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    Shrimp Fajitas

    May 12, 2024

    A little taco seasoning and a spritz of fresh lime juice—these succulent skillet shrimp fajitas bring those beachy vibes right to your dinner table.

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    shrimp fajitas in a cast iron skillet with limes and bell peppers

    Fajitas Forever

    We just do not get tired of fajitas, ever. Especially these veggie-packed Mexican shrimp fajitas. Simply spiced and quickly cooked in a skillet, they’re easy, fresh, healthy and delicious. They’re kid-friendly, too, because they’re so easily customizable. Picky eaters can load their flour tortillas with the bits and pieces they like, and pass on the ones they don’t love. So what if one kid opts to load their fajita only with onions and avocado? It’s no extra work for you, and everyone is happy! In other words, fajitas forever.

    ingredients for shrimp fajitas, tortillas, cilantro, bell peppers, onions, taco seasoning, lime and olive oil

    Our Easiest, Best-Ever Shrimp Fajita Marinade

    We’re keeping it super simple with this tangy, spicy marinade. This recipe is all about freshness—we don’t want anything competing with those sweet, juicy shrimp! Also, be sure to follow the recipe and make this a quick marinade. Just let the shrimp sit for a few minutes while you prep the fajita ingredients—if the shrimp sits too long in the lime juice, the acid in the lime juice will break the shrimp meat down too much and you’ll end up with a mushy mess. Here’s what you’ll need to marinate the shrimp:

    • Olive oil.
    • Limes. Fresh lime juice only—accept no substitutions!
    • Taco seasoning. Homemade, of course!
    taco seasoning and olive oil shrimp marinade
    raw shrimp in a bowl marinated in taco seasoning and olive oil

    How To Shop For Shrimp

    Cooking shrimp is pretty easy—cook it quick, and don’t overcook it. Buying shrimp, on the other hand, can feel like a whole thing. For this shrimp recipe, we’re calling for two pounds of “extra-large” shrimp. But what does that really mean? And isn’t the global shrimp industry fraught with conflict? So, how can you be sure you’re buying sustainably-raised, slavery-free shrimp? One of the best things you can do is what you’re doing right now—reading up and being a knowledgeable consumer! Asking a trusted fishmonger for help is always a good way to go, too, but we’ll give you a quick shrimp-buying 101:

    • In the U.S., shrimp is sold by weight. So when shrimp size is referenced—”jumbo”, “medium” “small” and so on—the industry dictates that the size correlates with the number of shrimp per pound. We’re calling for two pounds of “extra-large” shrimp, and we’d expect you to get 16-20 “extra large” shrimp per pound.
    • Wild shrimp is typically a better choice, environmentally-speaking, than farmed.
    • Buying American shrimp is a good way to cut any worries about slavery or shady labor practices right out of the equation. Look for wild Gulf shrimp—fresh or frozen—and check labels for preservatives. Different packers use different preservatives in different amounts, and (of course) you want as little added to your shrimp as possible if you’re buying frozen shrimp.
    shrimp sautéed in a skillet with taco seasoning and olive oil
    thinly sliced bell peppers and red onions in a cast iron

    Everything You’ll Need To Make Skillet Shrimp Fajitas

    OK. You’ve got the shrimp. You’ve whisked up your marinade. What else? Just a couple more ingredients and you’re ready to roll! You’ll need:

    • An onion.
    • Bell peppers—any color you like!
    • Small flour tortillas.
    • Avocado.
    • Cilantro. This is just for garnish, so if cilantro tastes like soap to you (or you just don’t like it) skip it!
    shrimp fajitas with taco seasoning in a cast iron skillet
    shrimp fajitas in a cast iron skillet with cilantro and bell peppers

    How To Make Shrimp Fajitas

    Alright! Grab your trusty cast iron skillet—oh yeah, this is a one-pan fajita recipe, BTW—and let the fun begin!

    1. Marinate the shrimp! Set it aside while you prep the rest of the fajita filling—just a few minutes in the marinade will do the trick.
    2. Cook the peppers and onions until they soften, just 5 minutes or so. Then move them to a bowl, while keeping the skillet hot.
    3. Cook the shrimp! When they’re just about done, add the peppers and onions back to the pan.
    4. Serve! Assemble the hungry hoards and let everyone make their own fajitas.
    5. Clean up! We always reach for our favorite Swedish Dishcloths. They help us reduce our paper towel usage because the absorb 20x their weight in water!
    shrimp fajitas in a cast iron skillet with cilantro and bell peppers

    Tools You’ll Need:

    More Shrimp Recipes To Try!

    Just a bunch of fast, easy shrimp recipes that are sure to please. In other words, exactly what you’re looking for:

    shrimp fajitas in a cast iron skillet with cilantro and bell peppers
    shrimp fajitas in a cast iron skillet with cilantro, limes and bell peppers

    Fajita Night Every Night!

    Well, maybe not every night. But fajita night happens a LOT in our homes. If you try this shrimp fajita recipe for your next fajita night, we’d love to hear about it! Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!

    This is a sponsored post written by TMP in behalf of Swedish Wholesale. All opinions are our own. Thank you for supporting the brands we love.

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    Shrimp Fajitas

    Updated on May 12, 2024

    • Serves:  6
    • Prep Time:  10 min
    • Cook Time:  12 min
    • Calories:  227
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    Ingredients

    • 3 tablespoons taco seasoning, store-bought or homemade
    • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)
    • 2 pounds jumbo, tail-on raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
    • 2 bell peppers, cut into ½-inch-thick strips
    • 1 onion, cut into ½-inch-thick slices
    • 12 (6-inch) flour tortillas, warmed
    • Sliced avocado, for serving
    • Fresh cilantro, for serving

    Method

    1. In a large bowl, combine the taco seasoning, lime juice, and 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the shrimp and toss to coat.
    2. In a large cast-iron skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is glistening, add the peppers and onions and cook until the edges begin to char, about 5-6 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
    3. Add the shrimp to the skillet in a single layer and cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side until pink, opaque, and cooked through, about 1 more minute.
    4. Return the peppers and onions to the skillet and stir to combine.
    5. Transfer the shrimp and veggies to a serving dish. Serve with warm tortillas, avocado, and cilantro alongside.

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 227
    • Protein 32 g
    • Carbohydrates 4 g
    • Total Fat 12 g
    • Dietary Fiber 1 g
    • Cholesterol 243 mg
    • sodium 277 mg
    • Total Sugars 2 g

    Shrimp Fajitas

    Questions & Reviews

    Join the discussion below.

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    • Amber

      Do you have a recipe for taco seasoning? You mentioned you used homemade

      Yes we do! Thanks for bringing this to our attention Amber. We have added the link to our taco seasoning in the post and in the ingredient list: https://themodernproper.com/homemade-taco-seasoning

    • Sue

      Another winner! I hope those just starting their cooking journey find your website. You make using fresh foods so easy! Beats processed, pre-packaged every time!

      Thanks so much Sue, we really appreciate that.

    • Jenn

      These were so tasty! Can't wait to make them again!

      Thanks Jenn, we are so happy you loved them!