Taco Tuesday just got tastier with Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos seasoned with homemade taco seasoning, topped with a crisp cabbage slaw, and drizzled with creamy jalapeno sauce. Air fried shrimp tacos are a fresh and fun twist on taco night, ready in under 20 minutes!
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Stuff air fryer Mexican shrimp into warm tortillas for a healthy dinner option on busy weeknights. And, don't forget to make some of our favorite sides for shrimp tacos to complete the meal. For more easy Tex-Mex dinners, try sour cream chicken enchilada casserole or grilled southwest burgers next!
I will guide you through how to make homemade shrimp tacos with a handful of simple ingredients and minimal kitchen tools. Discover the secret to this perfectly cooked shrimp - no breading needed!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Flavor packed: Enjoy juicy shrimp, a crunchy cabbage slaw, and mouthwatering flavors in every bite.
- Simple and easy: Cooking shrimp in air fryer takes all the guesswork out of it. Never worry about rubbery overcooked shrimp again. Stick around if you love easy air fryer recipes!
- Healthier option: With no breading, this air fryer shrimp recipe eliminates the need for excess oil. Plus, our air fryer shrimp tacos with slaw are loaded with veggies.
- Versatile: Try this recipe with a variety of your favorite toppings or other seafood to make tilapia, Chilean sea bass, or mahi mahi tacos!
Ingredients
- Shrimp - We always have frozen shrimp in our freezer ready to thaw, but you can use fresh shrimp as well. Another delicious shrimp recipe to try is my Cajun shrimp scampi.
- Cabbage (red or green) - Shred cabbage or buy a premade coleslaw mix in a pinch. A fresh cabbage slaw tossed in a jalapeno cream sauce gives these air fried shrimp tacos a fresh crunch.
- Jalapeno Cream Sauce - a spicy sauce made with plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream), olive oil, lime juice, jalapeno, garlic, and cilantro.
- Pico de Gallo - a combination of chopped tomato, onion, and serrano peppers, with salt, lime juice, and cilantro. For this recipe, I buy premade pico de gallo to save time.
- Taco Seasoning - a spice mixture of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt and pepper.
- Tortillas – for soft tacos, use flour or corn tortillas. You can also use a crispy tortilla shell for extra crunch or lettuce wraps for a low carb option.
- Taco topping (optional): avocado slices or guacamole, cheese, skillet charred corn, black beans, pickled red onions, sautéed onions and peppers, etc.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and exact measurements.
How to Make Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
I hope you're hungry because this simple shrimp taco recipe is quick to prepare. Plus, cooking air fryer shrimp with no breading ensures an easy cleanup. These Mexican shrimp tacos are a go-to dinner for busy weeknights!
Step 1: Add all ingredients of the jalapeno cream sauce to a food processor and blend until smooth. To make the slaw for shrimp tacos, add as much of the jalapeno cream sauce as you want to the shredded cabbage and mix well. Set aside to let the flavors meld.
Step 2: Preheat air fryer to 400°. Pat the shrimp dry using paper towels. In a medium bowl, add shrimp, olive oil, and taco seasoning. Stir to mix well.
Step 3: Spray air fryer basket with a nonstick cooking spray then add shrimp in a single layer.
Step 4: Air fry shrimp for 6 minutes at 400° or until the internal temperature of the shrimp is 120°. Warm tortillas and prepare your favorite toppings while shrimp cook.
To assemble an air fryer shrimp taco, start with a warm tortilla and add spicy air fryer shrimp. Add cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, avocado slices, and any other additional toppings. Drizzle with more of the spicy sauce, if desired and serve immediately.
Expert Tips
Thaw frozen shrimp quickly by running cold water over them for a few minutes in a colander in the sink.
Pat dry the shrimp with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This helps the seasoning stick better and promotes crispiness.
Place the seasoned shrimp in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they're not overcrowded. This allows for even cooking.
When you cut a jalapeno open, the ribs and seeds are spiciest parts. For a spicy shrimp taco, leave the ribs and seeds in the jalapeno, or you may want to remove them for a milder flavor.
What to Serve with Shrimp Tacos?
The best side dishes for shrimp tacos are chips, guacamole, and salsa with rice and beans. I love to cook this easy low carb Spanish cauliflower rice recipe to serve when making these tasty tacos.
Tacos and margaritas are a classic combination! I love to serve air fried shrimp tacos with a pitcher of frozen limeade margaritas or a spicy jalapeno margarita.
Recipe FAQs
Each air fryer is different, but most will cook shrimp at 400° for about 6 minutes. You do not need to shake or flip the shrimp half way through.
Shrimp should be cooked to an internal temperature of 120° to remain plump and juicy. Be careful not to overcook shrimp or they will become tough and rubbery.
Yes, you can air fry frozen shrimp, but you may need to add an extra minute or two to the cook time.
If your shrimp have already been cooked, you can reheat them quickly in the air fryer. Reheat shrimp at 350° for 2-3 minutes.
Hungry for More?
If you try this recipe or any recipe from Happy Honey Kitchen, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb. shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounce shredded cabbage
- avocado sliced
- pico de gallo
- tortillas
Low Sodium Taco Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Jalapeño Cream Sauce
- 1 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
- ¾ cup cilantro packed
- 1 jalapeño
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lime juiced
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°.
- Add all ingredients of the jalapeno cream sauce to a food processor and blend until smooth. Add as much of the salsa as you want to the shredded cabbage to make the creamy jalapeno slaw. Set aside.
- Pat dry the shrimp. In a medium sized bowl, add shrimp, olive oil, and taco seasoning. Stir to mix well.
- Spray air fryer basket with a nonstick cooking spray then add shrimp. Space shrimp out and do not overcrowd the air fryer basket - you may need to air fry the shrimp in two batches. Air fry shrimp for 6 minutes at 400° or until the internal temperature of the shrimp is 120°.
- Assemble tacos. Start with a warm tortilla and top it with air fried shrimp. Add cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, avocado slices, and any other additional toppings. Drizzle with more of the spicy sauce, if desired.
Notes
- You can cook frozen shrimp in air fryer, but I prefer to quick thaw shrimp first. Thaw shrimp quickly by running cold water over it for a few minutes. Seasoning will stick to thawed shrimp better.
- Make the sauce as spicy or as mild as you would like based on how much jalapeno you add. The ribs and seeds of the jalapeno are spiciest parts, so you may want to remove those for a more mild salsa for the cabbage slaw.
- Storage: Cooked shrimp should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Leftover shrimp can be reheated in the air fryer or microwave. Store any leftover taco toppings and sauce in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Kelly
This looks delicious! I'll have to make this for my boyfriend. Shrimp tacos are his absolute fave!
Nathalie
I love tacos and I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Mina
I love shrimps! I need to try this recipe 🙂
Rachael
These look so amazing. I love that they use the air fryer. Makes things so simple!