This post may contain paid links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
You need this Shrimp Rice Bowl! Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy shrimp bowl is a quick and delicious Mexican dish for lunch or dinner. And oh, that cilantro lime dressing!
Every day for me feels like a “Mexican food” day. You know what I mean! Mexican dinner ideas are some of my favorites, especially when you pair them with shrimp.
This Mexican-style shrimp and rice recipe is everything you could possibly want out of a rice bowl. The cilantro lime dressing is out-of-this-world delicious, and what could be better than shrimp with avocado?
Shrimp Bowl
Let me start off by saying that this is a perfect Mexican rice bowl recipe. It’s so tasty and full of fresh, wholesome veggies, plus a creamy, flavorful cilantro lime dressing.
Mildly spiced Mexican shrimp with fresh avocado, bell pepper, and black beans on a bed of fresh spinach and rice… I mean, yes, please! I make it for my family all of the time, and they love it. Healthy Mexican recipes don’t get any better than this. I promise you, your family is going to love this easy rice recipe.
Jump to:
Shrimp Bowl Recipe Ingredients
- Shrimp, fresh or frozen, peeled and deveined, thawed if frozen
- Long-grain white rice
- Water
- Cloves garlic or garlic paste
- Cumin
- Cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Bell pepper (any color, I use red)
- Avocado
- Fresh spinach
- Black beans, canned, drained
- Neutral cooking oil, like canola
If you’re like me, you may always have leftover rice in the fridge. If so, that’s perfect! You can use leftover rice to make this shrimp rice bowl. In fact, I have the perfect rice recipes on hand:
These easy rice recipes are perfect for pairing with rice bowl recipes like this. Cook it up on the stove perfect rice or in your Instant Pot – either way, it’s quick and simple!
Cilantro Lime Dressing Ingredients
I have to tell you, this cilantro lime dressing is one of my favorite Mexican salad dressings ever.
- Sour cream
- Fresh cilantro
- Limes, juiced
- Honey
- Garlic clove
- Salt
The sour cream and fresh cilantro pair so deliciously with fresh lime juice and honey. Plus, that little kick from the garlic adds so much flavor!
Shrimp Bowls Recipe
Prepare the Rice and Shrimp
- Add long-grain white rice along with water to a rice cooker and start the program. Alternatively, cook up a batch of Portuguese Rice (the easiest stovetop rice!) or Instant Pot White Rice.
- Dice bell pepper, cut the avocado into slices, and chop spinach. Mince garlic cloves.
- Heat a can of black beans (drained) in a small pot over medium heat with the lid on. Stir occasionally. After 5 minutes, they will be heated through.
- Place a skillet over medium heat and add cooking oil. Add your garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- After 2-3 minutes is up, add shrimp along with salt and pepper. Saute for 2-3 minutes per side, then add cumin and cayenne pepper to the shrimp. Toss to coat. When shrimp are done cooking, they will shrink and become opaque.
Prepare the Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Add sour cream, fresh cilantro, juice from limes, honey, peeled clove garlic, and salt to a food processor. Pulse until smooth and creamy.
If you don’t have a food processor, add the above ingredients to a bowl. Use garlic paste instead of a whole clove and mix together until creamy.
Assemble the Mexican Rice Bowls
- Add a heaping scoop of cooked rice to the bottom of a bowl. Top with a large spoonful of black beans, diced bell peppers, avocado, spinach, and cooked shrimp. Drizzle with cilantro lime dressing to taste.
- Garnish with a squeeze of lime and fresh cilantro. Enjoy!
Shrimp Recipes
Mexican Recipes
- Elotes Mexicanos (Mexican Street Corn)
- Fresas con Crema (Strawberries and Cream)
- Chicken Empanadas
- Chicken Taquitos
- Chilaquiles
Try my guide on How to Devein and Peel Shrimp!
Did you try this recipe for shrimp and rice? I would love to hear from you! Let me know what you think in the comments below and with a rating. What are your favorite toppings for quick healthy meals like these?
Recipe
Shrimp Rice Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp fresh or frozen, peeled and deveined, thawed if frozen
- 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice
- 1 ½ cups water
- 6 cloves garlic or 1 ½ tablespoons garlic paste
- 1 tsp. cumin
- ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 bell pepper any color
- 1 avocado
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 15 ounce can black beans drained
Dressing
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup fresh cilantro heaping
- 2 limes juiced
- 1 tsp. honey
- 1 clove garlic or 1 teaspoon garlic paste
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Add 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice along with 1 ½ cups water to a rice cooker and start the program. Alternatively, cook up a batch of Portuguese Rice (the easiest stovetop rice!) or Instant Pot White Rice.
- Dice 1 bell pepper, cut 1 avocado into slices, and chop 2 cups spinach. Mince 6 cloves garlic.
- Heat 1 15 ounce can of black beans (drained) in a small pot over medium heat with the lid on. Stir occasionally. After 5 minutes, they will be heated through.
- Place a skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon cooking oil. Add your garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- After 2-3 minutes is up, add 1 pound shrimp along with a pinch of salt and pepper. Saute for 2-3 minutes per side, then add 1 teaspoon cumin and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the shrimp. Toss to coat. When shrimp are done cooking, they will shrink and become opaque.
Prepare the Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Add 1 cup sour cream, 1 heaping cup fresh cilantro, juice from 2 large limes, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 peeled clove garlic, and a pinch of salt to a food processor. Pulse until smooth and creamy.If you don’t have a food processor, add the above ingredients to a bowl. Use 1 teaspoon garlic paste instead of a whole clove and mix together until creamy.
Assemble the Mexican Rice Bowls
- Add a heaping scoop of cooked rice to the bottom of a bowl. Top with a large spoonful of black beans, diced bell peppers, avocado, spinach, and cooked shrimp. Drizzle with cilantro lime dressing to taste.
- Garnish with a squeeze of lime and fresh cilantro. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Photos by Christine Rooney
Danielle says
Hi
The link in the newsletter for this recipe, Shrimp Mexican Bowl doesn’t work. I had to go to the website to get it. But well worth the longer route as it is so good. Love your recipes !
Em Beitel says
Danielle, thank you so much! We are so happy to hear that. We’re very glad you enjoyed the recipe – and thank you for letting us know about the issue with the link!