High-Protein Family Dinner Idea: Shrimp Tacos Recipe
Craving fast dinner recipe ideas that fit a high protein diet? These 20-minute shrimp tacos are the go-to answer for tasty dinner ideas and Dinner ideas for busy families. Juicy seasoned shrimp, crisp cabbage, and zesty lime crema create irresistible shrimp dishes everyone will love. Pin this shrimp tacos recipe now for week-night flavor that’s healthy, quick, and crowd-pleasing!
Equipment
- Heavy non-stick or cast-iron skillet
- Shrimp peeler/deveiner
- Tongs
- Taco holder stand (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 lb Raw medium shrimp, peeled & deveined (pat dry)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (extra-virgin)
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 8 corn tortillas (5–6 in)
- Shredded red or green cabbage
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt (2%) (for crema)
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- lime zest (½ lime)
- Sliced jalapeño or hot sauce (to taste)
Instructions
- Season – In a bowl, combine shrimp, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Sear – Heat skillet over medium-high; cook shrimp ~2 min per side until pink and just opaque. Remove.
- Warm Tortillas – Toast each tortilla 15 s per side on the dry skillet or gas flame.
- Make Lime Crema – Stir Greek yogurt, lime juice, and lime zest with a pinch of salt.
- Assemble – Fill each tortilla with cabbage, shrimp, cilantro, and a drizzle of lime crema. Add jalapeños if desired.
Notes
-
Flavor twists:
- Chipotle-Honey – add 2 tsp minced chipotle + 1 tsp honey to the seasoning.
- Garlic-Lime – add 2 grated garlic cloves + extra lime zest.
- Mango-Habanero – fold ½ cup diced mango & minced habanero into cabbage.
- Vegan swap: Replace shrimp with shredded jackfruit or crispy tofu; sauté 5–7 min until edges brown. Use soy or coconut yogurt for the crema.
- Meal prep tips: Mix dry spice blend up to 1 month ahead. Cooked shrimp keep 48 h refrigerated; reheat gently to avoid rubbery texture.
Nutrition (per loaded taco, approximate)
| Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180 kcal | 18 g | 6 g | 17 g |
(Values calculated from USDA averages; actual results may vary.)