Turn your kitchen into the envy of all taco trucks with these simple and delicious Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos.
I got a serious compliment from my daughter when I was testing these air fryer shrimp tacos. If you have any experience with 12 year old girls you’ll know that compliments are sometimes hard to come by from them. She said “it smells like a taco truck in here Mom!” I mean seriously. You know that means this recipe is a keeper!
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Are Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos healthy?
These shrimp tacos are for sure healthy. The shrimp taste completely indulgent with their spice rub but the air fryer keeps them light. The toppings are a mix of fresh avocado, purple cabbage, green salsa mixed with a little sour cream and red onion. I serve them with flour “street size” tortillas but feel free to wrap them in lettuce for an epic light and tasty meal in the warmer months.
What goes with Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos?
I think chips and guacamole are an obvious choice as a side dish. To drink I think you should try my Watermelon Margarita or my Strawberry Daiquiri. And for dessert how about a Pretzel Crusted Margarita Cake?
How do you air fry Shrimp?
Air frying shrimp takes the guess work out of cooking shrimp for me. I have been known to overcook shrimp in the past. These shrimp came out perfectly cooked and tender, not chewy. A light brush of oil on the air fryer basket and preheating the air fryer to 400 degrees are my two tips for air frying shrimp. Also, be sure to flip the shrimp halfway through cooking time – which only takes 6 to 8 minutes, depending on your model of air fryer and the size of your shrimp. I used jumbo, uncooked shrimp for this recipe. I purchased them frozen but thawed them under cold, running water before cooking them.
Kitchen Tips:
- Gallon-sized zippered bags are great for mixing the spices and coating the shrimp.
- Be sure and cook the shrimp in one layer. I was able to fit one dozen jumbo-sized shrimp in my air fryer basket.
- This is the brand of air fryer I use to create my recipes.
- I use a pastry brush like this one to brush my air fryer basket with oil.
- Aerosol cooking spray will damage the coating of your air fryer basket. I do not recommend using it! You can use an oil mister like this one instead.
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Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 24 jumbo frozen (raw) shrimp peeled, deveined and without tail
- 1 1/2 tsp light brown sugar
- 1 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup fresh avocado sliced
- 1 cup purple cabbage chopped
- 1/2 cup green salsa
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup red onion finely chopped
- lime wedges
- 12 street sized flour tortillas
Instructions
- Thaw the shrimp according to package directions. I used the quick thaw method, which is just rinsing the frozen shrimp under cold water.
- Brush the air fryer basket lightly with the vegetable oil. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Stir together the brown sugar, chipotle chili powder, smoked paprika. garlic powder and salt.
- Dry the shrimp with paper towels. Place the shrimp in a zippered plastic bag. Pour in the seasoning mixture and shake to fully coat the shrimp.
- Place the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to fry them in two batches. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes. Turn the shrimp over and cook for an additional 3 - 4 minutes.
- The shrimp will shrink in size quite a bit and they will be firm to the touch when cooked.
- Mix together the green salsa and sour cream for your sauce. Serve the air fried shrimp with the rest of the ingredients and assemble as tacos. Tortilla, sliced avocado, purple cabbage, shrimp, sauce, red onion and a squeeze of lime.
Publix weekly ad says
That line about your 12-year-old saying it smells like a taco truck in here really got me—that kind of honest, unprompted compliment from a kid is the truest test a recipe can pass.
Harveys Supermarket weekly ad says
That line from your daughter—’it smells like a taco truck in here’—says more than any recipe description could. You captured the exact kind of validation that makes a home cook feel like they’ve really nailed it.
Jill McOwen says
Thank you so much, I appreciate this!
Karen says
Made these tonight couldn’t get enough they’re absolutely awesome. Will definitely be making them again soon
foodtasticmom says
Love to hear this! Thanks very much for taking the time to come back to rate and comment on my recipe!