These Shrimp Fajitas are packed with juicy shrimp, colorful peppers, onions, and bold Tex-Mex flavor—all cooked in one skillet in under 30 minutes. They're perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or an easy family dinner served with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings.
These Shrimp Fajitas are a quick, one-skillet Tex-Mex dinner made with juicy shrimp, colorful bell peppers, onions, and bold taco seasoning in just 30 minutes. Serve them in warm tortillas or crisp lettuce wraps with your favorite toppings for an easy, family-friendly meal that's perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or casual entertaining.
Quick Look:
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 17 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 10 minutes
- ⏲️ Total Time: 27 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: 4
- 🥗 Calories: About 316 per serving
- 🌶️ Flavor: Smoky, zesty, savory, and moderately spicy
- 🍤 Texture: Tender shrimp with crisp-tender peppers and onions
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy
- 🥬 Dietary: Gluten-free with certified gluten-free tortillas and low-carb when served in lettuce wraps
- 🍳 Equipment: Large cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet
- 💡 Why This Recipe Works
- Shrimp cooks in just a few minutes, making it ideal for a fast weeknight meal. Sautéing the vegetables first allows them to soften and lightly caramelize without overcooking the shrimp. The taco seasoning and ancho chili powder provide smoky Tex-Mex flavor, while fresh lime juice balances the spices with acidity. Cooking everything in one skillet also keeps preparation and cleanup simple. For more control over the sodium and heat, you can use this homemade taco seasoning instead of a packaged mix.
- 🍽️ Serving Idea: Spoon the shrimp and vegetables into warm tortillas and finish them with avocado, jalapeño, sour cream, and fresh cilantro. Serve them with this easy taco dip and tortilla chips for a relaxed family taco night. For guests who prefer chicken, these keto chicken fajitas make a complementary second filling.
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Ingredients
- Large raw shrimp – Peeled and deveined shrimp cook quickly and stay juicy. If you're looking for another easy shrimp dinner, try my : Shrimp in Coconut Sauce
- Bell peppers – Use any combination of colors for sweetness and crunch.
- Onion – White or yellow onion adds sweetness and balances the spices.
- Purple cabbage (optional) – Adds extra color and crunch.
- Taco seasoning – Store-bought or homemade both work well.
- Ancho chili powder – Adds a mild smoky heat.
- Fresh lime – Fresh juice brightens the flavors. If you have extra limes, pair these fajitas with my
- Cilantro Lime Rice for an easy Tex-Mex meal.
- Fresh cilantro or parsley – Adds a fresh, vibrant finish.
- Avocado – Adds creaminess and balances the spices.
- Jalapeño – Optional for extra heat.
- Tortillas – Use flour, corn, gluten-free tortillas, or lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
- Sour cream (optional) – A cool, creamy topping that balances the heat.
How to Make Shrimp Fajitas
Step 1: Cook the vegetables
Heat 1½ tablespoons of oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the bell peppers, onion, and cabbage (if using), then cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are crisp-tender. Season with salt and pepper, then transfer to a plate.
Step 2: Cook the shrimp and assemble
Add the remaining oil to the same skillet. Toss the shrimp with the taco seasoning and ancho chili powder, then cook for about 2 minutes per side, or until pink and opaque. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the shrimp, return the vegetables to the skillet, and toss everything together. Garnish with cilantro, avocado, jalapeño, and lime wedges, then serve immediately with warm tortillas or lettuce wraps.
FAQ about Shrimp Fajitas
Yes! Thaw the shrimp completely and pat them dry with paper towels before seasoning to help them brown instead of steam.
Shrimp are fully cooked when they turn pink and opaque and curl into a loose "C" shape. They usually need about 2 minutes per side, depending on their size.
Yes. You can slice the vegetables and season the shrimp up to 24 hours in advance. For the best texture, cook everything just before serving.
Use a mild taco seasoning, omit the ancho chili powder and jalapeños, and top the fajitas with sour cream or avocado to mellow the heat.
Avocado, pico de gallo, shredded cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, salsa, pickled onions, and a squeeze of fresh lime are all delicious options.
Store the shrimp and vegetables separately from the tortillas. Leftovers are great in rice bowls, salads, quesadillas, or stuffed into baked potatoes the next day.
More Easy Tex-Mex Recipes
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One-Skillet Shrimp Fajitas
Equipment
- skillet
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 3 bell peppers (orange, yellow and green), cut into strips
- ½ white or yellow onion, cut in half and sliced
- ¼ purple cabbage, sliced (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 12 ounces large raw shrimp (clean, shell-and-tail off)
- 1 ounce taco seasoning mix (original)
- 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
- 1 large and juicy lime
- 1-2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
- 1-2 avocado(s), sliced
- 1 jalapeno, sliced
- 4-6 gluten-free tortillas or other of your choice If on a keto diet, use lettuce instead
- sour cream (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add 1 ½ tablespoons of oil and cook bell pepper strips and onion for about 6-8 minutes or until softened. Season with salt and pepper and place onto a plate.
- Then add the remaining 1 ½ tablespoons of oil to the pan and cook shrimp seasoned with a mixture of taco seasoning and chili pepper for about 4 minutes or until cooked. Sprinkle on lime juice.
- Last, arrange cooked shrimp and vegetables in the skillet, add sliced avocado, jalapenos, lime wedges, and fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve with gluten-free tortillas or lettuce instead, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Choose large shrimp (21/25 or 26/30 count). They stay juicier than smaller shrimp and are less likely to overcook.
- Let the skillet reheat before adding the shrimp. After removing the vegetables, give the pan 1–2 minutes to get hot again for a better sear.
- Season to taste before serving. Taco seasoning brands vary in saltiness and spice level, so taste the finished fajitas and add more lime juice or salt if needed.
- For meal prep, keep toppings separate. Store the cooked shrimp and vegetables apart from the avocado, cilantro, and tortillas, then assemble just before serving for the best texture.
- Leftover fajita filling is versatile. Use it in burrito bowls, quesadillas, omelets, or over cilantro-lime rice for another quick meal.
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I remade these Shrimp Fajitas before updating the recipe, and they were just as delicious as I remembered. The shrimp stayed juicy, the peppers and onions were perfectly tender-crisp, and the fresh lime brought all the smoky Tex-Mex flavors together. I love that everything cooks in one skillet and is ready in under 30 minutes, making it an easy dinner that's both colorful and satisfying. This is definitely a recipe I'll be making again! — Valentina
It’s great when delicious meets healthy! Can’t wait to make this one!
Aw. Such an so romantic dinner! I love the way you guys took advantage of your time, that's so lovely!!
Perfect treat for week dinner ! Thank you so much !
This sounds like a winning evening! Wine and fajitas would make anyone's night!
Shrimp dinners are a personal favorite. This scrumptious fajita recipe has summertime as a by-line!