Spicy Shrimp and Peppers (30 minute meal)

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This easy spicy shrimp and peppers recipe is one our favorite weeknight meals! It’s a quick and easy 30-minute dinner that’s easy to prep and so delicious. You can use fresh or frozen shrimp to make this easy dinner and we love to serve it with pasta or rice for a complete meal.

shrimp and limes and peppers mixed together in a black bowl

Easy Shrimp and Peppers Dinner

This shrimp and peppers dish is an easy dinner that’s full of fresh flavors. You only need one skillet to make it and it hardly takes any time!

The shrimp are seasoned with taco seasoning and sautéed with fresh bell peppers, onion, some salsa and lime juice. I love shrimp because they’re not just delicious, but they cook so fast! We love the taste of this dinner and it’s one our favorite easy weeknight meals.

The ingredient list is short for this one and the prep is pretty minimal, too, so you can have this sautéed shrimp and peppers on the table in no time.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Spicy Shrimp and Peppers

Peeled shrimp – I usually buy EZ Peel Shrimp to make peeling them even easier.
Taco seasoning – Use your favorite brand. We usually use low-sodium.
Olive oil – For the pan, or nonstick cooking spray
Onion – Sliced. Use a yellow or white onion.
Red and green bell peppers – You only need two and I like to use red bell pepper, which is sweeter, and a green bell pepper which is a little more bitter. I love that combination, but you can use your favorite colors so feel free to mix or match – red, yellow, orange and green bell peppers all work.
Salsa – Use your favorite or make my homemade blender salsa.

How do you slice peppers?

For this my shrimp and pepper recipe, I like to julienne the peppers which is just a fancy way of saying I cut the peppers into thin strips. Here’s how you do it:

Slice off the top of the bell pepper. Slice off just enough to remove the stem.
Next, slice the pepper in half. Remove the seed and white ribs and discard them.
Lay one half of the bell pepper flat on your cutting board with the skin side down.
Using one hand to hold the pepper (curl your fingers under for safety!) use your knife in your other hand to cut the pepper into thin strips.
Repeat with the rest of your peppers!

Once you’ve prepped the peppers you can prep the shrimp. Once you start cooking this recipe goes fast so you’ll want to have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go.

How to Make my Spicy Shrimp Recipe with Peppers

Cook the peppers and onions in a bit of oil in a large skillet until they’re crisp tender.
Add the shrimp and cook over medium heat until they are pink and cooked through. It only takes about 3 to 4 minutes if you’re using medium-sized shrimp.
Add the salsa and lime juice and stir everything together. Once the sauce is heated through your spicy shrimp and veggies is ready to serve.

FAQs

What kind of shrimp should I buy for this recipe?

Shrimp come in all kinds of sizes and the bigger they are the longer they will take to cook. I prefer to use medium-sized shrimp for this recipe. Just be sure to buy EZ peel shrimp to make things easy!

Can I use frozen shrimp?

Yes, you can use fresh or frozen shrimp! I like to use frozen shrimp because it keeps well and I always have it on hand. When frozen shrimp are on sale, I always stock up to save money.

How do you thaw shrimp?

You can thaw the shrimp in the refrigerator overnight. You can also thaw shrimp in a bowl of water. It will need at least 30 minutes to thaw. Drain and pat them dry before using.

What seasonings go well with shrimp?

Herbs like parsley, thyme, chives, and cilantro. Both fresh herbs and dried ones will work. Old Bay seasoning is a classic way to season your shrimp! Shrimp always pairs well with fresh citrus, too, like lemon, lime, and orange. Use the zest to add an extra pop of flavor. Dried seasoning mixes work well, too, like lemon pepper and Italian seasoning.

Spicy Shrimp and Peppers Recipe

5 from 5 votes

My Spicy Shrimp and Peppers recipe is an easy 30 minute dinner! Sauteed shrimp and peppers with spicy seasoning and rice or pasta is one of our favorite weeknight meals.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Yield 4 servings

Serving Size 1 serving

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Ingredients

▢ 1 pound uncooked peeled shrimp see note
▢ 2 teaspoons taco seasoning
▢ 4 teaspoons olive oil divided
▢ 1 small/medium onion halved and sliced
▢ 1 red pepper julienned
▢ 1 green pepper julienned
▢ ¼ cup salsa
▢ 1 tablespoon lime juice

Instructions

Sprinkle the shrimp with the taco seasoning.
Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add the onions and peppers and cook until they’re tender but still crisp. Push the peppers to the sides of the pan, add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil and the shrimp. Cook until shrimp is pink and cooked through, just about 3-4 minutes.
Stir in the salsa and lime juice and heat through. Serve hot.
Serving suggestions: rice or pasta.

Recipe Notes

Shrimp notes: buy easy peel shrimp for the best tasting and easiest prep. You can buy any size shrimp; I usually get something mid-sized, depending on what’s on sale. Save money by buying frozen shrimp when it’s on sale. To defrost: let sit in the refrigerator overnight or place the frozen shrimp in a large bowl of water to defrost. Drain well, then peel and cook.

Serving Suggestion: Serve over rice or pasta, or use in tacos or on a salad.

Recipe Nutrition

Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Author Dorothy Kern

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Spicy Shrimp and Peppers recipe is an easy 30 minute dinner! Sauteed shrimp and peppers with spicy seasoning and rice or pasta is one of our favorite weeknight meals.

Last Updated on January 30, 2024

Spicy Shrimp and Peppers