These Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos are mouthwateringly good! Featuring a smoky, sweet, spicy seasoning and a slaw to help cool off the heat, your family will love these tacos. They’re also gluten-free and healthy!
These delicious air fryer shrimp tacos are quick to make (they take less than 15 minutes!), so they’re great for busy weeknights. The shrimp are made with an easy rub that adds a bold flavor. This recipe’s quick, creamy jalapeño lime slaw perfectly complements each taco.
Here are some more yummy shrimp recipes to help use up any extra you may have: Easy Coconut Curry Shrimp, Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe Without Wine, or Creamy Cajun Shrimp & Sausage Pasta.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Healthy – Since this air fryer shrimp tacos recipe includes corn tortillas, it’s naturally gluten-free.
- Quick – These yummy air fryer shrimp tacos with slaw only take about 15 minutes to make, including the slaw topping!
- Easy – This recipe only requires a few steps, so it’s beginner-friendly.
- Full of flavor – The smoky shrimp rub and creamy slaw complement each other while giving these tacos a delicious taste.
- Versatile – You can easily add other taco toppings, like sliced avocados, chopped onions, etc., to make this air fryer shrimp tacos healthy recipe your own.
- Great for family dinners – Set up a taco station with this recipe to make it fun for family members of all ages!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- Shrimp: If possible, I recommend using fresh shrimp. Frozen shrimp will also work with this recipe, but you will likely need to add 1-2 minutes of cook time.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
How to Make Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
Quick Overview
- Season shrimp.
- Air fry.
- Make slaw.
- Assemble.
Step by Step Instructions
Avoid overlapping shrimp in the basket so they can cook evenly.
Step 1: In a medium bowl, toss together the shrimp, olive oil, honey, salt, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, granulated garlic, pepper, and cayenne until well combined.
Step 2: Arrange the seasoned shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Heat the tortillas in a tortilla warmer or clean kitchen towel so you can assemble the air fryer shrimp tacos more easily.
Step 3: Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 6-7 minutes or until the shrimp reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
Step 4: While the shrimp cooks, toss the cabbage with as much jalapeño lime crema as desired. Once the shrimp is cooked, assemble the tacos with the cabbage mixture.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
Garnish these air fryer shrimp tacos with fresh cilantro, salsa, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. I love serving these tacos with Mexican-inspired sides. Here are a few ideas:
- Simple Mexican Red Rice
- Easy Mexican Potatoes
- Hot Elote Dip (can also work as a topping)
Expert Tips
- Do not overcook the shrimp. This is a very important step, as the shrimp will get tough and dry if they cook too long in the air fryer. Remove the shrimp when they are light pink and have no translucent spots. When making air fryer recipes, remember that every air fryer cooks differently. So, this air fryer shrimp recipe may cook quicker (or slower) in your appliance than noted in the instructions.
- Use deveined and peeled shrimp. To keep this air fryer shrimp tacos quick and easy, I recommend getting shrimp that’s already deveined and peeled. This will save you some prep time.
- Heat the tortillas in a tortilla warmer. I like having warm tortillas ready to stuff before the protein finishes cooking for taco recipes. If you have a tortilla warmer, they will stay warm for a few minutes, so you can toss the tortillas into the microwave or onto the stovetop about 1-2 minutes before the shrimp finishes cooking. Then, assemble according to the recipe.
Additions & Variations
- Use other veggies: I’ve made these air fryer shrimp tacos quick and easy, with a simple slaw topping. If you have more time and want to add other veggies, feel free! This dish tastes great with sliced avocado, tomatoes, and even chopped bell peppers.
- Try new protein: The spicy shrimp rub in these Ninja air fryer shrimp tacos works well with other seafood options as well, like mahi mahi. As a note, if you swap out the protein, it will change the air fryer cook time.
- Add cotija cheese: Not all cheese pairs with seafood, but I’ve found cotija cheese is the exception. If you enjoy cheese on your tacos, crumble some cotija to boost the flavor.
Recipe FAQs
I don’t recommend reheating leftover air fried shrimp, as it can turn rubbery, but you can reheat it in the air fryer if needed. Reheat the shrimp at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 3 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Any Mexican-inspired sides are great with shrimp tacos. You can serve chips with salsa and guacamole, Spanish rice, refried beans, grilled pineapple, etc.
I recommend corn tortillas with these air fryer shrimp tacos, as it keeps the recipe gluten-free. However, if gluten is not an issue, these tacos also taste great on flour tortillas.
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Easy Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt*
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Creamy Cilantro Lime Slaw
- 2-3 cups shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix
- 1 batch jalapeño lime crema
For Serving
- 8 small corn tortillas, lime wedges, chopped cilantro, cotija cheese
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, toss together the shrimp, olive oil, honey, salt, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, granulated garlic, pepper, and cayenne until well combined.1 pound jumbo shrimp, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, 2 teaspoons honey, 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt*, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Arrange the seasoned shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 6-7 minutes or until the shrimp reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
- While the shrimp cooks, toss the cabbage with as much jalapeño lime crema as desired. Once the shrimp is cooked, assemble the tacos with the cabbage mixture.2-3 cups shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix, 1 batch jalapeño lime crema, 8 small corn tortillas, lime wedges, chopped cilantro, cotija cheese
Notes
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- Shrimp: If possible, I recommend using fresh shrimp. Frozen shrimp will also work with this recipe, but you will likely need to add 1-2 minutes of cook time.
- Do not overcook the shrimp. This is a very important step, as the shrimp will get tough and dry if they cook too long in the air fryer. Remove the shrimp when they are light pink and have no translucent spots. When making air fryer recipes, remember that every air fryer cooks differently. So, this air fryer shrimp recipe may cook quicker (or slower) in your appliance than noted in the instructions.
- Use deveined and peeled shrimp. To keep this air fryer shrimp tacos quick and easy, I recommend getting shrimp that’s already deveined and peeled. This will save you some prep time.
- Heat the tortillas in a tortilla warmer. I like having warm tortillas ready to stuff before the protein finishes cooking for taco recipes. If you have a tortilla warmer, they will stay warm for a few minutes, so you can toss the tortillas into the microwave or onto the stovetop about 1-2 minutes before the shrimp finishes cooking. Then, assemble according to the recipe.
- Use other veggies: I’ve made these air fryer shrimp tacos quick and easy, with a simple slaw topping. If you have more time and want to add other veggies, feel free! This dish tastes great with sliced avocado, tomatoes, and even chopped bell peppers.
- Try new protein: The spicy shrimp rub in these Ninja air fryer shrimp tacos works well with other seafood options as well, like mahi mahi. As a note, if you swap out the protein, it will change the air fryer cook time.
- Add cotija cheese: Not all cheese pairs with seafood, but I’ve found cotija cheese is the exception. If you enjoy cheese on your tacos, crumble some cotija to boost the flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made these Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos, and they were fantastic! The smoky, sweet, and spicy seasoning paired perfectly with the cooling slaw.
I am a fan of shrimp tacos, your recipe is a delicious addition to my family menu.
I’m addicted to these shrimp tacos. I could binge on the shrimp by themselves BUT together with the crema, slaw and tortillas this make a scrumptious easy dinner!
Nothing like easy tacos for dinner and best when they have shrimps