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These Shrimp Tacos with Slaw are made in the air fryer and require just 10 minutes of work! This easy taco recipe is the perfect healthy, quick dinner!
You guys love air fryer recipes! My easy Air Fryer Shrimp is one of the most popular recipes on this site! Today I’m showing you how to take that dish to the next level by making savory shrimp tacos with a zesty, flavorful slaw! This is one of my go-to meals because I always have a bag of shrimp in the freezer and you just need a bag of slaw and a handful of other ingredients to pull this meal together in a flash! Pair with chips and dip and you’ve got a meal everyone will love!
Ingredients for Shrimp Tacos
As always, this is a quick overview of the ingredients you need for this recipe. For the complete, printable recipe just scroll down to the recipe box.
- Shrimp: I suggest peeled shrimp with tails removed
- Spices: I use Old Bay, but you can also use your favorite all-purpose seasoning blend.
- Slaw Mix: you will need three cups of cabbage mix this can be a bag of slaw you grab at the grocery or if you have extra cabbage in the fridge you need to use just use a vegetable peeler to shred it.
- Cilantro: fresh chopped cilantro is needed for the slaw, and it makes a great garnish too!
- Jalapenos: I recommend using pickled jalapenos because they add a great tangy kick without a ton of spice, but fresh jalapenos will also work, just remember to remove the seeds.
- Mayonnaise and Ranch dressing: this is the creamy mixture that makes the slaw irresistible.
- Lime Juice: this is used in the slaw, and I recommend serving the shrimp with lime wedges also.
- Corn Tortillas: you can also use flour or low-carb tortillas if desired.
How to Make Shrimp Tacos with Slaw
In addition to the ingredients listed above you will need an air fryer and a few mixing bowls – this really is super easy! I’ve documented each step of this recipe so you can see exactly how to make these delicious tacos!
Season the Shrimp
The first step is to pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel. This is important because if the shrimp has a lot of moisture the oil and spices will not adhere to it very well. Next, drizzle oil and Old Bay seasoning over the thawed, uncooked shrimp. Toss the shrimp to coat so every bite is loaded with flavor! If you are outside of the U.S. and do not have access to Old Bay you can use your favorite all-purpose seasoning blend, or taco seasoning for this step.
Air Fry the Shrimp
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 3 minutes. Remember, air fryers are just like ovens, you need to preheat them so your food cooks evenly. Add the shrimp to the air fryer in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to do this in batches. Fry the shrimp for 4 minutes, then flip and cook an additional 2-4 minutes. The cooking time will depend on how large your shrimp are. The shrimp is done when it is no longer opaque and has reached an internal temperature of 120 degrees F.
Make the Slaw
Combine the slaw mix, cilantro, jalapenos, ranch dressing, mayonnaise, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Stir the mixture well so it is completely combined. I like to use scissors to cut the slaw into smaller pieces so it is a bit easier to stuff in the tacos.
Assemble the Tacos
Warm the tortillas and stuff each with the warm shrimp and zesty slaw! You can add any additional toppings such as avocado, guacamole, salsa, or sour cream!
Serve
These tacos are best served right away. I like to make the slaw and warm the tortillas while the shrimp is in the air fryer so once the shrimp is done you can dig in! This is amazing served with this Jalapeno Ranch Dip (my all-time fave!), or Pineapple Salsa. These seasoned black beans are also perfect to pair with tacos!
Storage Suggestions
As you can imagine, shrimp is best served immediately. If you have leftovers store the shrimp and slaw separately. You can safely store cooked shrimp in an airtight container for 4 days. I do not recommend freezing this shrimp after it has been cooked.
Slaw for Fish Tacos
This slaw recipe is excellent on fish tacos! In fact, it is my go-to slaw for shrimp and fish tacos, as well as carnitas! You can make this slaw up to two days in advance for an easy meal prep option.
Shrimp Taco FAQ
When shrimp is cooked through it will no longer be opaque. The best way to tell if it is cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. When it has reached an internal temperature of 120 degrees it is safe to eat.
You can use any size of shrimp, but I prefer large or extra-large shrimp for tacos. Just be sure to use shrimp that is already peeled, deveined, and has had the tails removed. Otherwise, there is a bit more prep work required.
While you can cook frozen shrimp in the air fryer I find the spices just do not adhere well to frozen shrimp. So for the best results, I suggest thawing the shrimp, seasoning it, then cooking.
You can wrap the tortillas in a clean dish towel and warm them in the microwave in 20-second increments until heated through. Keep the tortillas wrapped in the dish towel until ready to serve. Alternatively, if you have a gas stove use tongs to carefully hold the tortilla over the flame to warm and soften.
Remember to thaw the shrimp in the fridge ahead of time so it is ready to go! Use bagged slaw mix for a quick and easy option.
Other Taco Recipes
- The best Fish Tacos: seasoned tilapia with zesty slaw in a warm corn tortilla.
- Instant Pot Carnitas: perfect for a crowd!
- Keto Tacos: cheese shells anyone? These crispy low-carb tacos are a delight!
- Breakfast Tacos: tacos packed with scrambled eggs, veggies, and cheese!
- Mexican Shredded Beef Tacos: these tacos are my family’s favorite!
- Low Carb Taco Salad: the perfect healthy way to get your taco fix!
Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos with Slaw
Ingredients
For the Shrimp
- 1 pound large shrimp, thawed and peeled with tails removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, avocado oil also works well for it’s high smoke point
- 2-3 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning or all purpose blend
Slaw
- 3 cups cabbage slaw mix
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1-2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos, chopped
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon ranch dressing
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- salt and pepper to taste
For the Tacos
- 8-12 six inch tortillas, flour, corn, or low carb
- lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Pat the thawed shrimp dry with a paper towel. Toss the shrimp with oil and spices until well coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 3 minutes. Add the shrimp to the air fryer in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to do this in batches. Fry the shrimp for 4 minutes, then flip and cook an additional 2-4 minutes. The cooking time will depend on how large your shrimp are. The shrimp is done when it is no longer opaque and has reached an internal temperature of 120 degrees F.
- Combine the slaw mix, cilantro, jalapenos, ranch dressing, mayonnaise, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Stir the mixture well so it is completely combined.
- Assemble the tacos by adding the shrimp to warm tortillas and topping with slaw.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
