These Beef and Popcorn Shrimp Tacos are great for a surf and turf-style dinner! Delicious coleslaw base topped with tender ground beef and then topped with crispy (not deep-fried) popcorn shrimp and then topped again with a simple tomato and red onion salad - all this in a soft shell flour tortilla. It's a handful of deliciousness, for sure!
Don't let the amount of ingredients fool you. It really is simple. The beef does not take long to cook and the salads are quick and simple to make. Plus, you can always make extra coleslaw and extra tomato salad and you will have leftover salads in the fridge for the next day. Our Red Cabbage and Mango Slaw would also work great in the tortillas. So if you have some leftover cabbage salad, use it in this recipe.
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Why this recipe works
- It's a Crowd-Pleaser: This combination of beef and seafood can appeal to a wide range of tastes. It's a great option for family dinners or gatherings where you want to imress!
- Versatility: This recipe can be versatile, allowing you to experiment with various flavors and seasonings. You can customize the seasoning of the beef, the flavors of the coleslaw and salad to create a dish that suits your taste.
- Texture Contrast: The contrast in textures between the tender, juicy beef and the crispy, crunchy popcorn shrimp. Yum!
Ingredients
- Beef: Like in this Ground Beef Stuffed Mini Peppers, it's best to use 80/20 or 90/10 lean-to-fat ratio for ground beef. This will produce more tender and flavorful meat.
- Shrimp: peeled and deveined. If you are using large shrimp, 3 shrimp per taco is best. If the shrimp are smaller, like the size of actual popcorn, you can make 5 to 6 popcorn shrimp per taco.
- Marinara Sauce: I love using marinara sauce in this recipe, although it is more common to use tomato sauce for beef tacos. Any marinara sauce will work.
- Coleslaw Ingredients: shredded red cabbage, grated carrot, and some diced lettuce are all you need. Season it with salt and add mayonnaise.
- Salad topping ingredients: Tomatoes, red onions, and parsley seasoned with salt and drizzled with olive oil. I used mixed-color cherry tomatoes, but they are not always available. It's great for presentation if you find them available in your grocery store.
- Tortilla: 7-inch tortillas are best for tacos. They fit perfectly in your hand and are large enough to fit all your ingredients.
- Seasonings: you will need: salt, ground black pepper, smoked paprika, cumin, and chili powder.
see the full list of ingredients and quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of the post
Substitutions and variations
- Ground Beef: you can also use ground chicken, veal, or turkey.
- Flour Tortillas: I used flour tortillas, but you can, of course, use corn tortillas. For a lower-calorie option, you can also use butter/Boston lettuce and make lettuce tacos similar to our Crispy Onion Shrimp Lettuce Tacos.
- Salad topping ingredients: You may also want to add cilantro and/or avocado. The possibilities are endless here. Instead of the salad, you may want to just add diced tomatoes, salsa, or some grated cheese. If I have leftovers when I make my Citrus Avocado Salad Recipe, I use it as my salad topping in the tacos.
- Coleslaw Ingredients: you can swap red cabbage for green cabbage, or you can make our Red Cabbage and Mango Slaw and use leftovers for this recipe. The sweet mango in the slaw will also work great here.
- Other additions: Sprinkle some grated cheese on top, or pour a little bit of sour cream, or salsa. Some people also like to drizzle a sauce or dressing, like a spicy aioli or a tangy lime crema.
How to toast a tortilla
Tacos taste a lot better when the tortillas are slightly toasted. They taste like the tortillas were just freshly made!
Here are the 3 best ways to accomplish this:
- Skillet: Heat a large pan (no need to grease) over medium-high heat and, once the pan is hot, place the tortilla into the pan and toast for approximately 30 seconds on each side, or until the tortilla has toasted with lightly browned spots. Transfer the tortilla onto a plate and repeat with the remaining tortillas.
If you have a non-stick griddle, definitely use it instead of the regular skillet. You'll get those pretty grill lines on the tortilla!
- Burner: If you have a gas stove, you can toast the tortillas directly on the burners. Turn the burner to medium and place tortillas, one at a time, directly on the burners. Toast each side of the tortilla for approximately 10 seconds. Please be careful and use tongs when flipping the tortillas over.
- Grill: we love the grill! But, it's not always feasible during our Canadian winters. In the spring, summer, and fall, our barbecue is always grilling something! To toast the tortillas, heat the grill to medium and place 4 tortillas directly on the grill. If your grill is smaller, you may only do 2 at a time. It's best not to place more than 4 tortillas at a time, even if you do have a larger grill. This way you'll be able to ensure none of the tortillas burn. Heat each side of the tortilla for approximately 30 seconds. Please be careful and use tongs when flipping the tortillas over.
Preparation
STEP 1: Saute beef filling
Saute onion and garlic until translucent. Add ground beef, saute breaking up the beef (about 5 minutes), and add the seasonings and the marinara sauce. Cook until the meat has cooked through, stirring occasionally.
STEP 2: Make popcorn shrimp
Beat an egg in a small mixing bowl. Place breadcrumbs in a separate mixing bowl. Sprinkle the shrimp with chili powder, dip each shrimp in egg, and then toss in the breadcrumbs. Fry shrimp dipped in egg and breadcrumbs until fully cooked and browned (about 1 minute per side - depending on the size of your shrimp).
STEP 3: Prepare slaw
Mix together the shredded red cabbage, diced lettuce, grated carrot, salt, and mayo in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
STEP 4: Prepare topping salad
Mix together the tomato, red onion, parsley, salt, and olive oil. Set aside.
STEP 5: Toast tortilla
Place the tortilla directly on the burner (if you have a gas stove) for about 15 seconds per side. Or, toast on a frying pan - see above for more on toasting a tortilla.
STEP 6: Assemble
Place slaw in the middle of the tortilla, and top with the prepared ground beef, shrimp, and salad topping. Fold the tortilla in half and serve using a taco holder (see below for more on how to serve the tacos).
Top Tips
- Use high-quality 80/20 or 90/10 lean-to-fat ratio ground beef. Fresh ingredients will make a big difference in the final taste.
- Ensure that the shrimp are thawed, well-drained, and dried with a paper towel before seasoning.
- These tacos are best enjoyed fresh and hot, so assemble them just before serving to maintain their deliciousness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because tortillas get soggy fast, they should be consumed once prepared. But, you can prepare the beef, shrimp, coleslaw, and salad topping up to 2 days in advance. Store separately in the refrigerator, in airtight containers. Do not season or add mayonnaise to the coleslaw until ready to serve - the coleslaw may also get soggy. When ready to serve, simply reheat the beef and shrimp in an oven-safe dish in the oven or in a pan on the stove, until heated through. Add the mayonnaise and salt to the coleslaw and toast the tortillas. Then assemble the tortillas when ready to serve.
I have tried making the recipe with both, chicken and turkey. It definitely did not turn out as good, but it was still delicious. Because chicken and turkey are leaner meats, the taco was a little bit more dry than when I made it with beef. Pork should work well too because it does have higher fat content.
Absolutely. To bake the shrimp, preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle shrimp with the chili powder and dip them in the egg and then toss in the breadcrumbs like you would before frying. Arrange the shrimp on the baking sheet evenly in one layer and spray with cooking oil, flip the shrimp over and spray the other side. Place in the oven and bake until the shrimp are golden brown and have cooked through- approximately 15 minutes. No need to turn the shrimp over.
Serving suggestions
When serving tacos, it's all about the presentation! And, well, making sure all the ingredients actually stay inside the tortillas, without making a mess. That's why tacos are best served in a taco stand. There are so many available out there. Stainless steel, wooden, plastic. You may even want to make your own. If you enjoy DIY projects, here is an interesting website on how to make a taco holder.
The tacos are best served with a side dish, such as these Easy 3-ingredient Baked Potato Wedges or the Healthy Turmeric Oven Roasted Vegetables.
Other ground meat recipes
If you tried this Beef and Popcorn Shrimp Tacos or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Recipe
Beef and Popcorn Shrimp Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
For the beef:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil for frying
- 1 yellow onion finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pound ground beef see note 1 in notes section below
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce of your choice
For the popcorn shrimp:
- 30 small raw shrimp 51/50 per pound - peeled and deveined -makes about 5 popcorn shrimp per taco.
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs of your choice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the coleslaw:
- 5 oz. red cabbage finely shredded
- 1 carrot grated
- 0.5 lb. romaine lettuce about half of one head - choose the lighter leaf end
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
For the salad topping:
- 1 medium red tomato or about 12 cherry tomatoes - diced
- 1.5 oz. red onion diced
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped - or cilantro
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Tortillas:
- 6 soft flour tortillas 7 inch
Instructions
- Cook the beef: Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a non-stick skillet, over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and saute until the onion has softened (about 3-4 minutes). Add ground beef and saute breaking up the beef (about 1 minute), add the seasonings (salt, ground black pepper, smoked paprika, cumin, and chili powder), and the marinara sauce. Cook until the meat has cooked through (the meat is not red or pink inside when you are stirring).
- Cook the popcorn shrimp: Beat egg in a small mixing bowl. Place breadcrumbs in a separate mixing bowl. Dry shrimp with a paper towel. Sprinkle both sides of the shrimp with the chili powder and dip each shrimp in the egg and then toss in the breadcrumbs. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Fry shrimp until golden brown and cooked through (about 1 minute per side).
- Make the slaw: In a large mixing bowl combine the shredded red cabbage, diced lettuce, grated carrot, salt, and mayo. Toss well and set aside.
- Make the salad topping: In a separate mixing bowl combine the tomato, red onion, parsley, salt and olive oil. Toss well and set aside.
- Toast the tortilla: Heat a large pan (no need to grease) over medium-high heat and, once the pan is hot, place the tortilla into the pan and toast for approximately 30 seconds on each side, or until the tortilla has toasted with lightly browned spots. Transfer the tortilla onto a plate and repeat with the remaining tortillas.
- Prepare Tacos: Place the slaw in the middle of the tortilla, top with the prepared ground beef, shrimp, and salad topping. Fold the tortilla in half and serve using a taco holder. Serve.
Notes
- Use high-quality 80/20 or 90/10 lean-to-fat ratio ground beef. Fresh ingredients will make a big difference in the final taste.
- Ensure that the shrimp are thawed, well-drained, and dried with a paper towel before seasoning.
- These tacos are best enjoyed fresh and hot, so assemble them just before serving to maintain their deliciousness.
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