• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cookin Canuck
  • Recipe Index
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Cooking 101
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Quick&Easy
  • Instant Pot
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Quick&Easy
    • Instant Pot
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Appetizers

    Southwestern Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

    Published: Mar 29, 2021 · Modified: Mar 28, 2021 by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 1 Comment

    40Shares
    Jump to Recipe

    In this southwestern shrimp cocktail, spice-crusted shrimp are seared on the grill, then mixed with creamy avocado and fresh corn kernels. Great for a light and satisfying summertime appetizer.
    Spice-crusted cooked shrimp, avocado and corn in martini glasses.

    This Southwestern shrimp cocktail just might be my new favorite appetizer, only rivaled by my Bloody Mary Shrimp Shooters!

    Shrimp done well is simply magical. And when I saw “done well”, I mean seared until it is slightly blackened on the outside, but tender and juicy on the inside.

    The easiest way to achieve this is with a hot grill and short cooking time. Infuse extra flavor into the shrimp by first rubbing them with mixture of spices. Ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder and salt, made into a paste with a drizzle of olive oil.

    Shrimp and avocado play very nicely together (like in my Shrimp Avocado Egg Rolls and Shrimp Salad Cups), so it seemed like an obvious choice to pair the spiced shrimp with creamy, cool avocado. Fresh corn kernels add a touch of sweetness and a squeeze of lime juice rounds out the flavors.

    You can serve the shrimp cocktail in appetizer-sized bowls, or pile them into martini glasses for that "wow" presentation!

    Spiced shrimp in a blue bowl, avocado and ear of corn.

    What you need for this Southwestern Shrimp Cocktail:

    These are the main components of this recipe (affiliate links included):

    • Shrimp: I used large shrimp, often labeled as 31-35 (meaning you get 31-35 per pound). Peel and remove the tails.
    • Avocado: I used half of a large Hass avocado. If only smaller avocados are available, use ¾ to a full avocado (depending on size) so there are enough avocado chunks for 4 shrimp cocktails.
    • Corn: Cut the kernels off of a medium to large cob of cooked corn. I often boil the corn, but grilled corn adds even more flavor.
    • Spice mixture: Ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder and salt, mixed with olive oil.
    • Lime: Fresh lime juice ties everything together.
    • Skewers: If using wooden skewers, first soak them in warm water for 20 to 30 minutes so that they don’t catch on fire on the grill.
    Jump to Recipe

    Grilled, spiced shrimp skewers, plus bowls of chopped avocado & corn kernels.

    Tips for making this shrimp cocktail recipe:

    Tip #1: If you only remember one thing from this post, let this be it...DON'T OVERCOOK THE SHRIMP! Not to be bossy or anything, but overcooked, rubbery shrimp is a major pet peeve of mine. It rivals my annoyance when certain teenagers in the house (ahem) don't changed out the toilet paper roll. Serious stuff.

    On a hot grill, large shrimp take just 1 ½ to 2 minutes per side to reach that "slightly charred on the outside, juicy on the inside" perfection.

    Tip #2: I like to use two skewers per kabob so the shrimp don’t spin around and around when trying to turn them. As mentioned above, be sure to soak wooden skewers before using so they don't burn on the grill.

    Tip #3: Chop the avocado right before adding to the other ingredients so that it doesn't have a chance to turn brown. The lime juice will help slow down the oxidation, but cutting into the creamy fruit late in the game keeps things looking as fresh as possible.

    Cooked spice-encrusted shrimp, avocado and corn kernels in a white bowl.

    Frequently Asked Questions:

    Can this be made ahead of time:

    Yes and no. The shrimp are best when served warm, straight from the grill. And the avocado should be chopped shortly before serving.
    What can be done ahead of time:

    • Cook the corn (grill or boil), let it cool, then cut the kernels off of the cob.
    • Prepare the spice mixture.
    • Peel the shrimp.

    Can I use pre-cooked shrimp for this recipe?

    Nope. The grilled flavor is essential to this shrimp cocktail. And you definitely don't want to be grilling shrimp that has already been cooked!

    Martini glasses filled with southwestern shrimp cocktail, with avocado and corn kernels.

    Spice-crusted cooked shrimp, avocado and corn in martini glasses.

    Southwestern Shrimp Cocktail

    In this southwestern shrimp cocktail, spice-crusted shrimp are seared on the grill, then mixed with creamy avocado and fresh corn kernels.
    4.86 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizers
    Cuisine: Southwestern
    Keyword: Avocado, Healthy Appetizers, Summer Recipe
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 minutes
    Total Time: 19 minutes
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 133.7kcal
    Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

    Ingredients

    • ½ teaspoon chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 ½ teaspoons olive oil
    • ½ pound large raw shrimp peeled (tails removed, too)
    • 1 large avocado diced
    • 1 ear cooked corn kernels cut off
    • Juice of ½ lime
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • If using wooden skewers, soak 4 of them in warm water for 20 to 30 minutes before using.
    • Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and brush lightly with oil.
    • In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and olive oil. Add the shrimp and stir to coat.
    • Thread the shrimp onto the skewers, using 2 skewers for each set of shrimp so that they are easier to turn on the grill.
    • Place the shrimp on the grill and sear until the shrimp are just cooked through, 1 ½ to 2 minutes per side. When the shrimp are cool enough to handle, remove them from the skewers and place them in a medium-sized bowl.
    • To the shrimp, add the avocado, corn and lime juice. Stir to combine.
    • Divide the shrimp between 4 small bowls or martini glasses. Serve.

    Notes

    Weight Watchers Points: 2 (Blue - Freestyle SP) / 3 (Green) / 2 (Purple)
    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I provide nutritional information for my recipes as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using the Sparks nutrition calculator and Weight Watchers points are calculated using the Recipe Builder on their site. While I attempt to provide information that is as accurate as possible, you should calculate the nutritional information independently before relying on it.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1shrimp cocktail | Calories: 133.7kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.4g | Protein: 12.8g | Fat: 6.4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 86.1mg | Sodium: 162.4mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 1.6g
    Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

    Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    Signature

    40Shares
    « Egg & Avocado Breakfast Quesadilla
    Steamed Clams with Italian Sausage »

    Want more easy, healthy recipes?

    Subscribe to get the recipes sent straight to your inbox.

      We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Sabrina

        March 31, 2021 at 9:43 pm

        5 stars
        great shrimp cocktail recipe, like the avocado and southwestern flavors much better than the traditional cocktail-ketchup-y sauce, thank you

        Reply

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Primary Sidebar

      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter
      Photo of Dara Michalski.

      Hi there! Welcome to Cookin' Canuck.

      I'm Dara, a Canadian living in the U.S. and sharing my favorite healthy recipes. My cooking motto is that healthy eating never needs to be boring!

      More about me →

      Popular

      • Strawberry Nice Cream
      • Lemon Orzo Salad
      • Sautéed Corn, Zucchini & Blistered Tomatoes Recipe
      • Grilled Halloumi Cheese Recipe

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      About

      • Meet Dara
      • Contact
      • Work With Me
      • FAQ
      • Privacy Policy

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      Recipes

      • All Recipes
      • Main Dishes
      • Instant Pot Recipes
      • 30-Minute Meals

      I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

      Copyright © 2022 Cookin' Canuck