Air Fryer Shrimp

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Air fryer shrimp could not be simpler to make. As long as you don’t overcook them, you will get shrimp that are tender and firm, perfectly cooked through, and not at all dry or rubbery. You can remove the tails or leave them on; that’s up to you. And then you can use them in SO many different ways.

How Long Does Shrimp Take to Cook in the Air Fryer?

Shrimp cooks very quickly, no matter how you choose to cook them. Because the air fryer acts in many ways like a tiny convection oven, blowing very hot air around the food, large shrimp will take only about 5 minutes to cook. Larger shrimp may take another minute or two, but avoid overcooking your shrimp, as they will become tough or rubbery.

Cooking Frozen Shrimp in the Air Fryer

If you don’t have time to defrost your shrimp, you can cook them frozen. Make sure to break the shrimp apart so they aren’t clumped together. Follow the directions below, but cook them for 9 to 10 minutes, until cooked through and hot. Leave the shells on if you have unshelled frozen shrimp. You can peel them after cooking, as soon as they are cool enough to handle. Or you can serve them in the shell and allow everyone to peel their own shrimp.

Air Fryer Shrimp: Plump and perfectly seasoned, shrimp take minutes to cook in an air fryer (and you can cook them from frozen, too!)

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You can cook raw shrimp at varying temperatures in an air fryer, but at 400 degrees, the shrimp will cook through (if they are thawed) in about 5 minutes. If you set your air fryer temperature higher or lower than 400 degrees, adjust the cooking time up or down accordingly. You can cook frozen shrimp at the same temperature, and they will take about 9 to 10 minutes.

Ingredients

You can season your shrimp any which way and use this cooking method and timing. I used a combination of olive oil, salt, pepper, and powdered or granulated garlic and onions. You can play around with the seasonings of your choice!

Many people think that the air fryer can only be used for traditionally “fried” foods, like shrimp with breading. These shrimp are not breaded and they’re seasoned very lightly and simply. They are more similar to sautéed or oven-baked shrimp, without any crunchy coating.

Variations

• 1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning
• ½ teaspoon chili powder and ½ teaspoon paprika (try sweet, hot, or smoked paprika to change things up)
• 1 teaspoon barbecue spice blend
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

How to Cook Shrimp in the Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
2. Place the shrimp in a bowl and toss them with the olive oil. Sprinkle over the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and granulated onion and toss to coat with the spices.
3. Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 5 minutes (9 to 10 minutes for frozen shrimp). Remove and serve hot or use in a recipe that calls for cooked shrimp. You can also cook them and use them in salads or other cold dishes.

What to Serve With Air Fryer Shrimp

These shrimp are very simply cooked, so if you want to make a sauce to go with them, that would add a lot of interest to your dinner! Give one of these a try:

• Dill Sauce
• Remoulade Sauce
• Tartar Sauce

You can serve air fryer shrimp hot or at room temperature over pasta, in pasta salads, over green or vegetable salads, or over grain bowls. Try them with:

• White rice
• Brown Rice
• Rice Pilaf
• Kale Crunch Salad
• Chili Crunch Brussels Sprouts

Other Air Fryer Recipes

• Grilled Cheese
• Baked Potatoes
• Steak
• Mozzarella Sticks
• Bacon
• Buffalo Chicken Wings
• Lemon Garlic Chicken Breasts

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