Garlic Butter Shrimp Tacos with Mango Slaw
Taco Tuesday just got a glow-up. These garlic butter shrimp tacos with mango slaw are everything I want in a quick weeknight dinner: fresh, a little tropical, buttery, garlicky, and done in under 25 minutes. I started making these on a whim one summer evening and they have been on heavy rotation ever since.
The combination of juicy garlicky shrimp against that sweet, tangy mango slaw is just so good. It hits all the right notes and honestly feels like vacation food you can make in your own kitchen on a random Tuesday.
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Garlic Butter Shrimp Tacos with Mango Slaw
Ingredients
Method
- Make the mango slaw: toss diced mango, shredded cabbage, lime juice, and honey in a bowl. Season with salt. Refrigerate while you cook the shrimp.
- Pat shrimp dry and season with smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add shrimp in a single layer. Cook 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink and curled. Squeeze lime juice over the top.
- Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or over a gas flame.
- Assemble tacos: add mango slaw, then garlic butter shrimp. Top with fresh cilantro and an extra squeeze of lime.
Notes
Why These Shrimp Tacos Are So Special
The garlic butter situation is the star here. Cooking the shrimp in a generous amount of butter with freshly minced garlic gives you this incredible savory, rich coating on every single shrimp. And because shrimp cook so fast, the whole protein is done in literally 4 minutes. Having a good quality non-stick skillet makes this a breeze since the shrimp release cleanly and you get a beautiful golden color without sticking. The mango slaw takes about 5 minutes to throw together and the sweetness of the mango against the tangy lime dressing is absolutely perfect.
Tips for Perfect Garlic Butter Shrimp
A few things that make a real difference: Pat your shrimp completely dry before seasoning them. Moisture is the enemy of a good sear and you want that golden color. Do not overcrowd the pan, work in batches if you need to. Shrimp need space to sear, not steam. And watch them like a hawk because they cook incredibly fast, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. The moment they curl into a C shape and turn pink, they are done. Overcooked shrimp get rubbery and chewy, so this is one dish where timing really matters.
Make It Your Own
No mango? Pineapple works beautifully in the slaw instead. You can also add a drizzle of chipotle mayo or avocado crema for extra richness. Swap the corn tortillas for flour if that is your preference. Want more heat? Add a pinch of cayenne to the shrimp seasoning or slice up some fresh jalapeno for topping. These tacos are very flexible and really hard to mess up.
The Bottom Line
Garlic butter shrimp tacos with mango slaw are the kind of dinner that makes you feel like you are eating at a beachside restaurant without leaving your kitchen. They are fast, fresh, full of flavor, and guaranteed to make everyone at the table happy. Add them to your dinner rotation immediately.
xo, Pam
