A bright and tangy seafood salad for fans of vibrant Mexican flavours, today’s Mexican Shrimp Salad is creamy and refreshing, not spicy, and perfect for enjoying as a dip, side salad or as shrimp tacos.

Best Mexican Shrimp Salad Recipe

My daughter has long been obsessed with Mexican corn (elote) and I’ve enjoyed experimenting with different ways to prepare and serve the flavor profiles in Mexican corn in different ways, and this Mexican Shrimp Salad was a fun twist that we both enjoyed.

I didn’t know it at the time, but there are traditional Mexican shrimp salads (ensalada de camarón) that are very similar (if not the same) – I’m not going to say that mine is authentic, since it wasn’t made with any prior knowledge of ensalada de camarón recipes, but it looks similar to the recipes that I’ve found since.

This creamy, refreshing and flavorful shrimp salad is the perfect use for leftover shrimp or shrimp that is a bit tough, as the dressing marinades the shrimp and results in the most tender, juicy shrimp.

How to Serve Mexican Shrimp Salad:

• Serve as a dip
• Enjoy as a side salad
• Serve overtop cooked fish or steak
• Serve on lettuce wraps
• Serve in tortillas or taco shells
• Serve on toast

Mexican Shrimp Salad Variations:

• Can include other cooked seafood
• Can include additional veggies, like corn, tomatoes, avocado and potatoes
• Add pickled jalapeño juice
• Can spice it up with ancho chili powder
• Heat it up by including the seeds in the jalapeño peppers
• Add hot sauce or Chipotle sauce to the dressing

What kind of shrimp is best for shrimp salad? While this recipe can be made with any variety of cooked shrimp, it’s more authentic to use a smaller variety – look for 60/70 or 50/60 (per pound) size, like rock shrimp or even salad shrimp. You may need to adjust the cooking time based on the size of the shrimp used.

I also highly recommend buying peeled and deveined shrimp to cut down on the recipe prep time.

How to store Mexican Shrimp Salad: This easy shrimp salad can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

Mexican Shrimp Salad Ingredients

• Mayonnaise
• Sour Cream
• Lime Juice, to taste
• Cumin
• Paprika
• Salt
• White Pepper
• Cooked Shrimp, chopped
• Jalapeno, minced (deseeded if desired)
• Cilantro, chopped
• Red Onion, minced
• Cojita Cheese, or more to taste

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: If desired, you can saute the shrimp in butter and garlic for 4 minutes before proceeding with making the salad.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Sharp Kitchen Knife
• Cutting Board
• Mixing Bowl
• Large Spoon or Spatula

How to Make Mexican Shrimp Salad

In a large bowl, stir together the sour cream and mayonnaise. Add the lime juice and seasonings and stir to combine completely.

Stir in the cooked, chopped shrimp until completely coated.

Add most of the minced jalapenos, cilantro and red onion, reserving some for garnish.

Add cojita cheese and stir until just combined.

Serve garnished with remaining red onion, jalapenos and cilantro.

Pin this Easy Mexican Shrimp Salad for a delicious dip or sandwich spread the next time you’re craving Mexican food:

Grab your free printable recipe card for our Mexican Shrimp Salad recipe:

I hope your family loves this easy Mexican Shrimp Salad recipe as much as mine does!

For more scrumptious seafood ideas, check out our full seafood recipe collection here: