Tacos
Shrimp Cocktail Tacos
Grilled shrimp are tossed in a creamy cocktail dressing with lime and a touch of cayenne. Red onion and cilantro add freshness to these easy corn tortilla tacos.
- Prep time
- 10 minutes
- Cook time
- 10 minutes
- Makes
- 4 large or 8 small tacos
Estimated total time: 20 minutes.
Let’s make it.
Prepare the grill and shrimp.
Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Pat the shrimp dry, then toss with the olive oil and a small pinch of salt and pepper. For an outdoor grill, thread small shrimp onto metal skewers or use a grill basket so they do not fall through the grate.
Mix the dressing.
Stir the mayonnaise and cocktail sauce together in a bowl. Add the juice from half the lime and a pinch of cayenne. Taste and adjust the lime or cayenne as you like.
Grill and warm.
Grill the shrimp for about 2 minutes per side, adjusting for their size, until lightly marked and the flesh is pearly and opaque all the way through. Transfer to a clean plate. Warm the tortillas on a clean area of the grill or in a dry skillet for about 20–30 seconds per side, until flexible.
Dress and assemble.
Toss the cooked shrimp with the dressing, red onion and cilantro. Divide among the warm tortillas and serve with the remaining lime wedges. Chop the shrimp into bite-sized pieces if needed for the 4-inch tacos.
From the kitchen
- Pat the shrimp dry before grilling to help them brown.
- For a gentler onion flavor, rinse the sliced red onion in cold water and drain well before adding it.
- Original or Turmeric corn tortillas both work. Use eight 4-inch Street Taco tortillas for smaller bites.
The basics
Get to know your tortillas.
Explore three heating methods, freezing and thawing advice, and tips for cooking with corn tortillas.
Cooking with tortillas