Marianne Martinez
Air Fryer Shrimp Fajitas are a tasty, quick and easy meal to make for dinner. Requiring little effort and taking only 15 minutes to cook, this Mexican dish is perfect for a busy weeknight. The recipe includes a combination of tender shrimp, crispy veggies, and flavorful spices, all served on a warm tortilla.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preparation time | 5 minutes |
| Cooking time | 9-15 minutes |
| Total time | 14-30 minutes |
| Main ingredients | Shrimp, bell peppers, onion, oil, fajita seasoning |
| Shrimp type | Raw, thawed, frozen, peeled, deveined, with or without tails |
| Shrimp quantity | 21-30 shrimp per pound |
| Oil type | Olive oil, olive oil spray |
| Seasoning type | Cumin, garlic powder, salt, chili powder, paprika, store-bought or homemade fajita seasoning |
| Serving suggestions | Tortillas, rice, cauliflower rice, salad, avocado, guacamole, cotija cheese, Mexican crema, salsa, lime |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your shrimp: raw or cooked, frozen or thawed
When making shrimp fajitas in an air fryer, there are a few options when it comes to choosing your shrimp. You can use either raw or cooked shrimp, and you can also use frozen shrimp that has been thawed. Here are some things to consider when making your choice:
Using raw shrimp:
If you choose to use raw shrimp, it is important to make sure that they are fully thawed before cooking. You can use thawed shrimp that has been peeled and deveined, with the tails removed, or leave the tails on for aesthetics. Raw shrimp will need to cook for a longer time than cooked shrimp. When preparing the shrimp, place them in a medium-sized bowl and drizzle with oil and your chosen seasoning. Then, add them to the air fryer basket and cook for around 10 minutes, depending on your air fryer model and the size of your shrimp.
Using cooked shrimp:
If you opt for cooked shrimp, you can also use frozen or thawed shrimp. If you are using frozen cooked shrimp, make sure to remove any ice by running them under cold water for a few minutes. Cooked shrimp will take less time to cook in the air fryer, so be sure to keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking. Add the cooked shrimp to the air fryer basket and cook for around 5 minutes, or until they are warmed through.
Using frozen shrimp:
If you only have access to frozen shrimp, you can still make delicious shrimp fajitas. It is important to thaw the shrimp before cooking, as this will ensure even cooking. You can thaw frozen shrimp by running them under cold water until the ice is removed. Once thawed, prepare the shrimp by adding them to a bowl with oil and seasoning, then place them in the air fryer basket and cook according to your chosen recipe.
In summary, the choice between raw or cooked, frozen or thawed shrimp for your air fryer shrimp fajitas is ultimately up to your personal preference and what you have available. Each option will result in tasty and tender shrimp, as long as you adjust the cooking time accordingly and keep a close eye on them to avoid overcooking.
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Preparing your shrimp: seasoning and oiling
Preparing your shrimp begins with selecting the right shrimp. You can use either raw or cooked shrimp, but it's important to ensure that they are thawed before cooking. If your shrimp are frozen, simply run them under cold water for a few minutes to remove any ice. You can also use either peeled or unpeeled shrimp, depending on your preference.
Once your shrimp are thawed and prepared, it's time to season them. You can use a variety of seasonings, such as cumin, garlic powder, salt, chili powder, or your favourite store-bought or homemade fajita seasoning blend. If you're feeling creative, you can even make your own seasoning blend by combining different spices like paprika and chili powder.
To season the shrimp, place them in a medium-sized bowl and drizzle with oil. You can use olive oil or any other cooking oil of your choice. Add your chosen seasonings and toss the shrimp until they are evenly coated. Make sure you use enough seasoning to give the shrimp a good flavour.
After seasoning, you can add the shrimp to the air fryer basket. If you are cooking the shrimp with vegetables, simply move the vegetables to one side of the basket and add the shrimp to the other half. Give the basket a gentle shake or use a spoon to mix everything together, ensuring that the shrimp and vegetables are well combined.
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Preparing your vegetables: slicing, seasoning and oiling
Preparing your vegetables is a straightforward process, but it's important to get it right to ensure your shrimp fajitas are tasty and cooked evenly.
Firstly, you'll want to slice your chosen vegetables into strips or slices. The most common vegetables used in shrimp fajitas are bell peppers and onions, but you can also add extras like avocado slices, lettuce, or cilantro. If you're using peppers and onions, slice them into strips. If you're adding avocado, slice it thinly, and prepare any other vegetables in a similar fashion.
Next, it's time to season your vegetables. You can use store-bought fajita seasoning, or make your own by combining spices like cumin, garlic powder, and salt, or paprika and chili powder. Place your sliced vegetables into a bowl and sprinkle your chosen seasoning over them. You can also add olive oil at this stage, either in the form of a spray or regular oil, and toss the vegetables to ensure they are well coated.
Finally, you'll want to add your seasoned and oiled vegetables to the air fryer basket. Depending on your recipe, you may add the shrimp at this stage, or cook the vegetables for a few minutes before adding the shrimp.
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Cooking your vegetables: air frying and flipping
The first step to cooking your vegetables is to preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°F) for 5 minutes. While the air fryer is preheating, prepare your vegetables. The vegetables you will need are bell peppers and onions. You can use any colour bell pepper, but using a mix will give your fajitas a great colour. Slice the peppers and onions into strips. Place the vegetables in a bowl and drizzle with oil. You can use olive oil spray or 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Toss the vegetables until they are well coated.
Next, add your fajita seasoning to the vegetables. You can use store-bought or homemade fajita seasoning. For homemade seasoning, a combination of cumin, garlic powder, and salt works well. You can also add chili powder or paprika for extra spice. Sprinkle the seasoning over the vegetables and stir well to coat.
Now it's time to cook the vegetables. Place the vegetables in the air fryer basket and spread them out in an even layer. Some recipes recommend cooking the vegetables for 3 minutes at 375°F (190°F), and then adding the shrimp to cook for a further 6 minutes. Other recipes suggest cooking the vegetables for 10-12 minutes at 390°F, shaking the basket halfway through, before adding the shrimp for the final 5 minutes.
After the vegetables have cooked for the recommended time, use a spatula to move them to one side of the air fryer basket. It's now time to add the shrimp to the other side of the basket and continue cooking.
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Cooking your shrimp: air frying and serving
When it comes to cooking your shrimp fajitas in the air fryer, you'll want to follow these steps to ensure they turn out perfectly. Firstly, you'll need to decide on your shrimp – you can use raw or cooked frozen shrimp, but make sure they are thawed and patted dry before cooking. If your shrimp still has ice on it, simply run it under cold water for a few minutes to remove the ice.
Next, prepare your vegetables. Bell peppers and onions are a must for shrimp fajitas. Cut them into strips or slices, and place them in a bowl. Drizzle some oil over the vegetables – you can use olive oil spray or regular olive oil – and add your chosen seasoning. You can use store-bought fajita seasoning, or make your own blend with spices like cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, and salt. Toss the vegetables until they are well coated in the oil and seasoning.
Now it's time to cook the vegetables. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°F) for 5 minutes. If you're using raw shrimp, add the vegetables to the air fryer basket and cook for 3 minutes. If you're using cooked frozen shrimp, cook the vegetables for 5 minutes. After this, use a spatula to move the vegetables to one side of the air fryer basket.
It's now time to add the shrimp. Place the shrimp in the other half of the air fryer basket and season with the remaining oil and seasoning. Air fry for an additional 6 minutes at 375°F (190°F), flipping the shrimp and vegetables halfway through. This final step ensures that your shrimp is cooked through and your vegetables are lightly charred, just like they would be if cooked on a stovetop.
Once everything is cooked to your liking, mix the shrimp and vegetables together and serve immediately. Warm your tortillas and place them on a big platter, along with any desired toppings, such as fresh cilantro, lettuce, sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, salsa, sour cream, and lime wedges. Let everyone assemble their own fajitas and enjoy the delicious, freshly air-fried shrimp fajitas!
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Frequently asked questions
Air Fryer Shrimp Fajitas can be cooked in as little as 9 minutes, but some recipes suggest cooking for up to 30 minutes.
You will need shrimp raw or cooked, bell peppers, onion, oil, and fajita seasoning. You can also add toppings like avocado, salsa, lime, and cheese.
Yes, it is recommended to use raw, thawed shrimp for this recipe. If using frozen shrimp, run it under cold water to remove any ice before cooking.
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°F) for 5 minutes, then cook the vegetables and shrimp at the same temperature.
Yes, you can use store-bought fajita seasoning, or you can make your own by combining spices like cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, and salt.
