This Air Fryer Taco Shells recipe makes crispy taco shells! They are the perfect addition for taco night or just when you need a quick dinner!

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This Air Fryer Taco Shells recipe makes crispy taco shells without the fuss or mess from the hot oil in a skillet. They are the perfect addition for taco night or just when you need a quick dinner!

golden crispy air fried taco shells on a white plate

This is a wonderful, simple way to make taco shells. Hot, fresh crispy tortillas that are ready in less than 5 minutes is absolutely fantastic.

You might also enjoy these Taco Stuffed Shells.

TACO SHELLS IN AIR FRYER

You will love this super easy way to cook up a few shells for yourself or a whole bunch for taco Tuesdays. This is great for weeknight dinners because it is quick to pull together and have on the table in no time.

Anything in a taco shell is delicious so these shells take taco Tuesday to a whole other level. Setting up a taco bar with lots of fixings for family and friends will make it a super fun night for everyone to build their own taco creations.

Ingredients:

corn tortillas-like Mission Tortillas
canola or olive oil

HOW TO MAKE TACO SHELLS IN AIR FRYER:

Use a pastry brush and lightly coat each tortilla with oil on both sides.
Drape the shell over the taco mold and place in air fryer basket. If you don't have the molds, you can use aluminum foil to make small tents to lay the tortillas over as they cook.
Air fry at 400 degrees F for 4-6 minutes until golden and crisp. (Check after two minutes as the fan may shift the tortilla.)
Fill with your favorite toppings.

I make this recipe in my Cosori 5.8 qt. air fryer. Depending on your air fryer, size and wattages, cook time may need to be adjusted an additional 1-2 minutes.

If using an air fryer with racks, you can also place tortilla over the rack, hanging down to air fry.

crispy taco shells filled with taco fillings on a white plate

FAQ's

What are other ways I can I use taco shells?

If you have leftover tortillas, you can make these air fryer crispy homemade tortilla chips to dip in fresh guacamole. Or lay them flat for a crunchy tostada topped with a layer of beans, cheese and tomatoes. We also use them to make air fryer quesadillas and chicken taquitos.

How to store leftover taco shells?

Let taco shells cool prior to storing them. Store them in an airtight container or a tightly sealed storage bag on your kitchen counter for 2-3 days. It is not recommended to freeze cooked taco shells because the oil has seeped into the shells and when they thaw out the tortillas will become mealy and fall apart.

Can I season these shells?

You can sprinkle a pinch of onion soup mix, buffalo wing mix or a bit from a packet of taco seasoning. A touch of coarse kosher salt and black pepper is a classic flavor profile. For a little bit of heat use red pepper flakes, chipotle chili powder or rub a favorite hot sauce on the outside.

Crispy taco shelled filled with meat and seasonings and bite taken

MORE AIR FRYER DINNER RECIPES:

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📖 Recipe

Air Fryer Taco Shells

Becky

This Air Fryer Taco Shells recipe makes crispy taco shells! They are the perfect addition for taco night or just when you need a quick dinner!

4.58 from 19 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 3

Cook Time 4

Course Dinner

Cuisine American, Mexican

Servings

Calories 88 kcal

Equipment

1 Air Fryer

Ingredients

4 corn tortillas
1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil

Instructions

Use a pastry brush and lightly coat each tortilla with oil on both sides.
Drape the shell over the taco mold. Place mold in the air fryer basket. If you don't have the molds, you can use aluminum foil to make small tents to lay the tortillas over as they cook.
Air fry at 400 degrees F for 4-6 minutes until golden and crisp. (Check after two minutes as the fan may shift the tortilla.)
Fill with your favorite toppings.

Notes

Optional Favorite Taco Toppings: Sour cream, hot sauce, layer of a favorite cheese, nacho cheese, fresh squeeze of lime or lemon, homemade coleslaw, diced tomatoes, salsa, chopped onion, creamy guacamole or crisp romaine lettuce.

Optional Favorite Taco Fillings: Seasoned ground beef, black beans, shredded chicken, grilled carne asada, crispy fried fish or blackened Portobello mushrooms.

Substitutions: Use non-stick cooking spray, avocado oil spray or olive oil cooking spray if you do not have any bottled oils. If you prefer flour tortillas, you can use them instead of the corn, cooking time may need to be adjusted to get them crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 88kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 48mgFiber: 2gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 1IUCalcium: 21mgIron: 0.3mg

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*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.

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