Description
These Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are a quick and healthy meal that’s perfect for beginner cooks. Crispy shrimp, creamy sauce, and crunchy slaw come together in under 30 minutes for a flavor-packed Taco Tuesday favorite.
Ingredients
For the Air Fryer Shrimp
- 1 lb large raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, tail-off
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup tapioca flour (or arrowroot starch or cornstarch)
- 1½ cups panko breadcrumbs (preferably Japanese-style)
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Cooking spray
- For the Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1 tsp sriracha (adjust to taste)
For the Slaw
- 8 oz coleslaw mix
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- ¼ cup chopped green onion
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- Juice from ½ lime
- Sriracha, to taste
- Kosher salt, to taste
To Serve
- 10 small flour tortillas
- Chopped green onion for garnish
Instructions
- Dry the shrimp and prepare coating stations: Pat the shrimp dry using paper towels to ensure maximum crispiness. In one shallow bowl, mix tapioca flour with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. In another bowl, whisk eggs with a splash of water. In the third bowl, add panko breadcrumbs.
- Coat the shrimp: Dredge each shrimp in the seasoned flour, dip into the egg mixture, then coat with breadcrumbs. For less mess, use one hand for dry ingredients and the other for wet.
- Air fry the shrimp: Place shrimp in a single layer in your air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil. Air fry at 390°F for 7 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying the other side with oil. Cook in batches if needed.
- Make the bang bang sauce and slaw: While the shrimp cooks, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha until smooth. In a separate bowl, toss coleslaw mix with cilantro, green onion, mayo, lime juice, and a bit of sriracha and salt to taste.
- Coat the shrimp in sauce: Once the shrimp is golden and crispy, transfer them to a bowl and gently toss with the bang bang sauce, reserving a bit for drizzling if desired.
- Assemble the tacos: Warm tortillas in a pan or microwave until soft. Fill each tortilla with a layer of slaw, add the coated shrimp, and drizzle with remaining sauce. Garnish with chopped green onion for extra freshness.
Notes
- You can easily turn this recipe into a rice or salad bowl instead of tacos. For meal prep, store shrimp, slaw, and sauce separately, and assemble just before eating. The shrimp are best served fresh, but can be reheated in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American Fusion