Shrimp (fresh or frozen) tossed in a seasoned panko coating and then “fried” in the air until golden and crispy. This makes me remember the best days of high school: fried popcorn shrimp day.
Most days I brought my own lunch, but when the cafeteria served popcorn shrimp, I risked my hard-earned minimum wage.
When I was in high school, I didn’t always make the healthiest food choices. If I forgot my lunch, I’d eat French fries and a big Rice Krispy treat.
Now, I try to make my weeknight meals pretty healthy, but I still really like fried shrimp like I did in high school.
With the air fryer (this is the model I have), you don’t need much oil to make crispy, crunchy shrimp that remind me of those much-anticipated fried shrimp lunches but taste and stay fresh much better.
With the air fryer, it’s easy to make appetizers like Air Fryer Egg Rolls, Air Fryer Chicken Wings, or Air Fryer Meatballs that will impress a crowd at a party or on game day.
Air frying shrimp is one of the quickest and easiest ways to make delicious seafood at home. With just a few ingredients and less than 15 minutes, you can enjoy tender, juicy shrimp with a lightly crispy coating using your air fryer.
Compared to deep frying, air frying shrimp cuts way down on added oils and creates way less mess. It also cooks the shrimp very quickly, so you can have a hot and tasty meal on the table fast.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through everything you need to know about how to cook shrimp in an air fryer perfectly every time.
Benefits of Air Frying Shrimp
Here are some of the biggest benefits of using an air fryer for shrimp:
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Less oil Air frying only uses about 1-2 tablespoons of oil to lightly coat the shrimp, much less than deep frying. This creates a healthier version of fried shrimp
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Crispy texture The high heat and constant circulating air crisp up the outside of the shrimp Breading or batter gets ultra crispy in the air fryer
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Quick cooking time Shrimp cooks fast in an air fryer, usually between 6-10 minutes total It’s much faster than oven baking
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Easy cleanup: With minimal oil, air frying makes way less mess than deep frying. Just remove the basket and wipe it out when done.
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Versatile: Air fried shrimp works for appetizers, in tacos, over salads and more! The options are endless.
How to Choose Shrimp for Air Frying
When selecting shrimp to air fry, keep these tips in mind:
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Size: Pick medium or large shrimp. Small shrimp may cook too quickly and large shrimp may not cook through.
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Shells: For even cooking, it’s best to remove the shell before air frying. Leave the tails on for presentation.
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Fresh or frozen: Either fresh or frozen (and thawed) shrimp will work well. Make sure they are dry before coating.
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Raw vs. cooked: Only raw shrimp should be air fried, since pre-cooked will get rubbery.
I recommend buying medium size raw shrimp and peeling/deveining them yourself for the best results.
Air Fryer Shrimp Ingredient Ideas
Air fryer shrimp only needs a few ingredients for delicious flavor. Here are some of my favorite seasoning ideas:
- Old Bay or Cajun seasoning
- Lemon pepper or garlic salt
- Onion powder and paprika
- Italian seasoning or oregano
- Chili powder and cumin
- Jerk seasoning or curry powder
You can also marinate the raw shrimp in something flavorful before air frying, like a lemon-garlic marinade.
For the coating, use plain breadcrumbs, panko or flour. You can add spices right to the coating mix too.
Step-by-Step Guide for Air Frying Shrimp
Follow these simple steps for perfectly cooked air fryer shrimp every time:
1. Prep the Shrimp
Rinse and pat dry the shrimp. Peel, devein and trim if needed. Leave the tails on for presentation if desired.
2. Season the Shrimp
In a bowl, toss the shrimp with about 1 tablespoon of oil along with the desired seasonings.
3. Coat the Shrimp
Place flour, breadcrumbs or panko in a shallow dish. Dredge the shrimp in the dry coating until fully coated on both sides.
4. Arrange in the Basket
Place the coated shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd. Lightly spray the shrimp with oil.
5. Air Fry the Shrimp
Cook at 400°F for 4-6 minutes until cooked through. For extra crispy shrimp, air fry for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway.
6. Finish and Serve
Toss with extra seasoning or a squeeze of lemon if desired. Enjoy immediately.
And that’s it – crispy, delicious air fried shrimp in less than 15 minutes!
Air Fryer Shrimp Tips
Use these tips to get perfect results when you make air fried shrimp:
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Don’t overcrowd the basket or shrimp won’t get crispy. Cook in batches for even cooking.
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Flipping the shrimp halfway through promotes even browning and texture.
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If needed, spray shrimp with a little oil when flipping to prevent drying out.
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Adjust cook times slightly up or down depending on size of shrimp and your air fryer model.
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Bread shrimp right before air frying so the coating doesn’t get soggy or fall off.
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For a lower carb option, skip the breading and use just seasoning.
Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe Ideas
Once you know the basics, you can adapt air fried shrimp to all kinds of fun recipes:
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Air fryer coconut shrimp – Toss shrimp in coconut flour before air frying.
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Bang bang shrimp – Toss cooked air fried shrimp in spicy mayo.
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Air fryer shrimp tacos – Add shrimp to warmed corn tortillas with pico and avocado.
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Air fried shrimp quesadillas – Fill tortillas with cheese and shrimp then air fry until crispy.
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Air fried shrimp sandwiches – Load up a bun with breaded shrimp, slaw and remoulade.
The options are endless for how to serve up your crispy air fried shrimp!
Common Air Fryer Shrimp Questions
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about cooking shrimp in an air fryer:
How long do you air fry shrimp?
For medium size raw shrimp, air fry at 400°F for 4-6 minutes. Jumbo shrimp may need up to 8 minutes. Check for doneness early.
Do you need oil to air fry shrimp?
Just a small amount (1-2 tbsp) is needed to lightly coat the shrimp before air frying. You can also spray with oil before cooking.
Can you air fry frozen shrimp?
Yes, frozen shrimp works well. Thaw first, pat dry, then coat and air fry as usual. Cook times are usually the same.
Should you flip shrimp when air frying?
It’s recommended to flip shrimp halfway during cooking to prevent over-browning and promote even cooking.
Can you bread shrimp before air frying?
Absolutely! A light breading or batter adds nice crunch. Dredge shrimp in flour, egg and breadcrumbs before cooking.
Air frying is hands down the quickest, easiest way to enjoy crunchy shrimp at home with less mess and added oil than deep frying. In just a few minutes, you can whip up tasty seafood everyone will love.
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How to Use Air Fryer Shrimp
- To Store. Refrigerate shrimp for up to three days in a container that won’t let air in.
- To Reheat. Crack shrimp on a baking sheet and put it in the oven or air fryer set to 350 degrees F to cook it through.
- To Freeze. Put leftovers in a container that won’t let air in and freeze them for up to three months. Reheat from frozen.
How to Make Air Fryer Shrimp
This recipe is for air fryer breaded shrimp.
- To make it, the shrimp are dipped twice: first in egg wash, and then in a breadcrumb mixture.
- The egg wash is mandatory. (I know this because I tried this recipe without it and it didn’t work.) The egg makes the breadcrumbs stick, which is what makes air fryer shrimp tempura. Without it, you might as well just fry the shrimp without breading them.
- The breadcrumbs have herbs and Parmesan on them, and they taste great with almost anything. Feel free to create your own custom seasoning blend.
- Shrimp. Shrimp is a great ingredient for healthy dinners because it is easy to use, cooks quickly, and is full of protein. They will also be a hit with everyone, even kids, thanks to the crispy Parmesan breading in this recipe. If you want to eat shrimp in more ways, try my Grilled Shrimp.
- Eggs. Helps the breadcrumb mixture stick to the shrimp.
- Lemon. Both lemon juice and zest add brightness and acidity.
- Breadcrumbs. A tasty breading is very important, just like it is for my Air Fryer Fried Chicken Breast and Air Fryer Chicken Tenders. I used Italian-seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs, which don’t take any extra work but add extra flavor.
- Parmesan. Parmesan cheese gives the bread crumbs a delicious salty and cheesy taste.
- Spices. Adding garlic powder, dried parsley, dried oregano, salt, and pepper together gives it a great Italian flavor.
- Use paper towels to dry the shrimp, then mix them with oil, lemon zest and juice, and spices. It can be left out at room temperature for 15 minutes or put in the fridge for up to an hour.
- Stir the breadcrumbs and Parmesan together in one dish. Beat the egg in another dish.
- First, dip each shrimp in the egg, and then in the breadcrumb mix.
- Put the shrimp in the air fryer basket and spray them with nonstick spray.
- Cook at 390 degrees F for 2 minutes. Flip the shrimp, then cook for another 2 minutes. Repeat with the remaining shrimp. ENJOY!.
Air Fryer Shrimp
How do you cook shrimp in an air fryer?
Place shrimp in preheated air fryer basket and spread out in a single layer for even cooking. Spray the shrimp with cooking spray if desired. Place in air fryer and bake for 7 minutes. Flip halfway through if desired but not required. This is great to eat alone, on lettuce wraps, burritos, over rice or whatever else sounds good to you!
How does an air fryer work?
The air fryer exists through the combined efforts of William Maxson and Fred van der Weij. It provides a healthier way to fry foods and an easy method of cooking and reheating. The hot air technology ensures that food is warmed up evenly and cooked well, staying crispy without burning or drying.
How to cook bread in an air fryer?
When you put the chopped bread into the air fryer be sure to evenly layer them on the rack so that they all cook at the same time.