Cajun Shrimp Taco Bowls (Printable)

Spicy Cajun-seasoned shrimp paired with rice, fresh veggies, and creamy avocado for a vibrant bowl.

# 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:

01 - In a medium saucepan, combine rice, water (or broth), and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
02 - Whisk sour cream or Greek yogurt with lime juice, hot sauce if desired, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
03 - Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Toss shrimp with olive oil, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic until evenly coated.
04 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook for 2 to 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 four bowls. Top with shrimp, cherry tomatoes, corn, red onion, lettuce, avocado slices, and cilantro. Drizzle with prepared sauce and serve with lime wedges.

# Top Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in less time than ordering takeout and tastes twice as good.
  • Every bite has texture contrast, creamy meets crunchy meets juicy.
  • You can dial the heat up or down and swap toppings based on what's in your fridge.
  • It feels like a restaurant bowl but costs a fraction of the price.
02 -
  • Don't skip patting the shrimp dry, wet shrimp won't caramelize and you'll lose that smoky edge.
  • Let your skillet get really hot before adding the shrimp, a good sear happens fast and locks in flavor.
  • Taste your Cajun seasoning first, some brands are saltier than others, and you can always add more but can't take it back.
03 -
  • Toast your Cajun seasoning in the dry skillet for 30 seconds before adding the shrimp, it deepens the flavor and makes the spices bloom.
  • If your avocado isn't quite ripe, a few seconds in the microwave wrapped in a damp paper towel will soften it just enough.
  • Use a mix of white and brown rice for extra texture and nutrition, just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
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