Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos

These shrimp tacos in the air fryer are one of my favorite dishes to make for my family. Even the picky eaters won’t be able to resist the first bite and how delicious it is.

It’s a simple and easy-to-make dish that is great for those busy weeknights. If you have had a long day and don’t feel like putting too much work in for a meal, this air fryer shrimp taco recipe is quick and perfect for you.

Shrimp is seasoned with a taco spice mix and are air fried without excessive amounts of oil. This means that you get tender, golden brown, and crispy shrimp that is not only delicious but healthier for you. You can also use this air fryer shrimp recipe with simple ingredients.

For more air fryer recipes, check my Air Fryer Recipe Collection.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

• Quick & ready in minutes, this will become your favorite meal for taco night.
• Delicious and flavorful air-fried shrimp for tacos or any meal.
• Easy dinner for a busy weeknight.
• Getting everyone to the dinner table to assemble the tacos makes for a fun family activity!

Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees F. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper.

Place the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Working in batches air fry shrimp for 5 minutes until fully cooked.

Serve on warm tortillas and your favorite toppings.

*Air fryers come in different sizes and models, and you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Recipe Tips

• Buy deveined and pre cleaned shrimp for convenience.
• Preheat the Air fryer. Preheating the air fryer speeds up the cooking process because you need to cook several batches.
• Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
• Don’t overcrowd the basket. For crispy shrimp, you want them in a single layer.
• Since shrimp cooks so fast and overcooking tends to produce rubbery shrimp, keep an eye on the timer.

Build Your Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos With Slaw

Now that you have the perfectly seasoned and air fried shrimp, it’s time to assemble the shrimp tacos.

Warm tortillas in the air fryer at 400˚F for one minute.

Lay the tortilla and place cabbage slaw on the middle and arrange shrimp on top. Then top with sour cream or crema, guacamole, pico de gallo or salsa. You can also use your favorite sauce to drizzle like this spicy mayo sauce or hot sauce.

Place the assembled tacos on a plate and serve with lime wedges.

You can also garnish the tacos with sliced red onions or chopped cilantro.

Substitutions and Variations

You can use additional seasonings or remove any that you don’t prefer. If you want more heat, increase the amount of cayenne pepper. For a rich and earthy flavor, add ground cumin.

Season the shrimp with taco or cajun seasoning. Try making breaded shrimp tacos by seasoning, dipping in egg, then coating in panko bread crumbs.

I love using flour tortilla, but you can use white or yellow corn tortillas or taco shells. To make this gluten-free use gluten-free tortillas. For keto, use low-carb tortillas or lettuce wraps.

As for the slaw, use a packaged slaw mix or shredded white cabbage, purple cabbage and carrots.

Make Ahead And Storage

To make these amazing tacos ahead of time, you will want to fully cook the shrimp and prep the rest of the taco ingredients. When it’s time to serve you can assemble the shrimp tacos and serve.

These shrimp tacos are great for meal prepping. The taco ingredients can be placed in a meal prep box and assembled when ready to eat.

The leftover shrimp will stay in the fridge for 3 to 4 days in an air-tight container.

I don’t recommend storing the assembled shrimp tacos as the toppings will make the tortilla soggy.

How To Reheat Shrimp In Air Fryer

The best way to reheat shrimp is in the air fryer. Cooking shrimp can be very finicky as shrimp cooks fast. And overcooked shrimp is rubbery.

I recommend reheating the shrimp in the air fryer on a low heat until warm through. You don’t want to cook shrimp the second time too.

Reheat shrimp in air fryer at 350˚F for a few minutes until warm.

Can You Cook Frozen Shrimp In the Air Fryer For Tacos?

Absolutely. I cook frozen shrimp often for these shrimp tacos. I recommend to thaw them first for best flavor and taste.

You can thaw the frozen shrimp overnight in the fridge. Or submerge the frozen shrimp in warm water for an hour to two. Remember to pat the shrimp dry throughly before proceeding with the recipe.