Get ready to elevate your taco night with these delicious shrimp tacodillas. Combining the best of tacos and quesadillas, this recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a fun weekend meal. The succulent shrimp, seasoned to perfection, pairs beautifully with melted cheese and crispy tortillas.
If you don't usually cook with shrimp, you'll need to pick up a pound of peeled and deveined shrimp from the seafood section of your supermarket. Make sure to also grab small flour tortillas and shredded cheese, which are essential for this recipe. The spices—chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin—are common pantry staples, but double-check to ensure you have them on hand.

Ingredients For Shrimp Tacodillas
Shrimp: Peeled and deveined, these are the star of the dish, providing a juicy and flavorful protein.
Flour tortillas: Small-sized tortillas that will serve as the base and top layer of the tacodillas.
Shredded cheese: Melts beautifully to hold the tacodillas together and adds a creamy texture.
Olive oil: Used to cook the shrimp and give them a nice sear.
Chili powder: Adds a bit of heat and depth of flavor to the shrimp.
Garlic powder: Enhances the overall flavor with a hint of garlic.
Cumin: Provides a warm, earthy flavor that complements the other spices.
Salt and pepper: Essential for seasoning and bringing out the flavors of the other ingredients.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When cooking the shrimp, make sure not to overcrowd the skillet. Overcrowding can cause the shrimp to steam rather than sear, which affects the texture and flavor. Cook the shrimp in batches if necessary to ensure each piece gets a nice, even sear.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
shrimp - Substitute with chicken breast: Chicken breast can be diced and seasoned similarly, providing a similar texture and protein content.
shrimp - Substitute with tofu: Tofu is a great vegetarian option that absorbs flavors well and provides a similar protein boost.
small flour tortillas - Substitute with corn tortillas: Corn tortillas offer a different texture and are gluten-free, making them suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
small flour tortillas - Substitute with lettuce wraps: For a low-carb option, lettuce wraps can be used to hold the filling.
shredded cheese - Substitute with vegan cheese: Vegan cheese provides a dairy-free alternative while still offering a similar texture and flavor.
shredded cheese - Substitute with queso fresco: Queso fresco is a mild, crumbly cheese that can add a different texture and flavor profile.
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor, making it a good alternative for cooking.
olive oil - Substitute with coconut oil: Coconut oil can add a slight sweetness and is also good for high-heat cooking.
chili powder - Substitute with paprika: Paprika offers a milder heat and a slightly sweet flavor, making it a good alternative.
chili powder - Substitute with cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper provides a spicier kick, so use it sparingly.
garlic powder - Substitute with fresh garlic: Fresh garlic offers a more intense and aromatic flavor.
garlic powder - Substitute with onion powder: Onion powder can provide a similar depth of flavor if garlic is not available.
cumin - Substitute with ground coriander: Ground coriander offers a citrusy and slightly sweet flavor that can complement the dish.
cumin - Substitute with smoked paprika: Smoked paprika adds a smoky depth that can enhance the overall flavor profile.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a salty and umami flavor, but use it sparingly to avoid overpowering the dish.
pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper offers a milder heat and a slightly different flavor profile.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store or Freeze This Dish
- Allow the shrimp tacodillas to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make the tortillas soggy.
- Wrap each shrimp tacodilla individually in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. This helps maintain their shape and prevents them from sticking together.
- Place the wrapped shrimp tacodillas in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. This ensures they stay fresh and prevents any unwanted odors from seeping in.
- Store the container or bag in the refrigerator if you plan to consume the shrimp tacodillas within 2-3 days. For longer storage, place them in the freezer.
- When freezing, label the container or bag with the date to keep track of their freshness. Shrimp tacodillas can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- To reheat refrigerated shrimp tacodillas, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the shrimp tacodillas on a baking sheet and heat for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through and the cheese is melted.
- For frozen shrimp tacodillas, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. Alternatively, you can reheat them directly from frozen by increasing the oven time to 20-25 minutes.
- If you prefer to use a microwave, place the shrimp tacodillas on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking frequently to avoid overcooking.
- For a crispy texture, consider reheating the shrimp tacodillas in a skillet over medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until heated through and the tortillas are golden brown.
- Serve the reheated shrimp tacodillas with your favorite toppings, such as salsa, guacamole, or sour cream, to enhance their flavor and freshness.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Wrap each shrimp tacodilla in aluminum foil to keep them from drying out.
- Place the wrapped tacodillas on a baking sheet.
- Heat in the oven for about 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crispy.
Stovetop Method:
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Place the shrimp tacodilla in the skillet without any additional oil.
- Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side until the tortillas are crispy and the cheese is melted.
Microwave Method:
- Place the shrimp tacodilla on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover with a damp paper towel to prevent the tortillas from drying out.
- Microwave on high for about 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure even heating.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the shrimp tacodillas in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Heat for about 3-5 minutes, or until the tortillas are crispy and the cheese is melted.
Toaster Oven Method:
- Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the shrimp tacodillas on the toaster oven tray.
- Heat for about 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are golden brown.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Skillet: A flat-bottomed pan used for cooking the shrimp and assembling the tacodillas.
Spatula: Useful for flipping the shrimp and the assembled tacodillas.
Tongs: Handy for turning the shrimp while cooking.
Measuring spoons: Essential for accurately measuring the chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin.
Cutting board: Provides a surface for prepping the shrimp.
Knife: Used for any additional prep work, such as deveining the shrimp if not already done.
Plate: For setting aside the cooked shrimp before assembling the tacodillas.
Cheese grater: If you're shredding your own cheese, this tool will be necessary.
Bowl: Useful for mixing the shrimp with the spices before cooking.
Measuring cup: For measuring the shredded cheese.
How to Save Time on Making This Recipe
Pre-cook the shrimp: Cook the shrimp ahead of time and store them in the fridge. This way, you can quickly assemble the tacodillas when you're ready to eat.
Use pre-shredded cheese: Save time by using pre-shredded cheese instead of shredding it yourself.
Prep ingredients in advance: Measure out and mix your spices beforehand to streamline the cooking process.
Double the batch: Make extra shrimp and store them for quick meals later in the week.
Use a large skillet: Cook multiple tacodillas at once to save time.

Shrimp Tacodillas
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 pieces Small flour tortillas
- 1 cup Shredded cheese
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- to taste Salt and pepper
Instructions
- 1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- 2. Add shrimp, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook until shrimp is pink and opaque, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- 3. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- 4. Place a tortilla in the skillet, sprinkle with cheese, add shrimp, and top with another tortilla. Cook until cheese is melted and tortillas are golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- 5. Repeat with remaining tortillas and shrimp. Serve hot.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts for This Recipe
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