The Best Easy Shrimp Ceviche (A Refreshing No-Cook Appetizer!)

Hello, my friends! Get ready for the ultimate fresh, vibrant, and incredibly delicious appetizer that requires absolutely no cooking. This Easy Shrimp Ceviche is a bowl of pure sunshine. It’s the perfect light and healthy dish for hot summer days, a fantastic party starter, or a wonderful light lunch that will transport you straight to a beachside cafe.

This recipe is a brilliant shortcut to the classic ceviche. By starting with pre-cooked shrimp, we get all of that bright, zesty flavor without any of the worry, and it comes together in a fraction of the time. We’re talking tender shrimp, crisp tomatoes and onions, a little kick from jalapeños, and fresh cilantro, all marinated in a bath of tangy fresh lime juice. Served with a big bowl of salty tortilla chips for scooping, this is a crowd-pleasing favorite that is as easy to make as it is to eat.

Why You’ll Be Absolutely Obsessed With This Ceviche

This recipe is a true gem for its flavor and simplicity. Here’s why you’ll make it all the time:

• Incredibly Fresh & Flavorful: The combination of fresh lime juice, crisp vegetables, and tender shrimp is a bright, zesty, and utterly refreshing flavor explosion.
• Super Fast & Easy: Because we use pre-cooked shrimp, the prep time is only about 15 minutes! The rest is just hands-off time in the fridge.
• A Perfect No-Cook Recipe: This is the ideal dish for hot days when you don’t want to turn on your stove. It’s light, healthy, and wonderfully cool.
• A Guaranteed Crowd-Pleaser: A big bowl of this vibrant ceviche with a basket of tortilla chips is a guaranteed hit at any party, potluck, or gathering.

Gather Your Fresh & Simple Ingredients: What You’ll Need

The key to great ceviche is using the freshest ingredients you can find.

• 12 ounces cooked shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tail removed
• ½ cup fresh lime juice (from about 4-5 limes)
• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 1 medium red onion, diced
• 2 medium jalapeño peppers, seeded and diced
• ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
• 2 green onions, diced
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• Tortilla chips, for serving

Crafting Your Shrimp Ceviche: Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s assemble this bowl of fresh, zesty goodness. It’s as easy as chop and stir!

1. Chop the Shrimp: First, take your cooked, chilled shrimp and chop them into small, bite-sized pieces, about ½-inch in size. Place the chopped shrimp in a medium, non-reactive bowl (like glass or stainless steel).
2. Add the Lime Juice: Pour the fresh lime juice over the chopped shrimp. Give it a good toss to make sure all the shrimp is coated. Let this rest for about 10 minutes. This step, while not “cooking” the shrimp, allows it to marinate and absorb that bright, tangy flavor.

1. Add the Veggies: To the bowl with the shrimp and lime juice, add the diced Roma tomatoes, diced red onion, diced jalapeños, chopped cilantro, and diced green onions. Sprinkle with the kosher salt.
2. Stir and Chill: Gently stir everything together until all the ingredients are well combined. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour. This chilling time is crucial for the flavors to meld together into a perfect, cohesive dish.

1. Serve and Enjoy: Serve the chilled shrimp ceviche in a beautiful bowl with a side of your favorite tortilla chips for scooping.

Wise Tips for the Best Shrimp Ceviche

• Use Fresh Lime Juice Only: This is non-negotiable! The bright, tangy flavor of freshly squeezed lime juice is the heart and soul of this dish. The bottled kind just won’t taste the same.
• The 10-Minute Rest is Key: Don’t skip the step of letting the shrimp rest in the lime juice before adding the other ingredients. This allows the shrimp to really absorb that signature zesty flavor.
• Don’t Marinate for Too Long: Because we’re using pre-cooked shrimp, we don’t need a long marinating time. 30 minutes to an hour of chilling is perfect for the flavors to meld. Marinating for many hours can make the shrimp texture a bit tough.
• Dice Everything Uniformly: Taking a minute to chop your shrimp, tomatoes, and onion into a similar small dice makes for the most pleasant eating experience and ensures you get a little bit of everything in each scoop.

Delicious Variations & Creative Twists

• Add Avocado: For a creamy and delicious addition, gently fold in one diced avocado right before serving.
• Sweet & Fruity: Add some diced mango or pineapple to the mix for a wonderful sweet and tangy contrast.
• Cucumber Crunch: Add half a cup of finely diced English cucumber for an extra layer of cool, crisp texture.
• Serve it in Style: Besides serving with chips, you can spoon this ceviche into lettuce cups, serve it over tostadas, or fill avocado halves for a beautiful presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Easy Shrimp Ceviche

Can I use raw shrimp?
Traditional ceviche is made by “cooking” raw fish in citrus juice. If you want to use raw shrimp, you’ll need to marinate it in the lime juice for much longer (1-2 hours, or until it’s pink and opaque). Using pre-cooked shrimp is a great, fast, and foolproof shortcut.

How spicy is this ceviche?
By removing the seeds and membranes from the jalapeños, you get a mild, flavorful heat. If you love spice, feel free to leave some of the seeds in! For a completely non-spicy version, you can substitute the jalapeño with half of a green bell pepper.

How do I buy cooked shrimp?
You can find pre-cooked, peeled, and deveined shrimp in the freezer section or at the seafood counter of most grocery stores. It’s a fantastic time-saver!

Conclusion

This Easy Shrimp Ceviche is the perfect recipe to have in your back pocket for a quick, healthy, and incredibly impressive appetizer. It’s a vibrant, delicious, and refreshing dish that is sure to be a hit wherever you serve it. Enjoy!