Shrimp taco bowls are an easy gluten free family dinner. Perfect for meal prep, this tasty dinner comes together quickly.
If you love Tex-Mex flavors as much as I do, you're in for a treat! These shrimp taco bowls are so full of a variety of flavors and textures, that they're immensely satisfying.
I personally love serving this type of meal to my family or to guests because it's so easy for everyone to customize their bowls. Use the recipe as a guide and lay out a variety of toppings. This is a good time to raid your fridge! Leftover sweet potatoes or sliced peppers in the fridge? Add 'em to the bowls!
Don't miss the meal prep tips below the recipe – with a small amount of prep, shrimp taco bowls are perfect for weeknights. Shrimp cook so quickly, they'll be ready in a matter of minutes!
Shrimp Taco Bowls
Ingredients
Cilantro Lime Sauce:
- 8 oz plain Greek yogurt
- 1 lime
- 3/4 bunch cilantro use remaining cilantro in bowls
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 garlic clove
Shrimp Taco Bowls:
- 1 cup rice
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 2 avocados
- 1 lime
- 12 oz deveined and peeled shrimp
- 15 oz black beans
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 bunch cilantro
Instructions
Cilantro Lime Sauce:
- In a blender, combine: 8oz yogurt, zest & juice of 1 lime, ¾ bunch of cilantro, 1/8 tsp salt and 1 garlic clove.
Shrimp Taco Bowls:
- Combine 1 cup rice with 2 cups water in a large pot, bring to a light boil, cover and turn heat to low. Simmer ~20 mins or until liquid is absorbed.
- Chop ¼ bunch cilantro.
- Halve 1 pint cherry tomatoes.
- Slice 2 avocados.
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add 1# shrimp and 1/2 tsp garlic powder sprinkled over shrimp evenly.
- Cook ~3mins per side until shrimp is cooked through. Remove from heat and squeeze juice of 1 lime over shrimp & toss.
- Build bowls: rice + shrimp + drained & rinsed black beans + tomatoes + chopped cilantro + avocados + cilantro lime sauce.
Nutrition
Can I meal prep shrimp taco bowls?
Yes! Shrimp taco bowls are perfect for meal prep. Why? The shrimp cook so quickly, with just a little meal prep, these come together super quickly for a weeknight dinner.
If you want a truly fast dinner, cook the rice ahead of time. You can reheat it in either the oven or the microwave. If you prefer, make the rice on the night you plan to serve the shrimp taco bowls.
I also recommend you halve the cherry tomatoes, chop 1/4 of the cilantro bunch and make the cilantro lime sauce ahead of time.
With these few small steps out of the way, these shrimp taco bowls come together so quickly!
What's the nutrition like for this shrimp taco bowl recipe?
This shrimp taco bowl recipe is quite full of nutrition. Naturally gluten free, it contains quite a bit of protein and healthy fats, in addition to lots of veggie goodness. Here are a few of the nutritional highlights from this recipe:
Yogurt (Probiotics, Vitamin D, Calcium)
High in protein and nutrients, yogurt is fermented and some yogurt contains probiotics, which are highly beneficial to gut health. Since a lot of yogurt is pasteurized, which can kill probiotics, you'll need to check the label if you're looking for yogurt with probiotics. Like other dairy, yogurt is often fortified with vitamin D which, coupled with its calcium, supports bone health.
Lime (Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin B6)
The combination of vitamin C and antioxidants makes limes great for your immune system. Vitamin C is also highly beneficial for your skin, with anti-aging effects. Limes are also good for your heart, beneficial for preventing kidney stones and may even help prevent certain types of cancer.
Cilantro (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Potassium, Manganese)
Cilantro supports the health of your brain, possibly reducing the risk of Parkinsons and Alztheimers disease as well as anxiety. In addition, one of cilantro's biggest benefits is its prevention of blood sugar spikes. Finally, cilantro has antimicrobial elements and thus may help prevent food poisoning. It's worth noting that many studies on cilantro use cilantro extract, rather than the leaves.
Garlic (Beneficial Sulfur Compounds, Manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Selenium)
Garlic has been used in homeopathic remedies for thousands of years and is thought to reduce the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol and some types of cancer. Eating garlic may also help prevent colds and other minor illnesses.
Scientists believe these substantial health benefits may stem primarily from garlic's sulfur compounds such as allicin, diallyl disulfide and sallyl cysteine.
Tomatoes (Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin K, Folate, Lycopene)
Tomatoes are an excellent source of the antioxidant, lycopene. Lycopene is believed to be the reason that tomatoes are linked to lower rates of certain types of cancers. Eating tomatoes along with a source of fat, like the avocado in this recipe, significantly increases how much lycopene your body absorbs.
Avocado (Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin C, B Vitamins, Potassium, Folate, Healthy Fats)
Loaded with nutrients like potassium, folate and healthy fats, avocados are good for your heart, your eye health, and even your mood. Moreover, they also benefit your brain, bone density and blood sugar levels.
Shrimp (Selenium, Vitamin B12, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc)
High in selenium, vitamin B12 and iron, shrimp are an excellent source of lean protein. Furthermore, they serve as a significant source of iodine, which supports healthy thyroid and brain function.
Black Beans (Folate, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B9, Iron, Magnesium)
High in folate, protein and fiber, black beans are super filling and nutritious. If beans don't agree with your stomach, try soaking and cooking them yourself rather than buying canned, as soaking can aid in digestion.
Easy Way to Cook Raw Shrimp
If you've never cooked shrimp, I know it can be intimidating. Shrimp are actually one of the quickest and easiest proteins you can cook though!
Make sure to purchase peeled and deveined shrimp for maximum ease. If you buy frozen shrimp, either let them thaw overnight in the fridge or thaw in a colander under cool, running water.
Once your shrimp are thawed, heat a saute pan over medium heat. Add about one tablespoon of olive oil. Add the shrimp and cook for about 3 minutes. Flip the shrimp and cook for 3 minutes on the other side. The shrimp should be pinkish once cooked. That's all there is to it!
I want more gluten free shrimp recipes!
You've come to the right place! I'm gluten free myself and I love shrimp for quick weeknight meals. It was hard to choose, but here are just a few of my favorite gluten free shrimp recipes.
Pesto Sheet Pan Shrimp & Veggies
If you're new to cooking shrimp, sheet pan shrimp are the way to go! This recipe is super hands-off and, if you make the pesto ahead of time, perfect for weeknights.
Shrimp Cobb Salad
Shrimp cobb salad makes a lovely summer dinner or packed lunch. If you're looking to add more protein to your lunches, cooking up a batch of shrimp is a quick and easy task to add to your meal prep.
Grilled Coconut Lime Shrimp
These coconut lime shrimp will make you feel like you're on a tropical vacation! They pack in so much flavor and are perfect if you're hosting a bbq.
FAQ – Everything You Want to Know about Shrimp Taco Bowls
How long does meal prepped shrimp last?
Stored in an air tight container in the fridge, meal prepped shrimp stay fresh for 3-4 days.
Can you eat cooked shrimp after 5 days?
It's best to eat cooked shrimp within 3-4 days.
How long do you cook shrimp?
The exact cooking time depends on the size of the shrimp, but 3 minutes per side is a good rule of thumb.
What else can I do with this cilantro lime sauce recipe?
You can use this cilantro lime sauce recipe on chicken, use it as a salad dressing, or enjoy it as a veggie dip. It's quite versatile!
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