20 Mexican Seafood Dishes (+ Authentic Recipes)

Spice up your everyday dinners with these mouthwatering Mexican seafood recipes!

If you’re a seafood lover and a die-hard Mexican food enthusiast, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for.

After all, there’s way more to Mexican cuisine than just tacos and burritos (no matter how much we love them). 

Fresh, spicy, and radiating with vibrance. Mexican flavors add so much taste to everything they touch, especially seafood. 

From shrimp to red snapper, seafood is the ultimate versatile protein. You’ll never run out of new and delicious options.

So, be more creative at dinner times with these Mexican seafood recipes!

1.  Mexican Seafood Stew

This Mexican seafood stew adds a whole new meaning to depth of flavor. A rich broth captures the most amazing, complex flavors.

Packed with fish, shrimp, mussels, and scallops, this is a serious seafood experience.

All that seafood is left to simmer in an aromatic re-hydrated, guajillo chili-based broth. 

That process creates the most amazing seafood flavor. Be sure you have plenty of crusty bread to mop up all those delicious juices!

2. Easy Seafood Paella

Do you have a date night planned? This easy seafood paella is bound to impress.

It’s elegant, colorful, and brimming with the most sensational flavors.

Paella is a Spanish rice dish hailing from the region of Valencia. Its name comes from the famous shallow pan it’s served in.

And it’s most renowned for being absolutely delicious. 

Full of tender mussels and juicy shrimp, it’s a pescatarian dream. Plus, it only takes 30 minutes to make.

That way, you can spend less time cooking and more time with that special someone.

3. Aguachile de Camarón

If you’re looking for an interesting new appetizer to serve to guests, this dish ticks all the boxes. 

Did you know that you can actually cook shrimp without heat? Yeah, you can!

Aguachile de camarón is a traditional Mexican technique of cooking shrimp in lime juice. 

Literally meaning “chili water”, the marinating sauce is made from serrano or jalapeño chilis. So, be warned. This stuff gets hot!

4. Seafood Soup

There’s nothing as comforting as a big bowl of warm and spicy soup. And this seafood soup is no exception.

Packed with red snapper, blue crab, shrimp, and crawfish, it’s a flavor sensation. 

This soup is also known as “cazuela de mariscos” along the coastline of Veracruz.

Meaning “pot of seafood,” referring to the tiny pots made of clay the soup is served in. 

It’s also a common hangover cure. So, maybe save this recipe for a day in which that notable knowledge comes in handy!

5. Mexican Ceviche

Fresh, bright, and super simple, this Mexican ceviche is the fool-proof recipe you need.

Shrimp, avocado, tomatoes, and cilantro are marinated in zesty lime and lemon juice. 

Like the aguachile de camarón, raw shrimp aren’t cooked with heat. Instead, they’re cured with acids in the citrus juice.

Super popular in Latin America, it’s sure to become a favorite on your dinner table as well!

Serve this zesty dish on crunchy tostadas, with tortilla chips, or by the spoonful.

6. Shrimp Fajitas

When you need a quick-and-easy dinner on the table in minutes, this shrimp fajitas recipe is a great go-to.

It only uses a single skillet, which is great for a fast clean-up.

We all probably have a packet of frozen shrimp hanging around somewhere. Put it to use and have this delicious fajita dish for dinner. 

This glorious meal is packed with juicy shrimp, tender charred vegetables, and a mouthwatering fajita marinade.

Serve it with a jalapeño ranch and dinner is complete!

7. The Best Fish Tacos

Now, these are guaranteed to be the best fish tacos you’ve ever tasted. No exaggeration is needed, they really are that good!

Turns out, making fish tacos at home is way easier than you might think.

The trick to the best fish tacos is to use mild-flavored white fish. Anything like cod, halibut, tilapia, or rockfish is perfect.

A simple marinade makes the tender fish, whatever type you choose, insanely delicious.

And you can cook it any way you like. Oven, grill, or Air Fryer, the fish always turns out fantastic!

8. Seafood Enchiladas

Who doesn’t love a cheesy enchilada? They’re just so hearty and comforting.

This seafood enchilada recipe swaps out the ground beef for shrimp and scallops. And it’s just as yummy.

A big pan of enchiladas is always a family favorite in my house. Plump and juicy shrimp and scallops are smothered in a creamy sauce.

Then, they’re wrapped in tortillas, and covered in gooey cheese. 

Hot Tip: Here’s how to roll corn tortillas without them splitting. Put the tortillas on a plate and cover them with a damp paper towel.

Then, microwave them on high for one minute. easy-peasy!

9. Mexican Style Garlic Shrimp

If you love shrimp scampi, you’ll adore these Mexican-style garlic shrimp.

Juicy shrimp is simmered with butter, olive oil, and lots of garlic and onion. 

Smoked paprika adds a wonderful hit of fragrance, heat, and depth. And the cilantro adds a lovely, zingy brightness. It’s too good to pass up!

This is a great family-friendly meal that even picky eaters can’t say no to! And it’s ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect. 

10. Veracruz Style Red Snapper

Veracruz is a coastal region of Mexico that is home to some of the most amazing seafood recipes. And this red snapper is just one of them. 

This elegant dish is a showstopper for sure. A whole red snapper is baked in a wonderfully seasoned tomato sauce. 

White wine enhances the delicious salsa and raisins add a tantalizing, sweet bite. Serve with lots of crusty bread and you’re good to go!

11. Baked Seafood Burritos 

This baked seafood burritos recipe will make you love imitation crab if you don’t already.

They’re stuffed with shrimp, Tillamook Mexican cheese, and lots and lots of toppings. What’s not to love?

What’s so great about the filling of these tasty burritos is that they store well in the refrigerator.

That means you can easily make this recipe ahead of time.

Once you’re ready to chow down, grab a skillet! Pile the flavor-packed filling into burrito wraps, fold up, pan fry, and enjoy!

12. Arroz a la Tumbada

Arroz a la tumbada is a traditional Mexican dish originating from Veracruz. It’s prepared in a thick clay pot called a cazuela.

But don’t worry, you can use normal kitchen equipment!

This dish is made using rice, seafood, onions, garlic, fish stock, and tomatoes.

It’s flavored using epazote leaves, but you can easily substitute this herb for cilantro. 

Impress yourself with this delicious seafood rice. One bite, and arroz a la tumbada might just become a new family favorite!

13. Pescado Zarandeado

Have a barbeque coming up? Serve this pescado zarandeado and outshine all the grilled meats!

Pescado zarandeado is a grilled fish smothered in a mustard and mayo sauce. 

Traditionally, the recipe uses red snapper. But you can use any kind of white fish you have on hand.

When grilled to perfection, this dish is the ultimate summer meal.

Serve with Mexican white rice, refried beans, or grilled veggies. It’s just as delicious no matter what you choose to pair it with.

14. Camarones a la Diabla

Spice lovers are going to love this one!

Camarones a la diabla are juicy, large shrimp covered in a bright red chili pepper sauce. It’s time to kick it up a notch.

Spicy, flavorful, and oh-so addictive, this recipe is a great way to eat more seafood.

You just can’t say no to those juicy, plump, shrimp. Just watch out for the kick of heat!

And great news, it’s so easy to make. You can have this delicious shrimp dish on the table in under 30 minutes. Perfection. 

15. Shrimp Tamales

These shrimp tamales are just as joyful to make as they are to eat.

Typically, tamales are made from a mixture of meat, peppers, and cheese. And that’s all wrapped in corn husks and steamed.

This recipe keeps things fresh by swapping out the meat for shrimp. It also skips the cheese and turns to light, herbal flavors like cilantro and oregano. 

Folding up these tasty parcels can take a little work.

So, why not call the family over and form an assembly line? Turn on the tunes and kick start the party!

16. Enchiladas de Camarón

The more enchiladas the better in my opinion! And these shrimp-stuffed enchiladas with chipotle sauce are can’t-stop-eating levels of delicious. 

Stumped on what to cook for dinner? This is the recipe for you.

Enchiladas de camarón, or shrimp enchiladas are guaranteed to be a hit with everyone. They’re meaty, buttery, and full of wonderful flavor.

And it’s so quick and easy to throw together. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. 

17. Shrimp Chimichangas

I love chimichangas. I always order a plate whenever I spot them on the menu.

But eating out can get a little pricey. So, instead, I turn to this recipe and cook up a batch at home. 

Amazingly, this recipe only uses six ingredients and takes 30 minutes to make. That’s quicker than some restaurants (not to mention a whole lot cheaper)!

Serve these shrimp chimichangas hot with sour cream, guacamole and Spanish rice.

You can always add a little rice to the inside of the chimichangas, too. Delish!

18. Salmon Tacos with Juicy Citrus Salsa

Nothing beats a delicious, flavor-packed taco. And these salmon tacos with juicy citrus salsa are some of the best. 

Zesty chili-rubbed salmon meets fresh orange avocado salsa. I mean, come on. How could you resist? And the best part is it only takes 30 minutes to make. 

Wonderfully filling, super healthy, and crazy good, one bite and you’ll be hooked.

Add salmon on to your grocery list because you need to gobble up these tacos!

19. Shrimp Empanadas

I simply cannot resist biting into these delicious enchiladas. The best part is always the delicious filling inside. These shrimp empanadas prove that tenfold. 

Fresh meaty shrimp pair wonderfully with the strong flavor of chorizo.

And when that’s all wrapped in a flaky pastry, it’s a savory dream come true.

Just be warned, it’s hard to just stop at one! So, go ahead and help yourself to three, or four (or five)!

20. Shrimp Tostadas

These shrimp tostadas are piled high with black beans, avocado, onions, tomatoes, and cilantro.

Tostadas are basically an open-faced taco with a hard, fried shell.

You can fry your own tortillas or be lazy (like me) and buy them from your local supermarket. Time is money!

Marinate the shrimp and prepare the salsa ahead of time for quick and easy prep. It makes dinner so much easier.

You can dig into these healthy tostada goodies in just 10 minutes.