This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These budget-friendly Shrimp Coleslaw Tacos are bold, fresh, and ready in 30 minutes- every parent’s weeknight dinner dream.
These Shrimp Coleslaw Tacos balance a bit of heat, crunch, and creaminess. Juicy, spiced shrimp are paired with tangy corn slaw and a silky avocado crema, all nestled into warm tortillas. It’s a weeknight win, a meal prep hero, and a dinner party favorite wrapped into one flavorful taco!
❤️ Why You’ll Love These Shrimp Coleslaw Tacos
They are budget-friendly! Using a combo of frozen and fresh produce from Trader Joe’s makes this recipe budget-friendly. Blending avocado with sour cream means you’ll stretch those pricey avocados further, and thanks to the lime juice and sour cream, the vibrant green stays fresh without browning too quickly.
Just enough 🔥! These tacos are very well balanced! The shrimp seasoning is not too spicy, the coleslaw is both tangy and slightly sweet, and the avocado crema provides a light and creamy finish.
Dinner is done in 30! These shrimp coleslaw tacos take just 20 minutes to prepare, and the shrimp takes less than 10 minutes to cook up!
🍲 Trader Joe’s Ingredients
To make my Shrimp Coleslaw Tacos more budget-friendly, we are using frozen shrimp, frozen corn, and low-cost fresh veggies from Trader Joes.
🦐Argentinian shrimp from Trader Joe’s are the star—sweet, juicy, and quick-cooking, they’re seasoned with a bold spice mix of cumin, chili powder, garlic, and onion powder.
🧉 Sour cream and mayo form the base of the coleslaw dressing, offering creaminess without heaviness, while apple cider vinegar, honey, and lime juice add zing and sweetness.
🥦 Trader Joe’s shredded cabbage mix and roasted corn bring crunch, color, and a hint of smokiness.
🥑 The avocado crema is made with ripe avocado, sour cream, lime juice, and cilantro, making it the perfect velvety topper.
🌮 Don’t forget the tortillas and jalapeño slices for that final taco-shop touch.
How to Make Shrimp Coleslaw Tacos 🌮
- Prepare the shrimp– Pat the shrimp dry and toss them in a spice blend made with cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic and onion powder, and salt.
- Prepare the coleslaw– Whisk together Greek yogurt, mayo, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, honey, salt, and pepper. Add cabbage and corn, toss, and let it sit to soak in the flavor.
- Prepare the avocado crema– In a blender, combine avocado, sour cream, lime juice, salt, and optional cilantro until smooth.
- Cook the shrimp– Heat avocado or olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Cook shrimp in batches for about 2 minutes per side until just cooked through.
- Warm your tortillas, then layer them with creamy avocado crema, crunchy slaw, and sizzling shrimp. Finish with jalapeño slices for kick!
🪄 Tips and Tricks
- Dry shrimp = better sear. Always pat them dry before seasoning.
- Don’t overcrowd or cover the pan when cooking shrimp—you want them to sizzle, not steam.
- Make ahead– Prep the slaw and crema ahead of time for even faster assembly.
- Toast your tortillas directly over a gas burner or in a dry pan for a little extra flavor.
Variations
- Swap the protein- Substitute the shrimp for grilled chicken, tofu, or even crispy chickpeas for a vegetarian spin.
- Go tropical with some diced mango or pineapple in the slaw.
- Turn this 🌮 into a rice bowl! Grab a box of Trader Joe’s microwaveable brown rice, and top it with all the shrimp coleslaw taco fixins!
Substitutions
- No sour cream? Use Greek yogurt or more mayo.
- Can’t find Argentinian shrimp? Any medium raw shrimp will do the trick.
- Not a cilantro fan? Just skip it in the crema.
- Can’t find roasted corn? Use regular frozen corn instead.
Best served with
- Frozen Aperol Spritz
- Spicy Margarita
- Rice and Beans
How to Store Leftovers
Store shrimp, coleslaw, crema, and tortillas separately in airtight containers. Shrimp will keep for up to 2 days in the fridge. Coleslaw and crema will hold up for 2–3 days.
How to Reuse Leftovers
Toss leftover shrimp and slaw into a salad, rice bowl, or wrap. Use the avocado crema as a dip for veggies or a spread for sandwiches.
🤔 Common Questions
Can I make these ahead of time?
Absolutely—make the slaw and crema in advance. Cook the shrimp right before serving for best texture.
Are these tacos spicy?
They have a mild kick. To dial it down, skip the jalapeños or reduce the chili powder.
Can I use frozen corn instead of roasted?
Totally! Just defrost and pat it dry before mixing it in.
SHRIMP COLESLAW TACOS
Ingredients
Shrimp Ingredients
- 32 ounce bag of Trader Joe's Raw Argentinian shrimp or regular frozen shrimp, thawed
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
Coleslaw Ingredients
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 lime juiced
- 1/3 cup Light sourcream
- 2 tbsp mayo
- 2 tbsp honey
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 12 ounces Green & Red Shredded Cabbage
- 1 cup Trader Joe's Roasted Corn or regular frozen corn, defrosted and drained
Avocado Crema Ingredients
- 1.5 avocado
- 1/4 cup light sour cream
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 lime juiced
- ¼ cup cilantro, optional
Everything Else
- 8 small flour tortillas
- 1 jalapeno sliced thin
Instructions
- Use paper towels to pat the shrimp dry and transfer to a large bowl.
- Add the cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and ¾ tsp salt to a small bowl and mix well. Sprinkle the seasoning blend all over the shrimp and toss to coat.
- Add the first seven cabbage slaw ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and whisk until smooth. Add the cabbage and the corn to the same bowl and toss to coat.
- Add all of the avocado crema ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- One by one, add the tortillas to a preheated non-stick pan and warm for about 30 seconds on each side.
- Spray the same pan with avocado or olive oil and raise the heat to medium-high. Once the oil is hot, add the shrimp. Cook the shrimp in batches, 2 minutes on each side.
- Fill tacos with coleslaw, shrimp, crema, and a few slices of Jalapeño!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
