Full of flavor and ready in mere minutes, this Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos recipe is going to be your new favorite method of making shrimp tacos! Light, fresh, and filling, these air fried shrimp tacos are perfect for Taco Tuesdays! Serve these homemade restaurant-style tacos with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings and have dinner ready in less than 20 minutes.
If you need a simple but delicious recipe to make on a busy weeknight, then you're going to want to make these tasty air fryer shrimp tacos. This low-effort dinner is filled with flavor, and everyone is always happy to see it on the dinner table, as everyone can pick and choose their favorite toppings for their healthy air fryer tacos. No breading, no marinating, and no fancy technique needed to make these crisp and flavorful tacos at home!
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Why You'll Love This Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe
- The air fryer makes such perfect, juicy, flavorful shrimp. The air fryer gives the shrimp a nice crust on the outside while keeping the shrimp juicy on the inside.
- The shrimp cooks in less than 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer! It'll probably take you longer to get the toppings ready than the shrimp! The air fryer cooks the shrimp quickly while keeping them tender and juicy inside, making this a perfect weeknight dinner when you want tacos without standing over the hot stove!
- Don't let the simple ingredients fool you. You can make restaurant-style shrimp tacos without deep frying at home with these everything ingredients you likely already have at home!
Ingredients You'll Need To Make Restaurant-Style Shrimp Tacos At Home
seasoning — the shrimp is seasoned with brown sugar, salt, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. This combination gives the shrimp tacos a smoky, slightly sweet flavor without needing a marinade.
shrimp — fresh or frozen, it's up to you. To make things easier, you can buy jumbo shrimp that is already peeled, deveined, and with the tail removed to save you the time of preparing the shrimp.
olive oil and oil spray — or a neutral oil of your choice. Avocado oil is a great choice as well.
tortillas — use small corn or flour tortillas. It's up to you! You can even use shells if you prefer.
Best Air Fryer Shrimp Topping Ideas:
- coleslaw or shredded cabbage adds a nice crunch.
- sliced red onions also adds a nice crunch whereas pickled red onions add a nice tangy flavor.
- guacamole or sliced avocado adds a creamy texture.
- lime wedges brightens the tacos.
- cotija adds a tasty, salty finish.
- crema, chipotle mayo, or sour cream for a saucy finish.
- pico de gallo adds a fresh, crisp flavor. (Try my pineapple pico de gallo for something a little different!)
- mango salsa adds a fresh sweetness to the tacos.
- pineapple salsa adds a fresh, tangy flavor to the shrimp tacos.
- avocado corn salsa adds a richness and hearty component to the tacos.
How To Make This Air Fryer Shrimp Taco Recipe
- Combine the seasoning in a small bowl or plate and set aside.
- Pat the shrimp dry and toss with olive oil and the seasoning.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil.
- Transfer the shrimp to the air fryer in a single layer and air fryer for 5 to 6 minutes at 400F.
- Warm the taco shells in the air fryer or on a skillet and then add the fish and toppings to the shells.
Recipes Variations
- Add ¼ to 1 tsp cayenne pepper to the seasoning for a bit of extra heat.
- Sweet or smoked paprika is fine for this air fryer shrimp taco. Take your pick or use what you have.
Tips and Notes
- You can even place an assembled shrimp taco into the air fryer to warm up the tortilla.
- The pictured air fryer is a 3.5 qt Power XL.
- You can add a few more shrimp to the air fryer basket than shown in the photos, but avoid placing too many at once, or they'll end up steaming.
- Always try to pat the shrimp dry before seasoning. This helps the seasoning stick on better and helps the shrimp cook better. If the shrimp has moisture on the outside, it'll steam in the air fryer and might be a little soggy.
- To warm the tortilla, simply place it on a burner over low heat for a few seconds. You can also do this in a dry skillet if you do not have a gas stove. Alternatively, you can place the tortillas into the air fryer.
- Each air fryer cooks a little differently; you may need to adjust the air frying time for yours.
FAQs
How to Tell if the Shrimp have Cooked Through?
Use a meat thermometer to check the thickest part of the shrimp. The internal temperature should be 120°F. If you do not have a meat thermometer, check the middle of the shrimp; it should be opaque.
Do I Have to Flip the Shrimp in the Air Fryer?
Nope! There's no need to flip the shrimp. The holes in the air fryer basket allow hot air to evenly cook the bottom of the shrimp. However, if you line the air fryer basket with parchment paper, you'll have to flip the shrimp.
Can I Use Frozen Shrimp?
You can definitely use frozen shrimp! Frozen shrimp is more easily accessible and budget-friendly. It's also frozen almost immediately, so it's just as fresh, if not fresher, than the shrimp at the fish counter! I highly recommend thawing frozen shrimp before using them to prevent the shrimp from being overcooked. Plus, the seasoning will stick better when the shrimp is thawed.
How Do I Thaw Shrimp Quickly?
You can thaw frozen shrimp quickly by placing them under running cold water in a colander or in a bowl of cold water. Just be sure to change the water out every 20-30 minutes.
What Goes Well with Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos?
Try my homemade refried beans, crunchy purple slaw, stuffed jalapeno poppers, and this Instant Pot basmati rice if you want to add more to your taco spread.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Keep air fried shrimp in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days. Avoid storing the tacos with the toppings, as they'll get soggy in the fridge.
How Do I Reheat Leftovers?
You can reheat the shrimp in the air fryer to keep them from getting soggy. I usually heat the shrimp at 400°F for 1 to 2 minutes.
Common Mistakes
Ready for Taco Tuesday with these amazing juicy shrimp tacos? Here are some common mistakes that you should keep in mind so you have the best air fryer shrimp tacos.
Overcrowding the Air Fryer Basket
Placing too many shrimp in the air fryer basket prevents hot air from circulating properly, so the shrimp steams instead of becoming crispy. Cook in batches if needed!
Overcooking the Shrimp (Rubbery Shrimp!)
Shrimp cooks quickly in an air fryer. Leaving it in too long can make it dry, tough, and rubbery. If possible, jumbo shrimp are the most foolproof choice for this recipe as they'll be harder to overcook than smaller shrimp. Shrimp size is read by the number of shrimp you get per pound (called the count). The smaller the number on the bag, the larger the shrimp. For example, 16/20 shrimp means there are about 16 to 20 shrimp per pound, making them jumbo shrimp, whereas 51/60 shrimp means there are about 51 to 60 shrimp per pound, making them small shrimp.
Skipping the Oil
Adding some oil to the shrimp will help create a crispy, golden exterior. While you don't need as much oil as deep frying, a coating of oil will go a long way.
Adding Toppings Too Early
Assemble the tacos just before serving. If you add moist toppings such as slaw, salsa, or sauce too early, the tortillas can become soggy, and they'll fall apart as you try to take a bite!
Recipe
Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder, or ½ tsp more
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder, or ½ tsp more
- 1 to 1½ pounds jumbo shrimp
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 to 8 small corn or flour tortilla
Instructions
- Combine the seasoning in a small bowl or plate and set aside.
- Pat the shrimp dry and toss with olive oil and the seasoning.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil.
- Transfer the shrimp to the air fryer in a single layer and air fryer for 5 to 6 minutes at 400F.
- Warm the taco shells in the air fryer or on a skillet and then add the fish and toppings to the shells.
Notes
- coleslaw or shredded cabbage
- sliced red onions
- guacamole or sliced avocado
- lime wedges
- crumbled cheese (ie cotija)
- crema or sour cream
Nutrition
More Air Fryer Recipes You May Like
- Air Fryer Fish Tacos
- Air Fryer Sausage Links
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
- Frozen Burgers in an Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Meatballs
More places to find me: @onepotonlyrecipes on Instagram and One Pot Only on Pinterest.
Dave says
Love your recipes. I’ll haven’t tried using my air fryer to cook shrimp yet. But I’ll be finitely give it a try. Like your seasoning tips.
Carmy says
Hope you give the recipe a try soon!