Shrimp taco bites pack tons of flavor into a cute little package and make delicious appetizers perfect for any party. Crunchy wontons get filled with perfectly spiced shrimp, a drizzle of lime crema, and all the best taco toppings.
Is there anything yummier than a crunchy zesty appetizer loaded with all the best taco flavors?
I can’t think of anything!
And these shrimp taco bites are all those things.
With summer grilling and Cinco de Mayo just around the corner, you’ll have tons of reasons to make these!
Ingredients
You’ll need a few sets of ingredients to make these.
For the shells you’ll need:
- Wonton wrappers– You can generally find these in the refrigerated section near the produce in the grocery store. Can’t find them? You could also use frozen phyllo shells.
- Olive oil– To help the shells crisp up.
For the shrimp, you’ll need:
- Shrimp– Use the small sized shrimp and save time by buying the kind that is peeled and deveined.
- Spices– Chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cumin.
- Olive oil– To cook the shrimp in.
For the lime crema you’ll need:
- Sour cream– Use full fat for best flavor.
- Milk– Just a little to thin out the cream.
- Lime– Both lime juice and lime zest.
For garnish, you can use any of these optional ingredients:
- Lettuce– Shredded
- Salsa– Pico de gallo also works
- Guacamole– Or fresh avocado. Just toss in lime juice to prevent browning.
- Cotija– Or other cheese.
How to Make
To make these, start by preheating your oven to 350F.
While the oven heats, prepare the wonton wrappers by lightly brushing each side of the wonton wrappers with olive oil and then pressing them into a mini muffin pan, creating a cup shape.
Pop them into the preheated oven and bake them for 8-10 minutes, or until the wontons are crisp and golden brown around the edges.
Once they are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
While the wrappers are cooling, prepare the shrimp.
To do it, toss the shrimp, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cumin in a large bowl until the shrimp are all well coated with the spices.
Then, preheat a large skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat for one minute.
Add the shrimp to the skillet in a single layer and cook for 2-3 minutes per side.
The shrimp are ready when they’re light pink, opaque, and slightly firm to the touch.
Set the shrimp aside until ready to assemble.
After you’ve cooked the shrimp, make the lime crema by stirring all of the ingredients for the crema together in a small bowl.
Now you are ready to assemble the shrimp taco bites.
To do it, add a small amount of your desired garnishes to the wonton shells and top with a shrimp and a drizzle of lime crema.
Serve warm.
Enjoy!
Storing Leftovers
These don’t store particularly well so I recommend eating them the day you prepare them.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Sort of.
I wouldn’t assemble them ahead of time, but you can certainly make the crema and shrimp ahead.
Then assemble everything just prior to serving.
Tips and Tricks
- Get creative with your garnishes. Interesting salsas like pineapple or mango, jalapenos, and cilantro would all be really yummy with this.
- Adjust the spices to suit your taste.
- Don’t like shrimp? Substitute chicken or even small pieces of steak instead.
Other Zesty Shrimp Recipes
These shrimp taco bites are a perfect appetizer for any event. Make them for your next event and enjoy!
Looking for other seasoned shrimp recipes? Try these:
If you’ve tried these SHRIMP TACO BITES, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Shrimp Taco Bites
Ingredients
For the Shells
- 24 wonton wrappers
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Shrimp
- 24 small 30-40 count shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Lime Crema
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
For Garnish
- Shredded Lettuce
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Cotija
Instructions
For the Shells
- Preheat your oven to 350F. Lightly brush each side of the wonton wrappers with olive oil and press them into a mini muffin pan, creating a cup shape.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the wontons are crisp and golden brown around the edges.
- Remove from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
For the Shrimp
- In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cumin. Toss until the shrimp are all well coated.
- Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and allow it to heat for one minute.
- Add the shrimp (make sure they’re all in a single layer) and cook for 2-3 minutes per side. The shrimp are ready when they’re light pink, opaque, and slightly firm to the touch.
- Set the shrimp aside until ready to assemble.
For the Lime Crema
- Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl and store in the fridge until ready to use.
- To Assemble
- Add a small amount of your desired garnishes to the wonton shells, top with a shrimp and a drizzle of lime crema.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Get creative with your garnishes. Interesting salsas like pineapple or mango, jalapenos, and cilantro would all be really yummy with this.
- Adjust the spices to suit your taste.
- Don't like shrimp? Substitute chicken or even small pieces of steak instead.
Nutrition
What a great idea! Pinned!! Thanks so much for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party!! Hope to see you again tomorrow.