Fajitas have become a staple on Tex-Mex and Mexican menus worldwide for several decades. We are huge fans of them. Wait until you try this version.
We’re not going to lie, we are huge fans of steak fajitas. But, folks, this seafood version gives the juicy steak version a real run for its money. Top with pico de gallo, crumbled Cotija cheese, chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of lime for an unforgettable culinary creation. And, it will be on the table in about 30 minutes!
How To Make Shrimp Fajitas
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The Ingredients You Will Need
The ingredients for this dish are not exotic and many you probably already have. Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand:
Oil – Olive oil or vegetable oil is perfectly fine.
Onion – Yellow or White. Peeled and sliced.
Bell peppers – We love sliced red, yellow, and orange. They are slightly sweet and match perfectly with the seasoned shrimp. Go with one, or a combination of them.
Shrimp – Extra-large is our recommendation. Deveined and shells (and tails) removed.
Seasonings – Chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
Tortillas – Flour is traditional, however, if you prefer corn, they are great, too! We heat them over a flame on a gas stove or on a grill to lightly char them in spots.
Garnishes – Pico de gallo, salsa, grated cheese (Cotija is excellent), limes, chopped fresh parsley, and bottled hot sauce. Sour cream, sliced avocados, and guacamole are good, too!
EXPERT TIP: Be sure to sauté the vegetables until they are very tender and the onions are starting to brown. This usually takes about 15 minutes. If you prefer your peppers more al denté (not as tender), then only sauté them for 10 minutes.
Tips for Making the Best-Ever Shrimp Fajitas
Go With Quality Shrimp – Seek out top-notch shrimp, if possible. Gulf shrimp are excellent. Frozen is fine, but check where they were caught. Wild-caught is excellent. Whole Foods has quality seafood.
Use Fresh Vegetables – Choose a colorful mix of fresh bell peppers and onions for sautéing. Slice them into uniform strips to ensure even cooking, and consider adding other vegetables like zucchini or mushrooms for extra texture and flavor.
Cook at High Heat – Sauté the marinated shrimp and vegetables in a hot skillet or cast-iron pan to achieve a nice sear and caramelization. Cooking at high heat helps develop those delicious charred flavors while keeping the shrimp tender and juicy.
Serve with Fresh Toppings – Enhance your shrimp fajitas with fresh toppings like avocado or guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and chopped cilantro. Warm tortillas (flour or corn) are essential. Serve them family-style so guests can customize their fajita according to their tastes.
EXPERT TIP: Be sure to sauté the shrimp until they are fully cooked. They will curl up and turn pink. The seasoning may make it difficult to see the pinkness. Typically, they take about 5 to 8 minutes to fully cook them. Don’t overcook them, otherwise, they will become rubbery.
How To Serve
We love to serve our fajitas on a piping hot fajita skillet. We place the skillet on a hot stove burner for about 5 minutes, and then when we’re ready to serve, quickly transfer the sautéed onions and peppers onto it, and then top with the cooked shrimp.
The sizzle is classic, and fun, and feels like you’re at an awesome Tex-Mex restaurant.
If you don’t have a fajita skillet, don’t worry! Just mix the onions and peppers with the cooked shrimp and serve directly from the skillet.
Other Classic Seafood Mexican Recipes
If you love Tex-Mex, Cal-Mex, and Mexican cuisine, and you also enjoy seafood, this collection of recipes is for you!
- Shrimp Tacos Dorado
- Seafood-Stuffed Poblano Peppers
- Veracruz-Style Shrimp Enchiladas
- Mahi Mahi Tacos
- Baja Fish Tacos
- Mexican Shrimp Ceviche
These are all amazing without a doubt. But, in the meantime, aren’t these fajitas calling your name? Don’t forget the hot sauce!
Other Classic Tex-Mex Recipes to Try
We couldn’t just stop with seafood recipes. Here are some classic Tex-Mex recipes that will rival your favorite Tex-Mex restaurant.
- Steak Fajitas
- Chicken Fajitas
- Tex-Mex Beef Tacos
- Classic Cheese Enchiladas with Ancho Sauce
- Smothered Burrito
- Chicken Flautas
- Beef Chimichanga
- Chili Relleno Stuffed with Mexican Queso
- Tex-Mex Breakfast Tacos
- Authentic Refried Beans
- Mexican Rice
- Best-Ever Guacamole
These are all so good! And so are these shrimp fajitas! Yum!
Folks, these fajitas are restaurant-quality and so easy to prepare at home.
The peppers have a touch of sweetness which works perfectly with the seasoned shrimp.
You can even skewer the shrimp and cook them on your grill. No matter how you do it, you and your loved ones will be talking about these fajitas for days!
Ready to make the best fajitas this side of the Rio Grande? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photo of them, post it on Instagram and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!
Best-Ever Shrimp Fajitas
Equipment
- 1 Large skillet
- 1 fajita skillet optional
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 lb shrimp extra-large, deveined and peeled
- 4 tbsp olive oil divided
- 2 cups bell peppers seeded and cut into strips
- 1 large onion peeled and cut into strips
- 6 flour tortillas
- 2 tbsp cilantro fresh, chopped
- 2 limes cut into wedges
- pico de gallo for garnish
- Cotija cheese for garnish
- hot sauce for garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, cumin, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper.1 tbsp chili powder, ½ tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
- Place the shrimp in a large bowl and add 2 tbsp oil. Stir to coat the shrimp. Add the seasonings and toss to fully coat.1 lb shrimp, 4 tbsp olive oil
- Heat the remaining 2 tbsp of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bell peppers and onion and sauté, stirring often, until softened and lightly charred, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.2 cups bell peppers, 1 large onion
- In the same skillet, add the shrimp and cook, stirring often, until no longer pink and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside.
- Heat a fajita skillet over high heat for about 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully add the onions/peppers to the fajita skillet and then top with the cooked shrimp. Or, mix the sautéed onions/peppers with the shrimp in the skillet you cooked the onions and shrimp in.
- Heat the tortillas over a gas flame, on your grill, or in the microwave.6 flour tortillas
- Garnish with chopped cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime. Serve at once with all the fixings at the table.2 tbsp cilantro, 2 limes, pico de gallo, Cotija cheese, hot sauce
