15 Minute Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe (2024)

These 15 minute air fryer shrimp are made with garlic, paprika, and avocado oil. It’s the easiest and quickest way to get crispy, juicy shrimp in a jiffy.

Do you crave fried shrimp but not all the calories that come along with it? This easy air fryer shrimp recipe is your new secret weapon to maintain a healthier lifestyle. If you are obsessed with air fryer cooking, check out our air fryer tilapia or air fryer cod, too!

How To Cook Shrimp In The Air Fryer

These air fryer shrimp require minimal ingredients and only five minutes of prep time — the hardest part is waiting for them to finish air frying! Before beginning, take out your shrimp from the freezer to thaw (if frozen), and remove the shell and the tail (if preferred).

• Season the shrimp: In a bowl, combine the raw shrimp with the seasoning mixture.
• Toss to evenly coat the shrimp: Toss the shrimp and seasonings until the shrimp are coated well.
• Air-fry the shrimp: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F, then add shrimp and cook for 7-10 minutes. Flip shrimp halfway through the cooking time.

How Long To Cook Shrimp in The Air Fryer

The duration to cook the shrimp varies depending on the size of the shrimp and the air fryer. For all sizes, preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Cook large shrimp for about eight minutes, medium shrimp for about six minutes, and smaller shrimp for less than five minutes.

Avoid overcooking your shrimp, or they’ll turn rubbery! Shrimp is done when the exterior turns pink, tails are red, and the flesh is slightly opaque and white. Internal temperature should read 120°F when checked with a thermometer.

Top Tips For Air Fried Shrimp

Crispy fried shrimp is at the top of our frequently “craved” list. Follow these tips for the crispiest, tastiest bite sure to satisfy your cravings, too.

• Thaw the shrimp: For crispy shrimp, fully thaw the shrimp before seasoning and frying. Avoid cooking from frozen and frozen shrimp have a higher water content which will affect the ability for the shrimp to cook crispy. It is also best to use a paper towel to pat out any additional moisture from the shrimp.
• Choose larger shrimp: We prefer to cook with larger shrimp, as smaller shrimp is extremely easy to overcook.
• Use your favorite seasoning: We love the simple garlic-paprika seasoning, but feel free to spice up the flavor with your favorite seasonings.
• Spray with oil: To keep the shrimp from sticking to the basket, spray the basket a tiny bit with avocado or olive oil. Alternatively, toss in a splash of oil into the marinade.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket: Spread the shrimp out in a single layer in the basket. Even though it’s tempting to shove as many shrimp into the air fryer as possible, overcrowding leads to uneven cooking. The air fryer works by circulating extremely hot air around the food, so exposed surface area is key to ultimate crispiness! Instead, cook in small batches.
• Adjust the cooking time: Smaller shrimp cooks faster than larger shrimp, so adjust the frying time accordingly.
• Flip the shrimp: Halfway through the cooking process, make sure to turn your shrimp. The hot air needs to hit both sides equally for the ultimate crisp!
• Marinate (optional): For an extra depth of flavor, marinate the shrimp overnight.

Hot tip: Experiment with different spices and flavors with these shrimp! Change up the taste with a splash of lemon juice, dash of garlic powder, old bay, or even a bit of sriracha for a kick of heat.

Ways To Serve

There are countless ways to serve these cooked shrimp for your next meal. Serve them as an appetizer, on top of a salad, or as part of a separate dish — there’s no going wrong here!

• Appetizer: To serve the shrimp as an appetizer, use them to make shrimp quesadillas. Or, pair the shrimp with your favorite dip/s like co*cktail sauce, garlic butter, peanut sauce, tartar sauce, or guacamole.
• Salad: Make your salad fuller with protein like in this shrimp salad with lettuce. Or swap the crab with shrimp in this creamy broccoli crab salad.
• Main dish: The shrimp are great as a side dish to crispy smashed potatoes or inside of , shrimp fettuccine alfredo pasta, or shrimp stir fry.
• Tacos: Make a swoon-worthy shrimp taco with black bean and corn salsa, cilantro, and homemade tortillas.

Hot tip: For an extra citrusy tang, squeeze a fresh lemon or lime over the shrimp just before serving.

Storage Tips & Reheating

It’s hard to have any leftovers of shrimp — they’re simply that delicious! In the case you do have a few left over, store them in the fridge of freezer. Feel free to eat them cold, or warm them up again to enjoy hot.

• Refrigerator: To store for up to 3-4 days, place the shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge.
• Freezer: To freeze for up to two months, place the cooked and cooled shrimp into an airtight freezer-safe ziploc bag.
• Reheating: To retain the crisp, reheat the shrimp in the air fryer at 350°F for five minutes. Avoid microwaving as this makes the shrimp soggy.

FAQ

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• 15-Minute Air Fryer French Fries — Guilt-free, made with minimal oil yet still crispy
• Air Fryer Salmon Bites – Juicy salmon bites that are perfect for topping salads or rice with