Try our Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos: they're ready in under 10 minutes! Complete with juicy chili-spiced shrimp, cotija cheese, and creamy remoulade sauce, all nestled in warm tortillas, this easy recipe for shrimp tacos makes the perfect quick family dinner or lunch.
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Shrimp Tacos in the Air Fryer
If you have yet to try air frying shrimp tacos, you are in for a treat. The air fryer makes it easier than ever to cook shrimp to perfection, so you can make delicious shrimp taco recipes like this one with ease! No overcooked shrimp, no second-guessing: they turn out juicy on the inside, with a perfectly crisp exterior.
The best part about this recipe is its ease and flexibility. Air-fried shrimp tacos are just right for busy nights when you don’t have much time but still want something tasty. All you need is shrimp, seasoning, and your favorite shrimp taco toppings!
What really makes our easy shrimp taco recipe special is the blend of different tastes and textures. The shrimp are cooked just right with a touch of chili spice, and they pair wonderfully with homemade salsa and tangy Remoulade sauce! Every bite offers a mix of crunchy, creamy, smoky, and zesty flavors, coming together for a satisfying meal that won't keep you in the kitchen all night.
Let's get air frying!
Ingredients
- Large raw shrimp: Look for shrimp labeled "large" or "jumbo". About 31-40 count per pound. These sizes are ideal for this recipe.
- Oil: We use avocado oil, but you can also use another high smoke point oil. You want to use a high smoke point oil so it does not burn in the air fryer. Learn more: Our Favorite Oils to use for Air Frying.
- Chili seasoning: Our favorite choice of seasoning for shrimp is our homemade chili seasoning. However, you can also use your favorite shrimp seasoning, such as Old Bay.
- Flour tortillas: We use medium (or fajita-sized) flour tortillas as they aren’t too big or too small. Use corn tortillas for gluten-free shrimp tacos!
- Remoulade sauce: If you have yet to try remoulade sauce with your shrimp tacos, now is the time! This tangy, zesty sauce makes a great pairing with shrimp, especially along with chili seasoning. Another great option is our Creamy Fish Taco Sauce.
- Shredded cabbage: Or cabbage slaw/coleslaw mix; this adds a nice texture to your tacos as well as the gently bitter flavor of cabbage, which is delicious with crispy, mildly spicy shrimp.
- Salsa: Use your favorite salsa for these tacos, or leave it out! With remoulade sauce, you may find you don't need salsa.
- Cotija cheese: If you need to substitute another cheese for Cotija, we recommend using Queso Fresco or Feta.
- Fresh cilantro: Chopped, for garnish. Cilantro is optional, but if you enjoy it, definitely add it to your shrimp tacos for an extra burst of fresh flavor!
For exact measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the page!
Additional optional toppings:
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Cheddar cheese
- Lime wedges
- Red onion
- Black beans
Watch the Video
How to Air Fry Shrimp Tacos
Step 1 - Preheat the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F while you prepare your shrimp in the following step.
Step 2 - Season the shrimp: Toss fresh or frozen shrimp together with oil and chili seasoning in a bowl. Make sure each shrimp is fully coated in the oil and seasoning mixture.
Step 3 - Cooking the shrimp: Add shrimp to the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook in the preheated air fryer at 400°F for 5-6 minutes. If using frozen shrimp, cook for 8-10 minutes. Once the shrimp are cooked, remove them to a plate.
Step 4 - Warm the tortillas: Stack the tortillas in the air fryer basket and place a heat-proof weight on top, such as a small oven-safe dish or ramekin. This will keep them from flying up into the heating element of your air fryer. Heat about 2 minutes or to your liking.
Step 5 - Assembling the tacos: This part is the most fun. Lay out your warm tortillas and fill each one with a helping of shrimp. Top with shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix, salsa, Cotija cheese, chopped fresh cilantro, and remoulade sauce.
Step 6 - Serve and enjoy: You can customize your air fryer shrimp tacos by adding any additional toppings you like with shrimp tacos, such as sour cream, sliced avocado or guacamole, sliced red onions, or squeezed fresh lime juice.
Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Oven Instructions
The following instructions are for countertop air fryer ovens, such as the countertop Breville Smart Oven Air.
- Add fresh or frozen shrimp to a medium bowl and toss with oil and chili seasoning. Coat well.
- Preheat air fryer oven to 400°F. Once preheated, add the shrimp to the air fryer tray in a single layer.
- Air fry shrimp on the middle oven rack until just cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes. For frozen shrimp air fry 9-11 minutes.
- When shrimp are cooked through, remove them from the air fryer and keep warm until ready to assemble tacos.
- Place tortillas on the air fryer tray in a single layer. Air fry at 400°F for about 1 minute or until heated through to your liking. Don't air fry too long, or they'll become too crispy.
- Assemble the tacos as instructed in the recipe card.
Can I use frozen shrimp?
You can easily use frozen shrimp in this simple shrimp taco recipe. Season as instructed with oil and chili seasoning, then air fry in a 400°F preheated air fryer for 8 to 10 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through.
For more tips on cooking frozen shrimp in the air fryer, see our Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp recipe!
Substitutions
Although we use chili seasoning and remoulade sauce to make this recipe for shrimp tacos in the air fryer, you can use any seasoning blend and toppings you like best with shrimp. Here are some ideas for substitutions:
- Shredded lettuce instead of coleslaw/cabbage mix
- A homemade shrimp seasoning blend; seasonings that pair well with shrimp include garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and salt
- Frozen breaded shrimp; just keep in mind breaded shrimp are most likely already seasoned, and frozen shrimp take longer to cook (8 to 10 minutes).
Tips
- We use large shrimp that is already peeled and deveined with the tail removed, for ease of preparation. Tail-on shrimp works well in this recipe, too.
- You do not have to turn the shrimp over as they cook. The air fryer will evenly cook the shrimp on all sides.
- Preheat the air fryer for even cooking. Just make sure the shrimp are in an even layer and not overlapping.
- Heating tortillas in the air fryer is quick and easy. You might want to heat them in batches, but you can also stack them as long as they are underneath a weighted, heat-proof item such as a ramekin. Alternatively, heat them in a skillet on the stove or in a toaster oven.
- Store-bought remoulade sauce is the perfect accompaniment to this recipe for shrimp tacos. It's convenient and adds a ton of flavor! However, you can use sour cream as a substitute.
- Cooking times may vary by air fryer brand, so use the provided time and temperature as a reference and adjust as needed.
- Air Fryer Salsa works best with this recipe, but you can also use your favorite store-bought salsa.
- Assemble tacos just before serving for the best texture.
- If cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
Storage
- Store cooked shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Keep tortillas at room temperature or refrigerated in their original packaging or a zip-lock bag.
- Store unused toppings like shredded cabbage, salsa, and cheese in separate airtight containers in the fridge for 2-3 days.
FAQ
Large, peeled, and deveined shrimp with a count of 31-40 per pound are ideal for this shrimp tacos recipe. You can use fresh or frozen shrimp. Air fry frozen shrimp for 8 to 10 minutes.
Yes, adjust the seasoning to suit your taste.
To prevent shrimp from sticking together while cooking in the air fryer or countertop oven, make sure to arrange them in a single layer after tossing with oil and seasonings. The shrimp should not be touching.
While it's best to assemble the tacos just before serving to maintain freshness and texture, you can prepare the shrimp in advance and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat the shrimp in the air fryer before assembling the tacos for a quick and easy air fryer dinner!
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Air fryer Shrimp Tacos
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound large raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 Tablespoon oil
- 1 Tablespoon chili seasoning
- 6 Flour tortillas we use the fajita size flour tortillas
- Remoulade sauce to taste
- Shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix
- Salsa we like Homemade Tomato Salsa
- Cotija cheese to taste
- Fresh cilantro chopped, for garnish
Optional toppings
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Cheddar cheese
- Lime wedges
Instructions
How to Air Fry Shrimp Tacos
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F while you prepare your shrimp in the following step.
- Toss fresh or frozen shrimp together with oil and chili seasoning in a bowl. Make sure each shrimp is fully coated in the oil and seasoning mixture.1 pound large raw shrimp, 1 Tablespoon oil, 1 Tablespoon chili seasoning
- Add shrimp to the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook in the preheated air fryer at 400°F for 5-6 minutes. If using frozen shrimp, cook for 8-10 minutes.
- Once the shrimp are cooked, remove them to a plate. Stack the tortillas in the air fryer basket and place a heat-proof weight on top, such as a small oven-safe dish or ramekin. This will keep them from flying up into the heating element of your air fryer. Heat just enough to make them pliable and warm to enhance the flavor and texture, no more than 2 minutes or so. You don't have to distribute them into a single layer, just make sure they're weighed down.6 Flour tortillas
- Lay out your warm tortillas and fill each one with a helping of shrimp. Top with shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix, salsa, Cotija cheese, chopped fresh cilantro, and remoulade sauce.Remoulade sauce, Shredded cabbage, Salsa, Cotija cheese, Fresh cilantro
- You can customize your air fryer shrimp tacos by adding any additional toppings you like with shrimp tacos, such as sour cream, sliced avocado or guacamole, sliced red onions, or squeezed fresh lime juice.
Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Instructions
- Add shrimp to a medium bowl and toss with oil and chili seasoning. Coat well.
- Preheat air fryer oven to 400°F. Once preheated, add the shrimp to the air fryer tray in a single layer.
- Air fry shrimp on the middle oven rack until just cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes. If frozen air fry 9-11 minutes.
- When shrimp are cooked through, remove them from the air fryer and keep warm until ready to assemble tacos.
- Place tortillas on the air fryer tray in a single layer. Air fry at 400°F for about 1 minute or until heated through to your liking. Don't air fry too long, or they'll become too crispy.
- Assemble the tacos as instructed above.
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