Camarones Enchipotlados (Chipotle Shrimp)

Name: Camarones Enchipotlados (Chipotle Shrimp)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 tomatoes; 5 cups water ((divided)); 1 garlic clove; 2 chipotle pepper (in adobo sauce); 1 tsp salt; 1 tbsp olive oil; ¼ onion (diced); 1 lb shrimp (large-sized)

These easy Camarones Enchipotlados feature succulent shrimp simmered in a smoky chipotle-tomato sauce. It's spicy, savory, and packed with Mexican flavor.

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A plate with Camarones Enchipotlados—shrimp simmered in a flavorful red sauce—served alongside green beans and rice with vegetables. Surrounding items include limes, cilantro, a can of tomato sauce, and an “El Camaron” Lotería card on a wooden surface.

Camarones Enchipotlados 🦐 are juicy shrimp simmered in a smoky, spicy chipotle-tomato sauce. This easy Mexican shrimp recipe comes together in under 20 minutes, making it perfect for a quick weeknight dinner when you want something flavorful without a lot of work.

Serve these chipotle shrimp with your favorite Mexican side dishes for an easy dinner the whole family will love.

If you like Mexican shrimp recipes, also try Camarones a la Diabla.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️

Ready in under 20 minutes. This is one of those easy shrimp recipes you can make when you need dinner on the table fast.
Big flavor with simple ingredients. Chipotle peppers in adobo give the tomato sauce a smoky, spicy flavor without needing a long list of spices.
Easy to adjust. Use fewer chipotle peppers for a milder sauce or add more if you love the heat.
Great for busy nights. You can make the chipotle tomato sauce ahead of time and keep it in the freezer for an even faster meal.

-Maggie

🦐 Ingredients

Shrimp
Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
Tomato
Onion
Garlic
Water
Salt
Olive Oil

These are large-sized shrimp, but you can use jumbo, medium, or small too. As long as they weigh 1lb., they can be used in this recipe.

Also, these are already deveined for easier, faster cooking. If the ones you buy are not deveined, you will need to add more time to the overall cooking time.

Pantry shortcut: Omit the tomatoes, onion, garlic, and water, and instead use a can of tomato sauce.

Two tomatoes covered with water in a sauce pan.

👩🏼‍🍳 Instructions

If you have fresh tomatoes, cover them with water and bring to a boil. This will only take a few minutes.

These are Roma tomatoes, but you can use any variety. For a chunkier sauce, dice the tomatoes and sauté them with the onion and garlic instead of boiling and blending them.

A collage showing how to make the chipotle tomato sauce.

Discard the water used when boiling.
Place the boiled tomatoes in the blender along with the chipotle, garlic, fresh water, and salt.
Blend until smooth.

Freezing the sauce: Make this ahead of time. This chipotle tomato sauce freezes extremely well. Thaw and use as normal.

If you make extra sauce, use it to make Sopa de Fideo, Sopa de Conchas, Fideo Seco.

A collage showing how to make shrimp in chipotle sauce.

Saute the onion in oil.
Add the chipotle tomato sauce.
Bring to a simmer.
Add the shrimp.
Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until shrimp is no longer pink.

🌶️ How To Adjust the Heat

If the sauce is too spicy, add a splash of water or a little more tomato sauce. For a milder sauce, use only one chipotle pepper in adobo. For more heat, add another chipotle pepper or a little of the adobo sauce.

🌟 Pro Tips

For a thicker sauce, simmer it in the skillet longer before adding the shrimp. This is also the time to taste the sauce and adjust the salt and heat level.

Be sure to turn off the heat once the shrimp are pink and opaque. If not, they will become rubbery.

This smoky chipotle sauce isn’t just for shrimp. Try it with chicken, fish, or beef.

🙋🏻‍♀️ Frequently Asked Questions

What are Camarones Enchipotlados?

Camarones Enchipotlados are Mexican shrimp cooked in a smoky, spicy sauce made with tomatoes and chipotle peppers in adobo. The word enchipotlado refers to a dish prepared with chipotle peppers, which give the sauce its signature smoky heat.

Are Camarones Enchipotlados spicy?

They can be! The heat comes primarily from the chipotle peppers in adobo. For a milder sauce, start with one chipotle pepper. If you enjoy spicy food, use two or add more to taste.

Can I use canned tomato sauce instead of fresh tomatoes?

Yes. For an easy pantry-friendly version, you can replace the fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, and water with a can of tomato sauce. This is a great shortcut when you want to get dinner on the table quickly.

How do I keep the shrimp from becoming rubbery?

Avoid overcooking them. Shrimp cook quickly, so simmer them in the sauce for about 4–5 minutes, or just until they turn pink and opaque. Turn off the heat immediately and serve.

Can I freeze Camarones Enchipotlados?

I don’t recommend freezing the finished shrimp because the texture can change when reheated. However, the chipotle tomato sauce freezes very well. Make the sauce ahead, freeze it, and thaw it in the refrigerator when you’re ready to make the shrimp.

Camarones Enchipotlados served with green beans and white rice.

🍴 Serve With

If you love smoky, spicy Mexican flavors, Camarones Enchipotlados are a must-try. The shrimp cook in just minutes, and the chipotle tomato sauce brings so much flavor to the dish with very little effort.

I especially love serving these shrimp with Arroz Blanco so the rice can soak up all that delicious sauce. And if you want to make this recipe even faster, prepare the sauce ahead of time and keep it in the freezer.

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