It’s hard to find someone who will turn down nachos, and here’s a spin starring everyone’s favorite seafood: Shrimp Nachos! This succulent shellfish makes one fun appetizer or simple dinner with crunchy tortilla chips and a confetti of toppings. You don’t even need to cook the shrimp separately: throw them on top of the chips and bake! We love these for dinner with a good margarita, and our son gobbles them up too.
Ingredients in shrimp nachos
Nachos are always a hit, and if you’re a shrimp fan they’re even better with juicy seasoned shrimp! Just like sheet pan nachos, you can throw everything onto a baking sheet: chips, toppings, and shrimp. Then just bake until the shrimp is tender and juicy. The best part about it all is the toppings, of course! Here’s what you’ll need for the base recipe:
Protein: Medium shrimp, deveined, shelled and thawed if frozen Pantry ingredients: Olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt, canned refried beans Dairy: Mexican blend or Colby Jack cheese Special ingredients: Pico de gallo, corn chips
Best chips to use for nachos
You can use any type of chips you like for these shrimp nachos! But we’ve found there are a few things to look for to have the best experience with nachos. Here’s what to keep in mind:
Avoid very thin chips. These get soggy and tend to break when loaded with nacho toppings. If possible, look for organic chips with a short ingredient list. Grab organic corn chips that have only three ingredients: corn, oil, and salt! Check the back of the package.
Tips for buying shrimp
There’s also a lot of variation when it comes to buying shrimp for this recipe! There are many different sizes and types of shrimp that you can buy at the store. Here’s what we recommend here:
Medium shrimp: Medium shrimp is our favorite size for a dish like this, though you could also use small shrimp if desired. Medium is labeled as 41 to 50 count, which is the number of shrimp per pound. Wild caught: Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms (see this Seafood Watch Consumer Guide). Peeled and deveined: Tail-on shrimp looks nice, but it’s too hard to eat for nachos. Use fully peeled shrimp for the best experience. Fresh or frozen: Frozen shrimp can be as high quality as fresh, if it’s frozen as soon as it’s caught. Make sure to thaw the shrimp before you start!
Shrimp nachos toppings
The best part of shrimp nachos? The tasty toppings! You can make or break your nachos with the toppings you choose. They’ve got to add great flavor but also have a variety of color and texture! Here’s what we think are absolutely necessary:
Pico de gallo: use purchased or substitute salsa. Corn: canned corn adds sweet pops of flavor. Red onion: we like the purple color that it adds to the mix. Or, try pickled red onions for a tangy pop of flavor! Green onions: the onion-y flavor and bright green color are essential. Black olives: They’re optional, but give a fun Tex Mex vibe. Sour cream: Sour cream is an absolute must! Serve on the side if you’re serving for a crowd. For vegan and dairy free, use cashew cream. Cilantro: You can go either way, but we’re cilantro people over here. Jalapeño peppers: Add pickled jalapeños if you prefer a spicy heat! Guacamole: Serve on the side for dipping, or spread it across the entire pan.
Ways to serve them
We like to serve these shrimp nachos as a simple dinner recipe, along with a tasty margarita recipe or Mexican-style green salad. But they also work as a fun appetizer! The hard part about serving nachos as part of an appetizer spread is that they do become soggy over time. Try to serve these nachos as fresh from the oven as possible. They’re ideal as a starter for a 4 to 6 person dinner party, but may not be suitable for an appetizer table where they’ll sit out for hours.
More shrimp recipes
These shrimp nachos are a fun way to eat this succulent sea food! Here are a few more great shrimp recipes we love:
Make Sauteed Shrimp, Grilled Shrimp or Cajun Shrimp Go for Easy Shrimp and Rice Skillet, or a fun Shrimp Burger Mix up Shrimp Lettuce Wraps, classic Shrimp Scampi or Shrimp Fra Diavolo, or Honey Garlic Shrimp Try zingy and refreshing Shrimp Ceviche
This shrimp nachos recipe is…
Gluten-free and pescatarian. No reviews
1 pound medium shrimp, deveined (tail on or peeled, wild caught if possible) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon each cumin and smoked paprika ½ teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder ½ teaspoon kosher salt
For the nachos
15-ounce can refried beans 1 cup salsa or pico de gallo, divided 6 ounces organic corn chips (approximately 1 sheet pan) 2 cups shredded Colby Jack or Mexican blend cheese (or Vegan Nacho Cheese for dairy free) ¼ cup canned corn, drained 2 tablespoons minced red onion 1 green onion, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped 1 handful sliced black olives (optional) 1 jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced or ¼ cup pickled jalapeños Sour cream, for garnish (optional) Guacamole, for garnish (optional)
