Baja Shrimp Taco Bowl with Crunchy Cilantro Slaw

Last Updated on March 16, 2023 by Kayla Berman

This Baja Shrimp Bowl recipe is an easy, healthy, and delicious dinner! Made with seasoned shrimp, crunchy cilantro slaw, brown rice, black beans, pico de gallo, and avocado … these taco bowls are light, flavorful, creamy, and citrusy. Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or meal prep!

Love shrimp? Check out my Pan Seared Shrimp, Teriyaki Shrimp Stir Fry, Baked Shrimp Oreganata, or Bang Bang Shrimp.

baja shrimp taco bowl

Healthy, Flavorful, & Colorful Dinner Recipe

I am a firm believer that food that looks better, tastes better! I mean I don’t think that’s surprising … I quite literally make food look good for a living.

But let me tell you … this is a challenging task for some recipes!

Some simply don’t have the colorful fruit and veggies needed for a drool-worthy photo. But some most definitely do!

Baja Shrimp Taco Bowls are the prime example. They were born ready for a photo! These beautiful bowls are loaded with fresh and vibrant ingredients like seasoned shrimp, red onion, cilantro, pico de gallo, avocado, and lime.

But the best thing is, they taste just as good as they look. Maybe even better! This light meal is truly bursting with flavor.

These bowls are citrusy, zesty, creamy, and delicious all at the same time. Not to mention quick and easy too! You can have a healthy dinner on the table for the whole family or meal prep lunches ready for the week in about 30 minutes.

Looking for more taco Tuesday recipes? Check out my Chicken Fajita Tacos, Creamy Taco Soup, Dutch Oven Carnitas, or Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas.

close up shot of seasoned shrimp with crunchy slaw and avocado

Ingredients

These shrimp taco bowls are loaded with healthy and flavorful ingredients! Lots of citrus, fresh herbs, seasonings, and taco toppings.

Ingredient Notes

  • Shrimp: Shrimp is of course necessary for this recipe! I like to buy already deveined, shelled, and cleaned shrimp at the grocery store. You’ll need 1 lb.
  • Greek Yogurt: Whole milk greek yogurt is the main sauce element of the crunchy slaw used in these shrimp bowls. Use 1/2 cup!
  • Coleslaw Mix: I love to use a coleslaw mix as the base of the slaw here! It comes with everything you need for a slaw – green cabbage, red cabbage, and matchstick carrots. So easy! Add 2 1/2 cups.
  • Olive Oil: 2 tbsp olive oil is needed here for the shrimp marinade.
  • Lime: Lime is used all throughout this healthy recipe! It adds the most delicious bright, citrus flavor. You’ll need 2 limes for the recipe and extra for garnish.
  • Fresh Cilantro: Fresh cilantro is another key element for flavor here. You’ll need 1 tbsp in both the marinade and the cilantro slaw.
  • Honey: 1/2 tbsp honey adds the perfect little bit of sweetness to balance out the zesty flavor in the slaw.
  • Taco Bowl Elements: These tasty taco bowls are rounded out with 2 cups cooked brown rice, 1 15 oz can black beans, 1/2 cup diced red onion, and 1 fresh avocado. Plus pico de gallo for extra topping!
  • Seasonings: The shrimp in this healthy dinner recipe is seasoned so wonderfully! You’ll need 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper for the seasoning blend.
Baja seasoned shrimp ingredients
crunchy cilantro slaw ingredients

Substitutions & Additions

These Baja bowls are actually quite customizable! There are a bunch of substitutions and additions you could make to meet your personal preferences, tastes, or needs.

Shrimp: These are of course shrimp bowls, but you could swap in any choice of protein. I think a white fish would be a delicious option or some chopped chicken breast as well.

Rice: I went with simple brown rice as the base of these bowls, but again that could totally be replaced with a different option. Like quinoa, white rice, or cilantro lime rice for a different grain and cauliflower rice or mixed greens for a low carb option!

Greek Yogurt: I use full fat greek yogurt in the crunchy coleslaw here and as a taco bowl topping. It replaces sour cream and makes for a lighter recipe! However, you could just use sour cream if you would like. Or maybe a half and half situation.

Taco Toppings: Feel free to keep whichever taco toppings listed here that you like and get rid of ones you don’t. You can also add so many more! Perhaps tortilla strips, corn, hot sauce, pickled red onions, Cotija cheese, green onions, mango salsa, guacamole, etc.

taco bowl ingredients

Kitchen Tools

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shrimp taco bowl

How To Make This Recipe

Baja shrimp taco bowls are actually super easy to make! They have a few parts to them that are all quite simple – the sautéed shrimp, crunchy cilantro slaw, and taco bowl ingredients.

The only actually cooking required is 5 minutes for the shrimp. That’s it! The rest is all chopping, mixing, and assembling. Which you can mostly do while the shrimp marinates in the fridge!

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: First add the shrimp to a large mixing bowl with the marinade ingredients – olive oil, lime juice, fresh cilantro, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper.  Combine thoroughly until each shrimp is coated in the mixture.  Cover the large bowl and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 15 minutes.

marinated shrimp in a large mixing bowl

Step 2: While the shrimp is marinating, assemble the crunchy cilantro slaw.  Add the whole milk greek yogurt, lime juice, honey, and fresh cilantro to another large bowl.  Combine until smooth.

slaw sauce mixture

Step 3: Add the coleslaw mix to the greek yogurt mixture.  Combine.  Season with salt and black pepper to taste.  Let sit in the refrigerator while you assemble the rest of the recipe.

crunchy cilantro slaw

Step 4: Next add cooking spray to a large skillet or pan on the stove over medium-high heat.  Add the shrimp to the hot pan with the marinade. Arrange into a single layer as best as you can.

Step 5: Let the shrimp cook on one side for 1-2 minutes.  Stir and flip the shrimp.  Cook on the other side for another 1-2 minutes, until the shrimp turns a white / pink color rather than gray.

seasoned and sautéed shrimp in a large pan

Step 6: Next assemble the shrimp taco bowls.  Divide the cooked shrimp, crunchy slaw, brown rice, black beans, red onion, and avocado into 4 servings.  Top with pico de gallo, sour cream (or greek yogurt), fresh cilantro, and lime wedges. 

Step 7: Serve and enjoy!

baja shrimp bowl

Expert Tips

Make sure to buy already deveined, shelled, and cleaned shrimp at the grocery store or market if you are able. I promise you, this is such a timesaver!

Pat the shrimp dry with paper towel before marinating.

Don’t marinate the shrimp for too long! Otherwise the shrimp will begin to cook in the acidity of the lime and could get a bit mushy. 15 minutes does the trick perfectly.

Use pre-packaged coleslaw mix! It is so easy … no cabbage chopping needed.

Use pre-made pico de gallo! Again, so incredibly easy.

Assemble the bowls for meal prep! I like to make this recipe once, prepare myself a serving, and then place the other 3 servings straight into individual containers for the week.

Add all of your favorite toppings!

Turn these taco bowls into tacos! Replace the brown rice with tortillas for the perfect Baja Shrimp Tacos.

baja shrimp taco bowl

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a baja shrimp bowl?

A Baja Shrimp Bowl is a dish served at Red Lobster! It is made with “seasoned shrimp, avocado, black beans, rice, red onion, crunchy slaw, pico de gallo, sour cream, and tortilla strips with chipotle ranch.”

This is my take on an at-home version of the restaurant dish!

What is Baja style cooking / seasoning?

The Baja style of cooking or cuisine originates from Baja California, Mexico! It has Mexican, Mediterranean, and Asian influences.

The food involves lots of seafood like lobster and white fish in mains like tacos and tostados. The classic Baja tacos typically include shredded cabbage and a creamy white sauce too!

Can I meal prep this recipe?

Yes, of course! Baja shrimp taco bowls are a great recipe to meal prep.

I simply prepare all of the ingredients and then divide them among four servings. They make for easy, healthy, and well-rounded meals throughout the week!

How to best store this shrimp taco bowl recipe?

You can store this recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep best for about 3-4 days!

loaded shrimp taco bowl

Love this simple recipe? Check out some more of my favorite recipes below…

Healthy Dinner Recipes

Seafood Recipes

Connect With Me!

If you make this shrimp bowl recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.

taco bowl with seasoned shrimp, pico de gallo, brown rice, black beans, crunchy slaw, and avocado

Love this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating! I love to see and it helps me continue to develop delicious recipes for this blog.

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Baja Shrimp Taco Bowl with Crunchy Cilantro Slaw

This Baja Shrimp Bowl recipe is an easy, healthy, and delicious dinner! Made with seasoned shrimp, crunchy cilantro slaw, brown rice, black beans, pico de gallo, and avocado … these taco bowls are light, flavorful, creamy, and citrusy. Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or meal prep!

  • Author: Kayla Berman
  • Prep Time: 25 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 Minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dinner

Ingredients

Scale

Shrimp

  • 1 lb shrimp, (shelled, deveined, & cleaned)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Cooking spray

Crunchy Slaw

  • 2 1/2 cups coleslaw mix
  • 1/2 cup whole milk greek yogurt
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1/2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Taco Bowl

  • 2 cups brown rice, cooked
  • 1 15 oz can black beans, drained & rinsed
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion
  • 1 avocado
  • Pico de gallo
  • Sour Cream (or Whole Milk Greek Yogurt)

Instructions

  1. First add the shrimp to a large mixing bowl with the marinade ingredients – olive oil, lime juice, fresh cilantro, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper.  Combine thoroughly until each shrimp is coated in the mixture.  Cover the large bowl and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 15 minutes.
  2. While the shrimp is marinating, assemble the crunchy cilantro slaw.  Add the whole milk greek yogurt, lime juice, honey, and fresh cilantro to another large bowl.  Combine until smooth.
  3. Add the coleslaw mix to the greek yogurt mixture.  Combine.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Let sit in the refrigerator while you assemble the rest of the recipe.
  4. Next add cooking spray to a large skillet or pan on the stove over medium-high heat.  Add the shrimp to the hot pan with the marinade.  
  5. Let the shrimp cook on one side for 1-2 minutes.  Stir and flip the shrimp.  Cook on the other side for another 1-2 minutes, until the shrimp turns a white / pink color rather than gray.
  6. Next assemble the shrimp taco bowls.  Divide the cooked shrimp, crunchy slaw, brown rice, black beans, red onion, and avocado into 4 servings.  Top with pico de gallo, sour cream (or greek yogurt), fresh cilantro, and lime wedges. 
  7. Serve and enjoy!

Keywords: baja shrimp bowl, baja shrimp bowl recipe, red lobster baja shrimp bowl recipe, shrimp baja bowl, shrimp taco bowl, shrimp taco bowl recipe, healthy shrimp taco bowl

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