Easy Garlic Shrimp Tacos or Camarones Al Ajillo Tacos

Camarones al Ajillo Tacos or Easy Garlic Shrimp Taco Recipe filled with plump shrimp simmered in garlic butter and a hint of mild chile guajillo. Stuff the shrimp into a warm tortilla with fresh avocado, pickled onion or your favorite taco garnishes for a quick dinner idea.

This Garlic Shrimp Tacos uses our delicious Camarones al Ajillo recipe.  If you love seafood, this recipe is right for you. This will quickly become your favorite Taco Recipe.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

First - Deliciousness! The number one reason you will love this recipe is that it is delicious! Plump tender shrimp with garlic butter and mild chiles wrapped in a warm soft flour tortilla. How does it get better than that?

Second - The very close second reason is how easy these shrimp are to make. The shrimp are sautéd in the garlic butter for only a few minutes on each side. TIP: be sure to have everything ready BEFORE you put the shrimp in the pan... that's how fast this is.

Next - Versatile. You can add other kinds of shell fish (crab, lobster or what ever you have). Shrimp and seafood tacos are perfect with these fresh flavors, such as garlic, parsley, and lime juice. Serve them on warm tortillas with sliced avocado, and don't forget your favorite taco sauce or salsa.

These Camarones al Ajillo Tacos make a great main dish and easy dinner idea. I like to serve them with authentic Mexican side dishes like refried black beans or this fluffy Cilantro Avocado Rice (also known as Green Goddess Rice). This Air Fryer Mexican Rice is a quick side dish and is perfect with tacos.

Ingredients to make Camarones al Ajillo Tacos

- Butter and olive oil are needed to make this Mexican shrimp; they provide a nice, balanced flavor. However, you could use only one of them, and the recipe will work the same.

- Garlic cloves are a must in this recipe. They enhance the seafood taste, so don't skip them.

- Guajillo chiles provide a mild spice kick; you can replace them with stronger Arbol chilies.

- Medium or large shrimp will work for this recipe. You'll need to shell and devein them before using them, or you can simply buy them ready to use.

- Salt: Use a good quality sea salt for best results.

- Fresh parsley provides a fresh touch to this flavorful shrimp.

- Fresh lime juice: adds some tanginess that enhances the overall flavor of shrimp.

- Flour tortillas: You can use flour or corn tortillas, whichever goes best for you.

- Avocado: A creamy and ripe avocado matches beautifully with garlic shrimp.

- A delicious salsa such as our Fresh Tomato Salsa, Corn Salsa Chipotle Lime, or Salsa Verde.

How to make Garlic Shrimp Tacos

Tips: This recipe calls for a quick sauté of the shrimp in garlic butter but, if you happen to be grilling outside, just wrap the ingredients in foil to make a seafood foil packet and throw it on the grill. Easy, simple, no cleanup.

First, Cut off the chilies' stems, wipe them clean with a damp paper towel, and slice them in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds and chop into small, even pieces. Set aside.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt completely, then pour in the olive oil and stir to combine.

Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, stirring often so it doesn’t burn.

Stir in the chopped chilies and cook for 2 minutes, until the oil turns slightly red and the chilies begin to crisp. Keep an eye on the garlic to prevent over-browning.

Cooking Tip: Control the heat in the pan by removing the pan from the heat, if necessary. A lightweight sauté pan is best for this, it does not hold the heat and is easier to control. Take the pan on and off the heat so the garlic doesn't burn.

Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the skillet, without overcrowding. Cook for about 3 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes. They’re done when they turn opaque with a pinkish hue and feel firm (but not tough). Avoid overcooking, as they can become rubbery and shrink.

Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle in about ¼ teaspoon of salt and the chopped parsley, then toss to coat. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the shrimp and give everything a final stir.

Warm the corn tortillas, place about 3 shrimp in each, and top with a slice or two of avocado. Serve with your favorite salsa on the side and enjoy.

Ways to serve Camarones al Ajillo

One of the best things about Camarones al Ajillo is how versatile it is. The buttery garlic sauce pairs amazingly with so many sides, so you can easily adapt it for a quick weeknight meal or an impressive dinner for guests. Here are some tasty ideas to try:

• Served with steamed rice: White rice, coconut rice, or cilantro-lime rice all soak up the garlicky sauce perfectly.
• Served with pasta: Toss the shrimp and sauce with linguine or spaghetti for a quick seafood pasta.
• With crusty bread: Ideal for dipping into that irresistible garlic-butter sauce.
• On a fresh salad – A bed of greens with a light vinaigrette makes a fresh, vibrant base.

Tools for Making This Recipe

Here are Amazon links to the tools I used

Sauté or frying pan you may also call it a skillet. I like a light weight sauté pan because I can control the heat easier. Shrimp cook very quickly and heavy pan like a cast iron pan takes longer to heat up and retains the heat even after removing it from the heat making it easier to over cook the shrimp.

Garlic Press - I like to use a garlic press for this recipe. It minces the garlic finely and keeps the garlic smell off my hands and off my counters.

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