Buffalo Shrimp Tacos

Tacos filled with breaded shrimp, cabbage slaw, pickled red onion, ranch dressing, and cilantro.

5 from 2 votes

Spice up your taco night with buffalo shrimp tacos! These tacos are loaded with crispy shrimp tossed in buffalo sauce, topped with crunchy slaw, pickled red onions, cilantro, and ranch dressing.

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Total Time25

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American, Mexican Inspired

Servings:

Calories: 264kcal

Author: Jacqueline Piper

Equipment

Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer or similar

Ingredients

12 jumbo shrimp size 16/20
½ cup all-purpose flour mixed with 1/2 cup cold water
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup Panko breadcrumbs

For the sauce

¼ cup butter melted
¼ cup hot sauce
2 tablespoons honey
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder

For the Slaw

1 cup green cabbage thinly shredded
1 cup red cabbage thinly shredded
2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon lime juice
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the Tacos

6 corn tortillas
pickled red onions optional
cilantro optional
ranch dressing optional

Instructions

For the Shrimp

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200℃).
Peel and dry each shrimp. Mix the flour, salt, and pepper with water to get a thick batter. Place breadcrumbs in another bowl.
Dip each shrimp first in the flour batter and then in the breadcrumbs. Place in an even layer on the air fryer trays or the basket and air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway.

For the Sauce

Mix melted butter with the hot sauce, honey, garlic powder, and onion powder. Toss the cooked shrimp in the sauce.

For the Slaw

Combine the yogurt, lime juice, cumin, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.
Add the green and red cabbages and mix well to coat the cabbage in the sauce.

For the Tacos

Heat the tortillas. You can either warm them in a skillet over medium heat for 20-30 seconds each or stack them and wrap in damp paper towel and microwave for 20-30 seconds just until warm. This makes them pliable and helps prevent them from cracking and tearing when folding them into tacos.
Set out a tortilla on a plate or work surface. Add slaw and then two shrimp. Top with ranch dressing, pickled red onion, and fresh cilantro. Serve.

Video

Notes

Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness when cooking. The Government of Canada says shrimp are cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

For crispy results, don't overcrowd the shrimp. Air fry in batches if needed.

Flip halfway through cooking for even cooking. For best results, rotate the upper and lower baking trays if you have this style of air fryer.

Make breading easier by using a dry hand and a wet hand. This helps to avoid breading your fingers as well as the shrimp.

Using Japanese panko crumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs gives the most crunch.

Use your favorite buffalo sauce if you already have one or try another sauce like the sauce from my honey garlic cauliflower or teriyaki sauce from my air fryer teriyaki salmon recipe.

Use your favorite taco toppings.

Nutrition