Take your tastebuds on a trip to Mexico with these Gobernador-inspired shrimp tacos, made right in your backyard on the Traeger Flatrock. Easy to prepare, with a bold blend of flavors, this recipe is perfect for any family gathering.
Taste Mexico at Home
When I think of family vacations, I’m often reminded of the incredible food we’ve enjoyed in Mexico. One dish that always stands out is Gobernador-style shrimp tacos – grilled shrimp with sautéed onions, peppers, and melted cheese, all wrapped in a soft corn tortilla. I decided to recreate these tacos using ingredients I had on hand, adapting the recipe to fit what’s available here in Colorado. Using my Traeger Flatrock, I brought those vacation vibes right to our backyard, where we cook year-round regardless of the weather.
Discussion About the Item Being Cooked
Gobernador tacos are famous for their smoky, cheesy, and slightly spicy flavors, typically made with shrimp, sautéed onions, and chiles, finished off with melted cheese. While the original version calls for poblano peppers, I couldn’t find them at the store, so I used Anaheim chiles instead. They still brought a delicious, mild heat to the tacos, which paired perfectly with the creamy queso quesadilla. I love how flexible this recipe is, letting you make adjustments based on what’s available and what your family enjoys. This recipe brings that authentic taco shop flavor to your Traeger Flatrock for a fresh, flavorful take on shrimp tacos.
Inspired by our Mexican Vacations
The inspiration for these tacos comes from our family vacations in Mexico, where seafood tacos are a staple. Each trip, we discover a new variation of shrimp tacos, but it’s the Gobernador-style that sticks with me the most. The mix of grilled shrimp, peppers, onions, and melty cheese wrapped in a soft tortilla is always a hit, no matter where you get them. Recreating that experience at home has become a tradition for us, especially when the weather doesn’t allow for a beach getaway. With the Traeger Flatrock, I was able to recreate that classic dish in the comfort of my backyard.
Our Twist on Authentic
For this version, I used ingredients I could easily find at the store. Shrimp is the star of the show, seasoned with a generous amount of Spiceology taco seasoning, which adds a nice depth of flavor. The white onion and Anaheim chiles are sautéed in butter, providing a slightly sweet and savory balance to the spicy shrimp.
The adobo sauce from chipotles in adobo gives the tacos a smoky heat, while queso quesadilla adds a creamy, melted layer to bring everything together. We garnished with fresh cilantro and green onions, then topped the tacos with a drizzle of bottled taqueria-style guacamole salsa to add a burst of tangy flavor.
How to Make Gobernador Shrimp Tacos at Home
This recipe is incredibly straightforward, especially when you’ve got a Traeger Flatrock to make the cooking process easy. I start by sautéing the onions and Anaheim chiles in butter until they’re softened and slightly caramelized. Then, I add in the shrimp seasoned with Spiceology taco seasoning and a spoonful of adobo sauce for that smoky kick.
After the shrimp is cooked through, I pile the mixture onto corn tortillas, top with shredded queso quesadilla, and let the cheese melt perfectly. Each taco gets finished off with cilantro, green onions, and a drizzle of guacamole salsa for a final burst of flavor.
Primary Ingredients
- Corn tortillas
- Shrimp
- White onion
- Anaheim chiles
- Butter
- Adobo sauce from chipotles in adobo
- Queso quesadilla
- Spiceology taco seasoning
- Cilantro & green onions for garnish
- Bottled taqueria-style guacamole salsa
Why the Traeger Flatrock is Ideal for Shrimp Tacos
The Traeger Flatrock griddle is perfect for this recipe because it allows for even heat distribution, making it easy to sauté the vegetables and cook the shrimp to perfection. The flat surface also makes it a breeze to warm up and slightly crisp the corn tortillas, which helps them hold up to the generous filling. The Flatrock’s versatility shines in recipes like this, where you need to control the heat and move ingredients around quickly. Plus, there’s something about cooking outdoors, even in cooler Colorado weather, that adds to the whole experience.
Melt the cheese 
Top the tortillas with cheese and shrimp
Step-By-Step
- Preheat your Traeger Flatrock to medium-high heat. Melt butter on the griddle and add sliced white onions and Anaheim chiles. Sauté until softened and caramelized.
- Season the shrimp with Spiceology taco seasoning. Add the shrimp to the griddle and cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until they turn pink and are fully cooked through.
- Add adobo sauce from the chipotles in adobo to the shrimp, stirring to coat everything in the smoky sauce.
- Warm the corn tortillas on the Flatrock while the shrimp finishes cooking, until they are soft and slightly crispy around the edges.
- Assemble the tacos by placing the shrimp mixture on the tortillas, topping with shredded queso quesadilla, and allowing it to melt on the griddle.
- Garnish each Gobernador shrimp taco off the Traeger Flatrock with cilantro, green onions, and a drizzle of bottled taqueria-style guacamole salsa.
More Taco Recipes to Try at Home
If you’re looking for more taco inspiration, try these recipes:
Products Used in Making These Gobernador Tacos
If you’re looking to bring a bit of vacation flavor to your next family meal, these Gobernador-inspired shrimp tacos on the Traeger Flatrock are the perfect choice. With fresh ingredients and bold, smoky flavors, they’re a hit for taco night or any casual gathering. Fire up your grill, grab some shrimp, and give this recipe a try—you won’t be disappointed. Be sure to check out our other taco recipes for even more grilling inspiration!
Gobernador Style Shrimp Tacos on the Traeger Flatrock
Equipment
- Traeger Flatrock griddle
- Spatula
- Taco Smasher (optional)
- Griddle dome (optional for melting cheese)
- Tongs
- Small bowl for mixing adobo sauce
Ingredients
- 8 corn tortillas
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 white onion sliced
- 2 Anaheim chiles sliced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp adobo sauce from chipotles in adobo
- 1 cup queso quesadilla shredded
- 1 tbsp Spiceology Taco Seasoning
- Fresh cilantro chopped (for garnish)
- Green onions sliced (for garnish)
- Taqueria-style guacamole salsa for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat the Traeger Flatrock: Set your Flatrock to medium-high heat.
- Sauté vegetables: Add butter to the griddle, then sauté the sliced onions and Anaheim chiles until softened and lightly caramelized, about 5-7 minutes.
- Cook the shrimp: Season the shrimp with the Spiceology Taco seasoning. Add them to the griddle and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through.
- Add adobo sauce: Stir in the adobo sauce from the chipotles in adobo, making sure the shrimp are fully coated in the sauce.
- Warm the tortillas: Place the corn tortillas on the griddle and warm them for about 1 minute per side, until soft and lightly crispy.
- Assemble the tacos: Layer the shrimp mixture onto the warmed tortillas. Top with shredded queso quesadilla and allow the cheese to melt.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish with fresh cilantro, green onions, and a drizzle of taqueria-style guacamole salsa. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
For a spicier kick, add some sliced jalapeños or extra adobo sauce.
Loved reading how you brought the inspo from vacation! These sound amazing and we can’t wait to try them!