Seafood · Cajun-inspired Mexican
Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp Tacos with Lime Slaw
Smoky Cajun shrimp, crisp lime slaw, warm tortillas, and a creamy spicy drizzle make these air fryer tacos fast, fresh, and full of flavour.
These Cajun shrimp tacos are built for the air fryer: the shrimp cook quickly, the spices toast onto the surface, and there’s no splattery skillet to clean. The cool lime slaw and creamy hot-sauce drizzle balance the smoky heat, making a complete taco-night dinner in about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Instructions
Air fryer:200°C / 392°F
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C for 3 minutes. If your basket is small, plan to cook the shrimp in two batches so they can sit in a single layer.
In a bowl, toss the dry shrimp with olive oil, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, half the lime zest, and 15 ml lime juice until evenly coated.
Make the slaw: in a separate clean bowl, toss the cabbage with coriander, spring onion, 15 ml lime juice, and a pinch of the remaining lime zest. Set aside while the shrimp cooks.
Make the drizzle: stir the Greek yogurt or mayonnaise with hot sauce, honey, 5 ml lime juice, and any remaining lime zest. Keep separate from the raw shrimp bowl.
Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 5–7 minutes, turning or shaking halfway, until the shrimp are firm, opaque, lightly browned at the edges, and reach 63°C internally.
Warm the tortillas in the air fryer for 30–60 seconds, or wrap and warm them separately while the shrimp rests for 1 minute.
Fill each tortilla with lime slaw and Cajun shrimp. Drizzle with the creamy Cajun sauce and serve with lime wedges.
Tips & tricks
- Start checking at 5 minutes if your shrimp are medium-sized; large shrimp usually need closer to 6–7 minutes.
- Patting the shrimp very dry helps the seasoning cling and prevents steaming.
- Use a Cajun seasoning you like; if it is salt-free, add 2 g fine salt to the shrimp seasoning mix.
- For extra crunch, add sliced radish or jalapeño to the slaw just before serving.
Air fryer cooking guides
Exact times & temperatures for the ingredients in this recipe.
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