Instantly craveable Crispy Panko Shrimp Tacos are bursting with crispy fried shrimp, bright ‘n citrusy cilantro lime slaw and creamy spicy mayo all tucked into a perfectly charred tortilla. SO good!
Why This Is a Taco Night Favorite
- Crunchy/Creamy/Crisp Goodness: Crunchy golden fried shrimp are juicy on the inside with creamy spicy mayo on top, bedded over crisp, citrusy slaw. The perfect combo like in bang bang shrimp tacos!
- Family Favorite Recipe: Everyone from kids to adults and grandparents love these flavorful and indulgent, yet balanced shrimp tacos that they can all add their favorite toppings to!
- ULTIMATE Crispy Fried Shrimp: Crunchy & craveable like popcorn shrimp, coconut shrimp, and bang bang shrimp.
The Ultimate Fried Shrimp Tacos Recipe
Allow me to introduce you to the most seriously AMAZING crispy shrimp tacos! Erik and I’ve been fighting each other for the last taco with this recipe. It’s the perfect balance of YUM: decadent, crispy fried shrimp, fresh ‘n tart cilantro lime slaw, and creamy spicy mayo all tucked into a perfectly charred tortilla. These taste even better than they look! Which is saying a lot—have you seen these beauties?
When I worked on my crispy shrimp recipe, I was so blown away by the crispy exterior, the perfect amount of seasoning, and the juicy shrimp inside that I knew I had to include them in another recipe. And that recipe is today’s fried shrimp tacos recipe.
This recipe is perfect for Taco Tuesdays, or Taco Night on any day! You’ll love how the decadent fried shrimp pair so well with fresh and citrusy cilantro slaw nestled in charred tortillas and topped with creamy spicy mayo. Let’s make this!
Panko Shrimp Tacos Ingredients
Crispy shrimp tacos are comprised of 3 main components: crispy fried shrimp, bright cilantro lime slaw, and hot/creamy spicy mayo. These three combine to make the most delicious Panko shrimp tacos that are crunchy, creamy, and crisp!
- Crispy shrimp – jumbo raw shrimp, buttermilk, cornstarch, Panko breadcrumbs (the key to crispiness, just like in onion rings), garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper, oil
- Cilantro Lime Slaw – mayonnaise, cilantro, lime, garlic, honey, salt and pepper, red & green cabbage, carrots, green onion, jalapeño
- Spicy mayo – use store-bought or make my incredible & easy homemade spicy mayo recipe
How to Make Crispy Shrimp Tacos
- Add buttermilk to a shallow bowl, then cornstarch into another similar bowl. In a large bowl, stir together Panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Dredge shrimp in buttermilk, then cornstarch, back into buttermilk, and finally in Panko. Squeeze to seal in breading.
- Fry shrimp for 2-4 minutes in a deep fryer set to 350°F, until golden brown. Transfer onto a paper towel-lined plate.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, cilantro, lime, garlic, honey, salt and pepper. In a large bowl, mix together cabbage, carrots, green onion, and jalapeño. Pour dressing over veggies and toss to make cilantro lime slaw.
- Char tortillas over a gas grill. Arrange on serving plates, then top with slaw, shrimp, and spicy mayo. Serve shrimp tacos with lime wedges & enjoy!
Tips For The Best Crispy Shrimp Tacos
- For extra crispy shrimp, make sure to squeeze the shrimp in your palm on the final dredge—this will get the Panko to seal in.
- Use more of the spice element in spicy mayo for a kick, less for a creamier topping.
- For perfectly charred tortillas, toss the tortillas right onto your gas grill or gas stovetop. Watch them closely and flip semi-frequently. I like to take them right to the edge of burning.
- For the cilantro lime slaw, make sure to use fresh-squeezed lime juice, not bottled—the brightness is key to amazing fried shrimp tacos.
What to Serve With Crispy Shrimp Taco
Here are some tasty recommendations for what to serve with this crispy shrimp tacos recipe.
- Taco Holders – Erik and I use these to hold the tortillas in place to stuff them for Taco Night! We’ve had ours for 4 years and they’re still going strong.
- Deep Fryer – you can pick the exact temperature for this and it’s easy to clean!
- Drizzle Bottle – for condiments like yum yum sauce or bang bang sauce, keeps them fresh and drizzling to perfection.
For more delicious ideas like this crispy shrimp taco recipe, follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. If you’ve tried this recipe, take a pic and tag us on Instagram using #beamingbaker. We can’t wait to see it! Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
More Shrimp & Tacos Recipes
Cilantro Lime Slaw
- ¼ cup mayonnaise*
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 lime, juiced and zested
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ teaspoon honey
- 1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- A pinch of black pepper
- ¾ cup red cabbage, shredded
- ¾ cup green cabbage, shredded
- ½ cup carrots, grated
- ½ green onion, chopped
- 1 jalapeño, deseeded and finely chopped, skip or reduce if sensitive to heat
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Fry Shrimp: Add buttermilk to a shallow bowl. Add cornstarch to a second shallow bowl. In large bowl, stir together Panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
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One shrimp at a time, dip in buttermilk, then dredge in cornstarch, dip back into buttermilk, and finally dredge in Panko mixture, squeezing to seal in the breadcrumb coating.
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Heat oil in a deep fryer or a little over 1 inch of oil in a deep pan* to 350°F. Deep fry shrimp for 2-4 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to catch excess oil.
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Make Cilantro Lime Slaw: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, cilantro, lime, garlic, honey, salt and pepper. In a large bowl, toss to combine red and green cabbage, carrots, onion, and jalapeno. Pour dressing over slaw and toss until evenly coated.
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Assemble Crispy Shrimp Tacos: Char tortillas over gas grill or heat on a skillet over medium heat until warmed. Arrange tacos on serving plates. Place slaw, about 2-3 shrimp, then more slaw into each taco. Drizzle with spicy mayo and serve with lime wedges. Enjoy!
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- *For my 12-inch wide, deep-rimmed pan, I needed 6 cups of oil to reach 1 inch of oil for frying.
Calories: 264kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 63mg, Sodium: 859mg, Potassium: 200mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1335IU, Vitamin C: 8mg, Calcium: 109mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
