Game day food is so fun! These cute little Chili Lime Shrimp Cups are packed with flavor, and are super easy to make. Each bite is absolutely irresistible. I promise, you’ll keep coming back for more!
I am not a huge fan of football, but I do love game day…a lot. You know why? Yup, you guessed right…it’s pretty much an excuse for me to make delicious appetizers and party food, and lately I am obsessed with these cute little chili lime shrimp cups!
Not only are these shrimp bites very cute, but also packed with so much flavor. Imagine all this in one single bite: chili lime shrimp and fresh homemade guacamole on a Tostito scoop…and topped with crumbled queso fresco, diced tomatoes, and cilantro. Yum!
Life is always good when there is delicious food involved. So let’s get started and make chili lime shrimp cups!
Ready for Game Day!
This recipe makes about 32 shrimp cups, enough to throw a party! I promise you, these chili lime shrimp cups will be gone within seconds. They are that good!
You can serve these shrimp bites along with other game day worthy appetizers. Some of my top picks are:
- Baked garlic parm chicken wings (these are amazing!)
- Baked popcorn chicken bites
- Loaded baked taquitos with chicken
- Greek meatballs with feta
And if you want to get fancy, try my bruschetta served on fingerling potatoes (a reader favorite!) or these grilled eggplant rollups by Caroline’s Cooking!
What’s in these Chili Lime Shrimp Cups
Each bite contains irresistible flavors of:
- Chili lime shrimp
- Homemade guacamole
- Queso fresco crumbles
- Diced tomatoes
- Cilantro
- Tostitos scoops
It’s also super easy to assemble! It only takes about 20-30 minutes to make from start to finish. I don’t know about you, but I love easy appetizers, especially when I am trying to feed a crowd.
Quick tip: assemble them just before everyone is ready to eat in order to prevent the tortilla scoops from getting soggy.
The Fresh Homemade Guacamole
Let’s talk about the fresh homemade guacamole for a minute because, well, guac is life!
The best guacamole is always simple and fresh. No need to make it loaded or anything like that. Simple is good.
For this easy guacamole recipe, you’ll need fresh avocados, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. If you want to, you can even add a little bit of garlic powder or freshly minced garlic.
Then, it’s all about smashing and combining with a fork, and adjusting the seasoning to taste. I like to keep my guac a bit chunky so I mix until it’s just combined and see smaller chunks of avocado.
Variations and Substitutions
You can get creative with these chili lime shrimp cups! Food is about having fun and making it what you like it to be, so feel free to customize it.
Here are some ideas:
- Instead of guacamole, fill the scoops with a mango salsa.
- To make it healthier, serve on little lettuce cups. Little gem lettuce would be a great choice.
- You can also use thick cucumber slices as the base!
- Upgrade the toppings. Try pico de gallo, mango salsa, or corn salsa.
- Drizzle with avocado crema or chipotle honey ranch.
Now, head to the kitchen and because game day is about to start! I hope you like these chili lime shrimp cups as much as I do.
Thank you for reading! And happy cooking!
Tips for Success
- Assemble shortly before serving to prevent the bottom from getting soggy.
- Don’t marinate the shrimp for too long. 15-20 minutes is enough to marinate shrimp, especially if using lime. Marinating the shrimp with lime juice for too long can make them tough and rubbery.
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Chili Lime Shrimp Cups
Ingredients
Chili Lime Shrimp
- 32 large shrimp, peeled and deveined - about 1 pound
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Olive oil for pan
Quick Guacamole
- 4 medium avocados, peeled and pitted
- Fresh lime juice to taste - about 1-2 limes
- ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro, plus more to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Assembly
- 32 tortilla scoops - Tostitos
- 3 roma tomatoes, diced
- Cilantro for garnish
- Crumbled queso fresco for garnish
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the shrimp, lime juice, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Set aside for 15 minutes to let it marinate.
- Meanwhile, make the guacamole: In a medium bowl, mash the avocado. Add lime juice, salt, pepper, and cilantro to taste. Combine.
- Cook the shrimp: Heat some olive oil (1-2 tablespoons) in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Cook the shrimp about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Assemble the chili lime shrimp cups: Spoon some guacamole over each tortilla scoop. Top with a cooked shrimp each. Garnish with diced tomatoes, cilantro, and crumbled queso fresco. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
- Shrimp cooks fast. 3-4 minutes per side should be enough.
- You can also throw the shrimp on the grill. Use a grilling basket or place the shrimp on skewers.
- Tip: Assemble the shrimp cups right before serving to prevent them from getting soggy.
Cathy Smith says
Can I substitute queso Campesino Cotija for the queso fresco?
Tania says
Absolutely!