Cajun Shrimp Tacos Slaw (Printable)

Spicy Cajun shrimp combined with crisp slaw in warm tortillas delivers bold flavors and fresh textures.

# What You'll Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 lb large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1½ tbsp Cajun seasoning
04 - ½ tsp garlic powder
05 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
06 - ½ tsp salt
07 - ¼ tsp black pepper
08 - Juice of ½ lime

→ Slaw

09 - 2 cups shredded green cabbage
10 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
11 - ½ cup shredded carrots
12 - ¼ cup mayonnaise
13 - 1½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
14 - 1 tbsp honey
15 - ½ tsp salt
16 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ Tacos

17 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas
18 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
19 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a medium bowl, toss shrimp with olive oil, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and lime juice. Set aside to marinate for 10 minutes.
02 - In a large bowl, combine green and red cabbage, carrots, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and black pepper. Toss until well coated. Refrigerate until ready to use.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for 2–3 minutes per side, or until opaque and lightly charred. Remove from heat.
04 - Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until pliable.
05 - Place a generous spoonful of slaw on each tortilla, top with Cajun shrimp, and sprinkle with fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between hot spicy shrimp and cold crisp slaw creates that perfect bite every single time
  • Ready in under 30 minutes but tastes like something from a proper taco truck
  • The slaw actually gets better as it sits so you can prep it ahead
02 -
  • Crowding the pan will steam the shrimp instead of searing them so work in batches if needed
  • Letting the slaw sit for even 15 minutes transforms it from raw cabbage to something that actually tastes cohesive
  • The shrimp continue cooking after they leave the pan so pull them when they are just opaque
03 -
  • Pat your shrimp completely dry before adding the marinade or the spices will slide right off
  • Let the skillet get properly hot before adding shrimp for the best sear marks

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