Description
Crispy Oven Fried Shrimp Tacos offer a delicious and healthier alternative to traditional fried shrimp tacos, featuring lightly breaded shrimp baked to golden perfection. Paired with fresh taco shells, zesty cilantro lime sauce, and crisp toppings, these tacos are perfect for a quick and flavorful meal that serves six.
Ingredients
Scale
Breading and Shrimp
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (season with ½ teaspoon salt if desired)
- 1 ½ pounds raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed
- 2-3 tablespoons oil (for brushing the pan)
Taco Assembly
- 12 small taco shells or 6 medium flour tortillas (for large tacos)
- Cilantro lime sauce (optional)
- Favorite toppings: shredded cabbage, fresh cilantro, lime wedges
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (204°C) and place a dark rimmed baking sheet inside to heat up thoroughly. This ensures the shrimp get crispy when baked.
- Prepare Breading Stations: In a large shallow dish, combine the flour and taco seasoning thoroughly. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl. Place breadcrumbs in another shallow dish, seasoning with salt if your taco seasoning isn’t salty enough.
- Coat Shrimp with Flour: Pat shrimp dry with paper towels to ensure the coating sticks well. Toss the shrimp in the flour-taco seasoning mixture until fully and evenly coated.
- Dredge in Eggs: Shake off excess flour, then dip each shrimp into the beaten eggs, fully coating them.
- Coat with Breadcrumbs: Shake off excess egg, then coat the shrimp with breadcrumbs, pressing gently so the coating sticks well. For a quicker method, you can mix egg and breadcrumbs together, although coating may be less neat.
- Bake Shrimp in Batches: Carefully remove the hot baking sheet from the oven using oven gloves. Brush the sheet with 2-3 tablespoons of oil. Arrange half of the breaded shrimp in a single layer on the sheet and bake for 5 minutes. Remove the sheet, use an offset spatula to flip shrimp gently to prevent sticking, then bake for another 5 minutes or until the shrimp are cooked through and crispy. Repeat with the remaining shrimp.
- Assemble and Serve: Serve the crispy shrimp hot in taco shells or tortillas. Add cilantro lime sauce if using, and top with shredded cabbage, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges for a refreshing, flavorful finish.
Notes
- Patting the shrimp dry before breading helps the coating adhere better and results in crispier shrimp.
- Using a dark rimmed baking sheet helps conduct heat evenly for optimal crispness.
- Flipping shrimp halfway through baking ensures both sides become crispy without burning.
- Seasoning breadcrumbs adds extra flavor and saltiness, balancing the taco seasoning.
- The cilantro lime sauce is optional but adds a fresh and tangy element that complements the fried shrimp.
