Camarones al Chipotle (Chipotle Shrimp) is a smoky, flavorful Mexican shrimp dish with just the right amount of heat. It's quick to make and perfect for rice, tacos, or pasta.
Camarones al chipotle might appear to be a recipe that requires several steps but nothing could be further from the truth. They take less than 30 minutes to make and are SO simple to make. The flavors scream smoky and spicy so if you're a fan of that big flavor with your shrimp, you're going to love these. They are weeknight easy but feel like a fancy meal. Serve them over arroz blanco (white rice), pasta, make tacos, or just grab some warm tortillas and enjoy. For another similar version of this recipe, try our camarones a la crema.
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What are Camarones al Chipotle?
Camarones al chipotle is a Mexican shrimp dish that is smoky and slightly spicy. The shrimps cook in a sauce that’s made with chipotle peppers, most commonly chipotles in adobo sauce. The shrimps are cooked in the sauce and absorb all the chipotle flavor.
You will see this dish made in a tomato based sauce that is a bit lighter with some acidity that comes from tomatoes, and also there is the creamy version that helps tone down the spice and gives the dish a rich finish. Both versions are amazing, it just depends on what you're craving. I have included the recipe for both versions below in the recipe box.
Ingredients
- large shrimp
- chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- heavy cream
- cream cheese
- tomato sauce
See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements and instructions.
How to Make Camarones al Chipotle
Step 1: Place the cream cheese, cream, tomato sauce, chipotle peppers in adobo, and water into a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy, then set aside.
Step 2: Heat a skillet over high heat and pour in the chipotle sauce. Stir the sauce, then reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 1 minute.
Step 3: Add the shrimp and cook for about 4-7 minutes, depending on their size, or until they're fully cooked and the sauce has thickened.
Step 4: Top with cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime. Serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
This chipotle shrimp is super versatile. Serve these as an appetizer, or inside warm corn tortillas. It's also really good mixed together with pasta for a creamy, smoky chipotle shrimp pasta, or topped over white rice with a side of avocado and warm tortillas for a full meal. For a refreshing beverage to go with it, consider serving with an agua fresca like our agua de platano or our agua de fresa.
Cathy’s Expert Tips
- Cooking shrimp: Shrimp cook fast, so make sure to keep an eye on them. Overcooking will make them rubbery.
- Chipotle peppers: Chipotle peppers can be strong. Start with one pepper if you're sensitive to heat, then add more if you want extra smokiness and spice.
- Blend well: Take a minute to really blend the sauce well so it's silky and restaurant-style with no chunks of chipotle pepper skin left behind.
- Finish with fresh lime: Don't skip it this step, lime really brightens everything.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes, just fully thaw first and pat dry before cooking so they don't water down the sauce.
It depends. Everyone has a different tolerance for spice. Depending on how many chipotle peppers you use, this dish will have mild to high heat. Adjust it to suit your taste.
You can prep the sauce ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. However, cook the shrimp fresh otherwise when you reheat it, the shrimps will be gummy and rubbery.
It's great over white rice, with pasta, in tacos, or even with warm tortillas on the side.
Other Mexican Shrimp Dishes You Will Love
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📖 Recipe
Camarones al Chipotle
Ingredients
For Creamy Camarones al Chipotle
- 1½ pounds large or jumbo raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1-3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
For Tomato Based Camarones al Chipotle
- 1½ pounds large or jumbo raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- ½ cup white onion chopped
- 3 scallions chopped
- ½ lime juiced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Tomato Chipotle Hot Sauce
- 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (if you don't want it too hot, just add one pepper)
- 3 roma tomatoes rinsed and roasted
- 3 garlic cloves peeled and roasted
- ¼ white wine
- 1-2 limes quartered
Instructions
For Creamy Camarones al Chipotle
- Place the cream cheese, cream, tomato sauce, chipotle peppers in adobo, and water into a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy, then set aside.
- Heat a skillet over high heat and pour in the chipotle sauce. Stir the sauce, then reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 1 minute.
- Season the shrimp with salt and pepper to taste and then add the shrimps to the skillet. Cook for about 4-7 minutes, depending on their size, or until they're fully cooked and the sauce has thickened.
- Top with chopped fresh cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime. Serve immediately.
For Tomato Based Camarones al Chipotle
Tomato Chipotle Hot Sauce
- Roast tomatoes and garlic cloves in a skillet over medium heat with one tablespoon of oil until charred all over turning over with a fork.
- Put tomatoes and garlic in a blender with 1- 2 chipotle peppers and blend until smooth.
Shrimps and Tomato Chipotle Hot Sauce
- Peel and devein shrimp.
- Season with salt and pepper and lime juice. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- In the same skillet over medium heat add two tablespoons of olive oil. Add the chopped onion and cook for a few minutes or until onions are translucent.
- Add the tomato chipotle sauce to pan and the white wine. Lower heat and cook for 20 to 30 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pepper.
- Add the shrimps and chopped scallions to sauce. Cook for another 4-7 minutes (depending on the size of your shrimp).Note: Do not overcook shrimp or they will get rubbery.
- Top with chopped fresh cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime. Serve immediately.
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