During the summer, my definition of “lunch” becomes a little fuzzy. On a relaxed afternoon of grazing and potlucking, I can happily, chip, dip, and Shrimp Guacamole Bites my way to a full meal.
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Come to think of it, the same phenomenon (appetizers, chips, and dip sneakily counting as a main course) happens at football season. And the holidays. I’m sensing a theme here.
Appetizers all around!
Shrimp Guacamole Bites—A Crowd-Pleasing Shrimp Appetizer
These spiced shrimp guacamole bites are one of my favorite party munchies.
They combine an appetizer classic of which I will never grow weary (chips and guac) with an easy upgrade (five-minute chili roasted shrimp) to create a whole new experience. They’re salty, crunchy, creamy, and juicy all at the same time.
To keep the recipe prep as quick and easy as possible, I usually opt for storebought guacamole, then gussy up its flavor by stirring in a squeeze of fresh lime juice and cilantro.
Dollop the guac on the chips and add the shrimp, and you have a one-bite delight guaranteed to disappear at any party.
Or at least these shrimp guacamole appetizers are one bite when I eat them in a hurry.
I recommend trying the single-bite method at least once if you are among friends. If you are with your boss, I still recommend trying it—just slip away into a corner with your appetizer plate…and a napkin.
I tend to leave the shrimp tails on for presentation purposes, but if you prefer to remove them for easier eating, you can certainly do that.
I’d suggest doing so after the shrimp roasts, because I find that if I leave the tails on, they are less likely to dry out.
More Delicious Shrimp Recipes
- Shrimp Pasta Salad
- Baked Shrimp Scampi
- Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Shrimp Kabobs with Pineapple
- Coconut Pineapple Shrimp Skewers
- Garlic Shrimp with Quinoa
- Skinny Cajun Shrimp and Grits
Spicy Shrimp Guacamole Bites
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Ingredients
- 1 pound raw large shrimp 25–30 count, peeled and deveined, about 28 shrimp total (I bought mine frozen, then thawed them in a bowl of warm water)
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup prepared guacamole
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro plus additional for garnish
- Bite-sized round corn tortilla chips 1 per shrimp
- Crumbled feta cheese or queso fresco for serving
Instructions
- Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the shrimp in a large mixing bowl, drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and kosher salt. Toss to coat, then spread the shrimp on in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Roast for 4 to 6 minutes, just until the shrimp are opaque and cooked through. (Do not overcook, or the shrimp will be chewy.) Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the guacamole with the lime juice and 1 tablespoon cilantro.
- To assemble the bites: Top each tortilla chip with a spoonful of the guacamole and a roasted shrimp. Garnish with additional fresh cilantro and cheese. Serve at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- Because the guacamole softens the chips as the bites sit, I recommend assembling the bites immediately before serving.
- If you’d like to prep ahead, you can roast the shrimp a few hours in advance. Let come to room temperature before topping the chips. The guacamole can also be stirred with the cilantro and lime juice a few hours in advance. Store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container with plastic wrap pressed on the guac’s surface to deter browning.
Nutrition
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I love this idea especially for parties! Easy and super yum with the shrimp. Chips and dip kicked up a notch.
I love that analogy Rachel! Thanks so much :)
I completely agree about cooking on Sundays. Making it an entire day’s affair is just the most wonderful thing.
This would absolutely make it a nice pair with sangria this coming weekend get together with friends! And that guacamole, yum!
This would be amazing with sangria Sol! Hope you love it :)
I made this recipe last night for a neighborhood happy hour. It was fun to put together and tasted great! But…I used the “scoops” instead of the flat chips and they got very soggy, very fast. Any advice?
Kim, I’m so glad you were happy with how this recipe tasted! As with any chip and dip, the longer the dip sits on the chip, eventually it will become soggy. I’d suggest choosing a chip that’s a bit firmer/thicker. It’s also possible that your shrimp was extra juicy or your guac more moist, which would have made a difference too. You could try adding extra avocado to the guac next time so it’s less moist.
I used mini wonton wraps n a mini muffin tin tin spray with cooking spray cook till they’re a slight golden 350 a few minutes then mix filling then fill an serve
That sounds great too! Thanks for sharing, Mary!
Where do you put the kosher salt? Mix in with the guac or sprinkle on shrimp with the other seasonings? It’s not mentioned in the recipe- only the ingredient list. Thanks!
Hi Maggie! It goes in the shrimp seasoning mix. I hope you love the recipe!!
My friend sent me this recipe because I told her i couldn’t make a decent appetizer. I will definitely try this for our neighborhood picnic. It sounds easy but delicious. Thanks
I hope you love it Lana! I’d love to hear what you think :)
Could you tell me what brand of chips you used? I’m having trouble finding the little flat rounds. Making these for an engagement cocktail party tomorrow. Thanks!
Hi Tatum! I believe Tostitos makes some. I just picked up a bag at Target a few weeks ago, so hopefully you can find them too.
Can I make the shrimp ahead of time.
Hi Lisa! Ideally, the shrimp would be cooked the same day as you’re serving it, but you could also make them one day ahead if you like. Whatever option you choose, I would keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble the bites.
Would love to make your bites for a fundraising event. How long do you think the shrimp could sit out? Would it be the worst thing if they were even served a little cool?
Hi Ashley, the shrimp should be okay to sit out for an hour or two (official food safety guidelines advise against letting shellfish sit at room temperature for extended periods of time), and as with any chip and dip, eventually the chips will start to become soggy. I think serving them on the cool side would be fine!
I’m going to make this for our 4th of July bbq but will likely remove the tails first. I think it would be messy at a party have to pull those off while trying to eat the whole thing. But OMG, these sound good!
Val
I hope you enjoy, Val! Pulling off the tails after roasting is definitely an option.
Would like to make this but not a fan of guacamole . Have you used any other dip or sauce?
Hi Connie, unfortunately guacamole is pretty essential to this recipe, so I haven’t tried it with anything else. You could check out this taco dip or this hot crab dip if you’re looking for a seafood-type appetizer!
Hi! I’m going on a picnic date with my boyfriend, I’m in charge of the appetizer. How would I use the ingredients for two? If I used half the amount of shrimp you used.
Hi Angela! It depends on how many bites you want per person. If you want to halve the shrimp, then you’ll also need to halve all the other ingredients in the recipe. I hope this helps!
Hi, Connie. I haven’t tried this, but I have seen a similar recipe that includes smashed seasoned sweet potato (in place o the guac) and a blackened seasoning on the shrimp. You could try that.
Or.. even.. Sabra Extremely Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus in place o the Guac…
hey girl- these bites look amazing! right up my alley!
Thanks, Shawnna! I hope you enjoy them if you do give them a try!
OH. EM. GEE. These look so delicious, Erin!
Thanks so much Kell!
Excellent! Made some tonight from the picture. Simply awesome! Super easy to make small batches and feed two hungry adults. Kudos! :)
YAY I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed these! Thanks so much for giving them a try and reporting back. :)
What about serving them on plain rice crackers instead of tortilla chips? I love the idea of the latter (especially jalapeno flavoured ones!) but don’t want the fuss of last minute preparation
Ann, that’s a really interesting idea! I think those might hold up a bit better, though they still won’t be able to last at room temp for hours. Personally, I prefer the tortilla chip flavor with the guacamole, but if you like the flavor of rice crackers with guacamole, feel free to experiment! You might want to salt the bites a bit (taste them first), since tortilla chips usually have more salt than rice crackers.
I made these yesterday for our 4th of July dinner. They were excellent! My only problems were my store didn’t have the flat round Tostitos, just the cup-shaped ones, which was fine, but my large shrimp were too large for them. I did remove the tail before baking so I don’t know if that made a difference but they didn’t stay in a nice tight curve. I’ll try a bit smaller next time. But YUMMY!
Val, I’m so glad you enjoyed the bites! Thanks so much for giving them a try and taking the time to report back. :)
Hi Erin, what size are the tortillas, I can only get 6” dis corn tortillas and need to cut out with a cook cutter!
Hi Roger, I used bite-size tortilla chips, which are about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
Brilliant! Thanks Erin
I tried this for the first time and it was big hit all around!! Will defiantly make this again. And again and probably again. Best part is it’s sooo easy!
YAY!!! I am so happy to hear that Gail. Thanks so much for leaving this wonderful review. I really appreciate it, and it is so helpful for others considering the recipe too!
I made this and substituted baked wontons for the chip or cracker. Perfect appetizer
YAY! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Heidi. Thanks for taking time to leave this wonderful review too!
I did. Delicious
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Louise! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This is another winner Erin. I made this appetizer for a party and they were gone in minutes. I did assemble just before the party, used a chilled plate, and made 1.5 lbs of shrimp! The hostess appreciated the effort (shhhh… it was simple but looked gourmet.)
Hi Susan! So glad you enjoyed these bites! Thank you for this kind review!
Hi, Erin! I have made this appetizer at least a dozen times and it doesn’t disappoint. This upcoming Super Bowl will be the third time I’ve made them for the game and EVERYONE had already asked if I was making them this year! Now I’m well known as the “Appie Dude” in our circles and I’m equally good at a grill, but your recipe has become a hit here in Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach!!
Love that! Thank you for sharing Terry!
Erin, I have made this appetizer several times and it’s a HIT every time I make them! So much so that I’ve been called into Super Bowl duty for these little yummies, for a group of TWENTY! So I’ll be plenty busy! I’ve also shared your recipe with others, so hopefully they’ll chime in, as well!
Two thumbs up…WAY UP!!
~TW
**UPDATE** Erin, I forgot that I posted on this recipe earlier! My bad! I should have looked over the comments before I posted this one, but I guess that tells you how much I (we) LOVE THIS RECIPE!! ~TW
Yay! Makes me so happy to hear Terry! Thank you for your review!