Cajun Shrimp Taco Bowls (Printable)

A vibrant mix of spicy shrimp, fluffy rice, fresh veggies, and creamy avocado for a satisfying meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 ½ tsp Cajun seasoning
04 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
05 - ¼ tsp salt
06 - ¼ tsp black pepper
07 - 1 clove garlic, minced

→ Rice

08 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
09 - 2 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
10 - ½ tsp salt

→ Vegetable Toppings

11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or drained canned)
13 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
14 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
15 - 1 avocado, sliced
16 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Sauce

17 - ⅓ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
18 - 1 tbsp lime juice
19 - ½ tsp hot sauce (optional)
20 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ For Serving

21 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine rice, water or broth, and ½ tsp salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
02 - Whisk sour cream or Greek yogurt, lime juice, hot sauce if using, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
03 - Pat shrimp dry. Toss with olive oil, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and minced garlic until evenly coated.
04 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook shrimp 2–3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove from heat.
05 - While shrimp cooks, prepare cherry tomatoes, corn, red onion, lettuce, avocado, and cilantro.
06 - Divide rice among 4 bowls. Top with shrimp, cherry tomatoes, corn, onion, lettuce, avocado slices, and cilantro. Drizzle with sauce and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Shrimp cooks in minutes, so weeknight dinner actually feels manageable instead of chaotic.
  • The creamy lime sauce cuts through the heat in a way that makes you want another bite immediately.
  • You can prep toppings while rice simmers, meaning everything comes together without fuss.
02 -
  • Shrimp cooks fast, and overcooked shrimp turns rubbery and sad, so set a timer and check at 2 minutes instead of guessing.
  • Avocado browns quickly once sliced, so cut it as close to serving time as possible and don't prep it ahead.
  • The sauce needs lime juice to brighten it, and bottled lime juice doesn't deliver the same punch as fresh.
03 -
  • If shrimp is frozen, thaw it slowly in the fridge overnight or under cold running water for 15 minutes, not in warm water where it gets mushy.
  • Double the sauce recipe if you're the type who likes extra, because it's worth it and people always want more of the creamy lime.
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