Cajun Shrimp Taco Bowls (Printable)

A vibrant bowl combining spicy shrimp, fluffy rice, fresh veggies, and creamy avocado for a satisfying meal.

# What You Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 ½ teaspoons Cajun seasoning
04 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - ¼ teaspoon salt
06 - ¼ teaspoon 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 teaspoon salt

→ Vegetable Toppings

11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1 cup corn kernels, fresh, frozen, or canned (drained)
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 tablespoon lime juice
19 - ½ teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
20 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ For Serving

21 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# Directions:

01 - Combine rice, water or chicken broth, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk sour cream or Greek yogurt with lime juice, hot sauce if using, and salt and pepper. Set aside.
03 - Pat shrimp dry. Toss with olive oil, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and minced garlic until evenly coated.
04 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook 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 cooked rice among four bowls. Top with shrimp, cherry tomatoes, corn, red onion, lettuce, avocado slices, and cilantro. Drizzle with sauce and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The shrimp cooks in just minutes, so you can have dinner on the table while everyone's still hungry.
  • You build your own bowl, which means picky eaters can skip the cilantro or load up on avocado guilt-free.
  • That creamy lime sauce tastes like you spent hours on it, but it's literally four ingredients whisked together.
02 -
  • Wet shrimp will steam instead of sear, so pat them completely dry before they hit the pan—this one mistake cost me two batches of rubbery shrimp before I understood it.
  • The sauce is where the magic happens, and it's worth tasting and adjusting the salt and lime before you pour it over everything.
03 -
  • Slice your avocado just before assembly or it'll turn brown and sad—timing matters more than perfection here.
  • If your Cajun seasoning is very spicy, start with less and taste the shrimp as it cooks, adding more heat only if you need it.
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