Cajun Shrimp Taco Bowls (Printable View)

Spicy Cajun shrimp meets fluffy rice, fresh veggies, and creamy avocado for a quick, satisfying dinner.

# Ingredient List:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 ½ tsp Cajun seasoning
04 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
05 - ¼ tsp salt
06 - ¼ tsp 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 tsp salt

→ Vegetable Toppings

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

→ For Serving

21 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# How to Make:

01 - Combine rice, water or broth, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
02 - Whisk together sour cream or Greek yogurt, lime juice, hot sauce if using, and salt and pepper in a small bowl. 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. Cook shrimp for 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 each with shrimp, vegetables, avocado slices, and cilantro. Drizzle with sauce and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The shrimp cooks in minutes but tastes like you've been fussing over it all day.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and works whether you're cooking for dietary needs or just want something that feels fresh and intentional.
  • The lime-sour cream drizzle is quietly the best part—creamy, tangy, and enough to tie every element together.
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery in minutes—watch it closely, and pull it off heat the moment it turns opaque with just a hint of that translucent center.
  • If your rice turns out slightly firm, it's actually perfect for this bowl; soft rice absorbs all the lime sauce and gets mushy.
  • The sauce should taste boldly of lime; it's what ties every component together and keeps the bowl from feeling heavy.
03 -
  • Cook the rice ahead of time if you want to speed this up on a busy night—cold rice actually works better for bowls because it won't turn mushy under the weight of toppings and sauce.
  • Season your corn lightly with salt and a squeeze of lime while you're prepping; it wakes up frozen corn and makes it taste like you grew it yourself.
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