Cajun Shrimp Taco Bowls (Print View)

A zesty bowl featuring Cajun shrimp, rice, fresh vegetables, and creamy avocado for a flavorful meal.

# Components:

→ 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 black pepper, to taste

→ For Serving

21 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# Directions:

01 - Combine rice, water or broth, and ½ tsp salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is tender. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
02 - Whisk sour cream or Greek yogurt with lime juice, hot sauce if using, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
03 - Pat shrimp dry. Toss with olive oil, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic until evenly coated.
04 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook 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 rice evenly into four bowls. Top each with shrimp, cherry tomatoes, corn, red onion, lettuce, avocado slices, and cilantro. Drizzle with sauce and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under 20 minutes, so you can have dinner ready before your stomach starts complaining.
  • The creamy lime sauce cuts through the spice in a way that makes every bite feel balanced and bright.
  • You can swap or skip toppings based on what's in your fridge, and it still tastes complete.
  • It's filling without feeling heavy, and the textures keep every forkful interesting.
02 -
  • Dry shrimp are happy shrimp, so don't skip patting them with paper towels or they'll steam instead of getting that golden seared edge.
  • Taste your Cajun seasoning before you coat the shrimp, because some blends are way spicier than others and you don't want to overshoot it.
  • If you want to meal prep these bowls, keep the sauce and toppings separate from the rice and shrimp so nothing gets soggy.
03 -
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, because it holds heat better and gives the shrimp a restaurant-quality sear.
  • Make a double batch of the creamy lime sauce and keep it in the fridge, it's great on grilled chicken, tacos, or even as a veggie dip.
  • If your rice turns out too sticky, rinse it under cold water before cooking to remove excess starch.
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