists to the recipe. If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out some of our other delicious tacos or explore our guide to mixing up some margaritas that would pair wonderfully with these tacos.
Enjoy your meal, happy grilling and remember…
Life’s too short to eat bad food!
Try these tacos too!
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Simple Grilled Shrimp Tacos
Equipment
- Grill
- Mixing bowls
Ingredients
- 2 lbs raw deveined shrimp
- 1 lime zest and juice
- 1 orange zest and juice
- 1/4 cup Tequila
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper optional-to add some heat
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the zest of the lime and orange.
- Squeeze the juice of the lime and orange into the bowl.
- Add tequila, olive oil, black pepper, chili powder and cayenne pepper (optional). Whisk together.
- Add the thawed shrimp to the bowl and mix to coat (shell off).
- Cover and chill for 30 minutes.
- Heat grill to medium heat, about 450 degrees.
- Add shrimp to grill in a basket or on skewers.
- Grill for 8-10 minutes or until shrimp are pink and opaque.
- Place 4-5 Shrimp in a warm tortilla, top with your favorite toppings & enjoy!
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