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You are going to love this flavorful shrimp fajitas and how easy it is to make it! Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner option that you can have over salads or with some tortillas. All you need is 20 minutes to have this ready.
Tender and well-seasoned shrimp fajitas are made on the stovetop in less than 30 minutes! Whether you decide to grill them, cook them on your stovetop in a skillet, or bake them in the oven, they will come out perfectly tender and delicious. My kids love this shrimp fajita recipe and I make it all the time. It is on my dinner menu rotation.
If you love fajitas, then you will also use our Steak Fajitas Recipe.
Recipe summary
- Dinner is prepared in less than 30 minutes.
- Easy and Versatile: swap shrimp for chicken or steak.
Ingredients needed
Below is a list of ingredients you will need to make this recipe. Full measurements are listed further down below in the recipe card.
- Seasonings: Smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, Cumin powder, Dried oregano, Garlic powder, and salt & pepper.
- Shrimp: I use raw and large shrimp. You can use frozen shrimp, but be sure to thaw the prawn right before cooking in running cool water.
- Oil: any oil will work.
- Onion: Red onions work great, but you may use white sweet onions.
- Bell Peppers: You can use green, red, orange, or yellow bell peppers. You will need three to four similar-sized peppers.
- Cilantro: This adds great flavor.
- Tortillas: Use warm corn or flour tortillas for the cooked shrimp tacos. For gluten-free fajitas, be sure to use corn tortillas.
How to make shrimp fajitas
Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin powder, dried oregano, garlic powder, and sea salt. Mix until fully incorporated to the shrimp will be flavorful.
2- Next, add the thawed peeled shrimp to a shallow dish. Before coating the shrimp in the seasoning, be sure to dry it off with paper towels so the spices will stick. Coat the shrimp with half of the seasoning blend.
Step 3: Heat one tablespoon of cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Next, add the onions and freshly sliced bell peppers to the hot pan
4- Cook the vegetables until they are tender and aromatic–about four minutes. The vegetables should still have a slight crunch to them. Remove the veggies from the heat.
Step 5: Add the rest of the seasoning blend the vegetables in the pan and stir with a spoon until combined.
6- Place the shrimp into the hot pan with more oil and cook until the shrimp is light pink.
Step 7: Return the cooked vegetables to the skillet and mix everything.
Step 8: Garnish the skillet shrimp with fresh cilantro and serve with warm tortillas or rice for fajita or shrimp burrito bowls.
Common Questions
There are a variety of toppings you can serve with fajitas. Some options are salsa, shredded Mexican cheese like cotija or queso, sour cream, guacamole, corn, black beans, tomatoes, steak, chicken, peppers, and more! If you want spicy flavors, then you can serve some freshly sliced jalapeños on top of the fajitas.
Absolutely! If you want to save time with this recipe, then you can use one of the store-bought packets of taco seasoning. They even sell Fajita seasonings, too!
Any kind of cheddar-based cheese is good! Some other tasty options include manchego, queso fresco, Colby Jack, and cotija.
You can swap the shrimp with chicken or steaks. The cooking time varies slightly because shrimp cooks much faster than chicken.
If you prefer adding all your ingredients to a sheet pan and baking it you can do that. Slice the bell peppers and onions really thin so they cook just in time the shrimp cooks in the oven. Baked at 350F for about 15-16 minutes or until the shrimp curls.
What to serve with shrimp Fajitas
Enjoy them with different side options like jalapeño skillet cornbread, Mexican sweet corn soup, easy street corn salad, fluffy rice made on the stovetop, or tender cauliflower rice, summer corn chowder, leafy greens, beans, tomato rice soup, and more!
Recipe Notes and Variations
- You can use steak in place of the shrimp. Some other great replacements include chicken breasts or thighs, salmon, tilapia, or other flaky fish.
- To make vegetarian fajitas, omit the shrimp and add black beans, kidney beans, or garbanzo beans. You can also add corn, tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, squash, etc., to the fajita veggies.
- You can make shrimp burritos instead of fajitas. Burrito bowls are also good! Serve burrito bowls with shrimp, rice, corn, avocado, tomatoes, beans, and more.
Storing and reheating
- Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You may also freeze them for up to 3 months.
- Reheat the leftover fajitas in the microwave for 45-60 seconds or until it is heated through or on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat. I do prefer using the microwave.
More shrimp recipes
- Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice (Keto-Friendly)
- Teriyaki Shrimp
- Easy Cajun Shrimp
- Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Garlic Shrimp Pasta
- Shrimp Burrito Bowl
- Easy Sesame Ginger Shrimp Stir-Fry Recipe
- Spicy Shrimp Avocado Salad Recipe
You may also like
- Mexican Grilled Chicken Salad
- Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Mexican Chicken Quinoa Bowl
- Chipotle Chicken Pasta
- Easy Mexican Shrimp Salad
- Healthy Mexican Street Corn
- Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
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Shrimp Fajitas Skillet Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound Large Shrimp, deveined and peeled
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil, divided
- 1 Large Red Onion, sliced
- 3-4 Bell Peppers, different colors, sliced
- A handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
- Lime, cut into wedges, to garnish
- Tortillas , for serving
Fajita Seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Cumin Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Sea Salt
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together all fajita seasoning ingredients ( 1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika , 1 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper, 1 Tablespoon Cumin Powder, 1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano, 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder, and ½ Teaspoon Sea Salt).
- Add the 1 pound Large Shrimp to a shallow dish and sprinkle with half of the seasoning. Mix well to coat, then set aside.
- Heat a tablespoon of the 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 1 Large Red Onion and 3-4 Bell Peppers and saute for 4-5 minutes until the vegetables have softened.
- Add the remaining seasoning and mix well. Set aside on a plate. Heat the remaining oil and add the shrimp. Cook for 3-4 minutes until they are pink and cooked through.
- Return veggies to the skillet and mix to combine. Garnish with A handful of fresh cilantro and serve with warm Tortillas and Lime. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can use steak in place of the shrimp. Some other great replacements include chicken breasts or thighs, salmon, tilapia, or other flaky fish.
- To make vegetarian fajitas, omit the shrimp and add black beans, kidney beans, or garbanzo beans. You can also add corn, tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, squash, etc., to the fajita veggies.
- Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for four days. Reheat the shrimp in the microwave or on the stovetop in a skillet.
- You can make shrimp burritos instead of fajitas. Burrito bowls are also good! Serve burrito bowls with shrimp, rice, corn, avocado, tomatoes, beans, and more.
- Cook the shrimp in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit on a baking sheet for about twelve minutes. Feel free to grill the shrimp for outdoor BBQ parties and occasions.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I have been married for 10 years and have never cooked. This recipe was very easy and delicious. My husband loved it. I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfect . I will absolutely make this many times in the future!
Thanks Patty. Glad you and your husband loved it.
It is in the medium hot to hot range so be aware.
I’m going to try this recipe tomorrow! For “sour cream”, I’ mix Greek yogurt with tomatillo salsa… it’s delish! And skinny taste sir fryer mexican street corn! If we can’t go out for our favorite Mexican.. might as well make it 🙂 thanks for the recipe!
Sounds awesome
Was delicious!
Thank you!
Made exactly as suggested. Beat our favorite Mexican restaurant! Will make over and over!
Yay. Thanks for the feedback
Really loved this recipe. I love fajitas and this recipe is perfect and easy to make. I ate it with some rice but you could use tortillas! Yummy
Thank you so much