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    Home » Recipes » Seafood Appetizers

    Blackened Shrimp Nachos Recipe

    Published: Sep 14, 2020 · Modified: Aug 7, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    575 shares
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    5 from 44 votes
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    pinterest image for blackened shrimp nachos

    I do love football season and all the delicious home-gating dishes I create. This season I decided to up my game with a Restaurant-Style Blackened Shrimp Nachos.

    And since my wife’s not a big fan of tortilla chips I also made a Blackened Shrimp Salad with a side a chips, hoping I could tempt her to try them.

    blackened shrimp nachos with melted cheese and peppers on a white plate sitting on a cutting board

    As a chef, I’ve always loved shrimp and loved working with shrimp in my dishes. I almost feel like Bubba from Forrest Gump when I start talking about all the different ways I can serve shrimp.

    And blackening my favorite gulf shrimp adds another level of deliciousness to those sweet treats from the gulf.

    raw ingredients to make recipe

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Blackened Shimp Nachos. In Chef Speak this is called the Mise en Place which translates into Everything in its Place.

    Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    prepared ingredients to make recipe

    In my quest to use better ingredients, I opted for Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips. Feel free to use the chips of your choice.

    Table of Contents:

    • Do I have to use peppers in my nachos?
    • What else can I add to my Blackened Shrimp Nachos?
    • Do I have to make the shrimp blackened?
    • How do I make Blackened Seasonings?
    • Can I use the blackened seasoning with other seafood?
    • More Recipes You’ll Love!
    • Blackened Shrimp Nachos
      • Ingredients
        • Blackened Seasoning
        • Blackened Shrimp Nachos
        • Salsa Fresca
        • Guacamole
      • Instructions
        • Salsa
        • Guacamole
      • Nutrition

    Do I have to use peppers in my nachos?

    No, you don’t. These are your nachos and you can make them how you want them.

    I’m not as big a fan of heat, so plain jalapenos don’t always thrill me. But pickled jalapenos can be a nice addition.

    What else can I add to my Blackened Shrimp Nachos?

    One of my friends likes to add a cheese sauce to the nachos, making them even more ooey, gooey and delicious.

    If you really want to up your game add some crumbled cooked chorizo sausage before you melt the cheese. Giving us a surf and turf version of my nachos.

    And if you a fan of sour cream, don’t hold back. It’s all good!

    blackened shrimp nachos on a white plate with bowls of salsa and guacamole sitting on a cutting board

    My Blackened Shrimp Nachos came out of the oven looking OMG delicious and it was all I could do to restrain myself long enough to take the pictures.

    Do I have to make the shrimp blackened?

    No, you don’t. You can saute them in whatever seasoning you like. Perhaps a little old bay, or cook them in a light garlic aioli.

    How do I make Blackened Seasonings?

    It’s easy to make you own cajun seasoning for blackening meats and seafood. These simple eight spices are what I use to make my cajun seasoning blend.

    • Sweet Hungarian paprika
    • Table salt
    • Garlic powder
    • Onion powder
    • Dried oregano
    • Dried thyme
    • Cayenne pepper
    • Black pepper

    When you want to change up the flavors try using Smoked Paprika instead of regular paprika. Cumin also makes a nice addition to the flavor.

    For more heat increase the chili powder to perk up the dish.

    If you like a little sweetness add a teaspoon of brown sugar to the mix.

    There are lots of different flavor combinations you can come up with using the spices you have on hand.

    Can I use the blackened seasoning with other seafood?

    Yes, you can. It would be good on just about any type of fish, scallops or even lobster. You can even use the seasoning with chicken or tofu.

    salad in a white bowl with blue tortilla chips, blackened shrimp, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, peppers, salsa and guacamole

    Another way to enjoy this deliciousness is in a Blackened Shrimp Taco Salad. You’re using the same basic ingredients, just not melting the cheese.

    My wife wanted a salad instead of the nachos. I did sneak some chips on her plate, but they were still there when she was done eating.

    It’s easy to customize the salad with the ingredients you enjoy. It would also make a nice DIY salad bar for game day.

    white bowl of blue tortilla chips with a bowl of guacamole and salsa

    And if you’re just looking for a lighter snack, make up a batch of guacamole and salsa fresca, and enjoy your chips in style!

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    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    blackened shrimp nachos with melted cheese and peppers on a white plate with bowls of salsa and guacamole sitting on a cutting board
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    5 from 44 votes

    Blackened Shrimp Nachos

    When you’re looking for a delicious change of pace treat yourself and try my Blackened Shrimp Nachos or my Blackened Shrimp Taco Salad for dinner.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 913kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    Blackened Seasoning

    • 11/2 teaspoons Hungarian paprika
    • 2 teaspoons sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

    Blackened Shrimp Nachos

    • ½ lb shrimp peeled and deveined with the tails removed
    • 3-4 mini sweet peppers
    • 1 tablespoon blackened seasoning (see recipe above)
    • 1 cup cheddar or Monterrey Jack shredded
    • 1 jalapeño pepper thinly sliced (or you can substitute jarred jalapenos if you can’t find fresh ones)
    • 2 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
    • 4 cups Mission Organics® Tortilla Chips (about half a bag)

    Salsa Fresca

    • 1 medium tomato diced
    • ¼ cup red onion diced
    • 1 teaspoon cilantro finely minced
    • juice from one lime (more or less to your tastes)
    • sea salt to taste

    Guacamole

    • 2 Hass Avocado ripe
    • ¼ cup tomato diced
    • 1 teaspoon cilantro finely chopped
    • juice from one lime (more or less to your tastes)
    • jalapeno or hot sauce optional
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    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400 while you gather your ingredients
    • Season shrimp with blackening spices using as much or as little as you prefer.    
    • Heat up a cooking pan over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and quickly sear them on both sides until just done. Take shrimp out of the pan and set aside.  *You can also bake the shrimp in the oven or grill them.
    • Place the tortilla chips onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.  The paper will help you transfer the completed nachos to a serving dish.
    • Place the shrimp onto the chips, then add the sweet peppers.
    •  Add the shredded cheddar to the nachos, evenly distributing the cheese.  *use more cheese than you think you need.  As it melts it won’t look to be as much as you imagined.
    • Sprinkle cilantro over the cheese, then add sliced jalapenos if you want a little extra heat.
    • place sheet into preheated oven and bake for 7-10 minutes or until the cheese is nicely melted.

    Salsa

    • In a mixing bowl add diced tomatoes, onion, cilantro and lime juice.  Season with sea salt to taste.  * If you like heat feel free to add some diced jalapeno or hot sauce.

    Guacamole

    • Mash avocado with a potato masher or fork until you have the desired texture.
    •  Add the diced tomato, cilantro, and lime juice. Season with sea salt to taste. *If you like heat feel free to add some diced jalapeno

    Nutrition

    Calories: 913kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 172mg | Sodium: 2548mg | Potassium: 979mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1730IU | Vitamin C: 41.9mg | Calcium: 502mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. Paula Montenegro

      September 19, 2020 at 3:03 pm

      5 stars
      I’m loving this recipe! I used to make a lot of blackened fish but never used shrimp. It sounds incredibly flavorful and fresh at the same time, with the salsa and guac. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    2. Marta

      September 19, 2020 at 11:01 am

      5 stars
      I typically don’t make seafood nachos, but after tasting these blackened shrimp on them, I’ll be doing it more often. They were a huge hit with my entire family!

      Reply
    3. Denise

      September 19, 2020 at 10:51 am

      5 stars
      These nachos are amazing, and make a great lunch! The blackened shrimp is PERFECT! Such a great recipe.

      Reply
    4. Amy Liu Dong

      September 19, 2020 at 8:13 am

      5 stars
      What an easy, delicious and healthy snacks to make for my family today. I love learning new recipe like this, thank you!

      Reply
    5. Jacqueline Debono

      September 18, 2020 at 11:38 am

      5 stars
      We love nachos but have never made them with shrimps before despite the fact I use shrimps a lot! But next time we have a nacho night planned, definitely going to do it like your recipe.

      Reply
    6. Ramona

      September 18, 2020 at 8:47 am

      5 stars
      My love and interest in nachos just went up way more! they are blackened and shrimp nachos which just make me dream for this dish. This is a new way for me to make ground beef nachos! i cant wait to make this dish, thank you for sharing this recipe!

      Reply
    7. Sharon

      September 17, 2020 at 9:51 pm

      5 stars
      I typically make ground beef nachos so these blackened shrimp nachos are a wonderful new way to have one of my favorite dishes.

      Reply
    8. Fred N

      September 17, 2020 at 9:43 pm

      5 stars
      I love the addition of smoked paprika, definitely changes up the flavor and very creative as well. I would love to have this on Friday evening with the family while watching a movie.

      Reply
    9. Jere Cassidy

      September 17, 2020 at 7:24 pm

      5 stars
      Both the nachos and the salad look so delicious. I have never blackened anything so this is a must try. And, I want these blue corn chips.

      Reply
    10. Mama Maggie's Kitchen

      September 17, 2020 at 12:43 am

      5 stars
      This dish looks amazing. I wish I could eat that right now!

      Reply
    11. Rachael

      September 16, 2020 at 8:48 pm

      5 stars
      These are so flavorful! I love anything nachos and these are perfect for a simple, flavorful dinner or appetizer!

      Reply
    12. Lesli Schwartz

      September 16, 2020 at 6:17 pm

      5 stars
      Blackened shrimp nachos just raised the nacho level up several notches! Love this recipe! I also am a huge fan of blue corn tortillas. Yay, and YUM!

      Reply
    13. Nyxie

      September 16, 2020 at 11:08 am

      SOunds amazing! I’ve never had anything like this before! I’d definitly love to try it.

      Reply
    14. Beth

      September 15, 2020 at 11:54 pm

      5 stars
      We were just talking about having shrimp next weekend, now I know which recipe to use. They look delicious!

      Reply
    15. sara lafountain

      September 15, 2020 at 8:18 pm

      These nachos look so delicious. You are using my absolute favorite tortilla chips too!

      Reply
    16. Lois

      September 15, 2020 at 5:29 pm

      5 stars
      These nachos and salad should be called heavenly. All of these ingredients are very nutritious.

      Reply
    17. Stine Mari

      September 15, 2020 at 3:23 pm

      5 stars
      I wold definitely eat your wife’s nacho chips as well. The more the merrier in my book! This looks fantastic, I love the blackened seasoning blend.

      Reply
    18. Kathy

      September 15, 2020 at 3:09 pm

      Wow, these look amazing. I love how colorful it is too. I can’t wait to make it. I bet they’re going to be so good.

      Reply
    19. Farrah Less

      September 15, 2020 at 1:14 pm

      5 stars
      I live in SoCal and we have plenty of authentic Mexican cuisine. Looking at your photos for this recipe makes me think it was one of those dishes serve in our local restaurant 🙂

      Reply
    20. Lynndee

      September 15, 2020 at 12:00 pm

      I have never tried using a blackened seasoning before. But I do love shrimp. Going to save your recipe.

      Reply
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    My name is Dennis Littley or “Chef Dennis” as I’m known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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