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Home » Recipes » Seafood

Shrimp tacos with lime cabbage slaw and spicy yogurt sauce

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: Mar 5, 2025 | Published: May 5, 2017
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Shrimp tacos with lime cabbage slaw and spicy yogurt sauce make for a quick and easy dinner that’s big on flavor!A trio of shrimp tacos in flour tortillas set on a green serving platter with bowls of sauce and a cabbage slaw to the side with fresh pineapple in a bowl in the background next to serving plates.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

And how great is it that it’s on a Friday this year? Feels like a little gift from the universe.

It’s saying, “Go on, have a second margarita! Go on, go back for seconds!”

Thank you, I think I will

I had to pop in with an extra recipe this week because I just couldn’t let the holiday pass without sharing my shrimp tacos with lime cabbage slaw and spicy yogurt sauce.

(Plus I told you with my easy Mexican shrimp skillet that I’d be back with more shrimp goodness for you!)

A trio of shrimp tacos in flour tortillas set on a green serving platter with bowls of creamy sauce and a cabbage slaw to the side with fresh pineapple in a bowl in the background.

Shrimp tacos are one of my faves because they are so fast to make, so flavorful and cause, well, shrimp + tacos. I mean, duh!

The shrimp here are seasoned with a few spices, cooked quickly and served warm in your favorite soft taco shell.

(You could also use crunchy hard taco shells or make taco salads with this recipe.)

The crunchy lime cabbage slaw brings a hit of freshness and the spicy yogurt sauce gives it a cool, creamy topping with a bit of spice and a lot of decadence.

Deliciousness in every bite!

Notes on making shrimp tacos with lime cabbage slaw:

  • I buy frozen shrimp, which is actually fresher than “fresh” shrimp in the grocery store case. (Most stores have just thawed out frozen shrimp so buying it still frozen is a better move. Unless you can get it from a boat!)
  • I love, love getting my shrimp already peeled and deveined - saves so much time. Highly recommend if you can find it that way.
  • I prefer the 21-30 size shrimp, but you can use your favorite size.
  • Cooking shrimp with the tail on helps give it more flavor. But I usually remove mine so it’s easier to serve and eat.
  • You can cook the shrimp in batches, if needed. Just make sure not to overcook your shrimp! They don’t take long!
  • If you don’t like spicy, you can skip the Sriracha in the yogurt sauce.
  • If you do like spicy, you can add a few dashes of hot sauce or Sriracha to the lime cabbage slaw dressing and/or add some pickled jalapeños to your tacos.

Close up of shrimp tacos with cabbage slaw in flour tortillas on a green platter.

And of course, we’ve got an array of topping options. I’m always bringing the toppings!

Topping ideas to try for shrimp tacos:

- Diced mango or pineapple

- Additional red onion slices

- Fresh chopped cilantro

- Pickled jalapeños or hot sauce

- A few dollops of salsa (red salsa or salsa verde)

- Sliced or diced avocado

But these tacos are stellar on their own, so no worries if you want to keep it simple.

A plate with a shrimp taco in a flour tortilla with cabbage slaw, fresh pineapple and a creamy yogurt sauce on top.

Whatever your plans for Cinco de Mayo tonight, I hope it’s a fun one!

Have a great weekend!

XO,

Kathryn

Three shrimp tacos in flour tortillas set on a green serving platter with bowls of sauce and a cabbage slaw to the side with fresh pineapple in a bowl in the background.
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4.79 from 23 votes

Shrimp tacos with lime cabbage slaw and spicy yogurt sauce

Shrimp tacos with lime cabbage slaw and spicy yogurt sauce make for a quick and easy dinner that’s big on flavor!
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time5 minutes mins
Total Time20 minutes mins
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

For the shrimp:

  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 ¼ lbs. shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

For the lime cabbage slaw:

  • 2 cups coleslaw mix or sliced cabbage
  • ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

For the spicy yogurt sauce:

  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (I use nonfat)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce

For serving:

  • Soft whole wheat flour or corn tortillas, warmed
  • Optional toppings: Diced mango or pineapple, additional red onion slices, fresh chopped cilantro, pickled jalapeños, sliced avocado

Instructions

  • First, make the slaw. Add cabbage or slaw mix and red onion to a medium bowl and mix. In a small bowl or jar, combine the lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Shake well to combine. Pour the dressing over the slaw and stir to combine. Let marinate for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cook the shrimp. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Mix together the spices in a small bowl. Season the shrimp with the spice mix and add the shrimp in a single layer to the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until shrimp are turning pink and curling up, then flip and cook an additional 1-2 minutes, until cooked through.
  • Make the spicy yogurt sauce by combining all ingredients in a small bowl.
  • To serve: Add the slaw to warmed tortillas, then top with shrimp and spicy yogurt sauce. Add any additional desired toppings and serve immediately.

Notes

I prefer the 21-30 size shrimp, but you can use your favorite size.
You can cook the shrimp in batches, if needed. Just make sure not to overcook your shrimp - they don’t take long!
If you don’t like spicy, you can skip the sriracha in the yogurt sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 470kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!

A green platter with shrimp tacos in flour tortillas with a bowl of a creamy yogurt sauce to one side and a cabbage slaw to the other side with a bowl of pineapple in the background.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elizabeth

    March 27, 2018 at 1:57 pm

    Hi, how large is a serving? Is it approximately 1 taco?

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      March 27, 2018 at 7:18 pm

      Hi Elizabeth! The serving size is 2-3 tacos, depending on the size of your taco shell. (And taco shells are not included in the nutrition information.)

      Reply
  2. Katharina

    July 10, 2018 at 12:30 am

    You made a few good points there. I did a search
    on the matter and found most people will consent with your blog.

    Reply
  3. mary

    February 01, 2022 at 10:43 am

    Just made these last night, turned out really good. I always like to buy shell on shrimp I use to to make shrimp stock for seafood soup and gumbos.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      February 02, 2022 at 7:33 am

      Yay, I'm so glad you enjoyed them! And you are so smart to use the stock for soups and gumbo - yum!

      Reply
  4. Amy Botticello

    February 23, 2024 at 11:07 am

    My husband LOVES shrimp/fish tacos, but I don't make them often, due to thinking they make a mess in my kitchen. However, your recipe was quick to prep and clean up. I did not have yogurt on hand so I made the sauce using mayo and it worked out fine. We topped with guacamole and pico de gallo. These turned out great and my husband really liked them, too> Thanks for another really fast and delicious meal!

    Reply
4.79 from 23 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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Meet Kathryn

Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes to help you get delicious food on the table for your family!

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