Air Fryer Shrimp

These air fryer shrimp are juicy, flavorful, and incredibly delicious! Plus, preparing shrimp in your air fryer is a super simple and fuss-free method for making shrimp that are perfectly cooked every single time.

If you’ve never used your air fryer to make shrimp, then this is your call to try it! There is no easier way to prepare perfectly cooked and juicy shrimp than tossing them into your air fryer and letting it do the work.

It doesn’t create a mess like pan-frying sometimes does and you don’t have to worry about anything burning or overcooking. You can just relax or use the time to prepare delicious sides like this Mediterranean chickpea salad or my favorite herbed mustard potato salad.

Air fryer shrimp has quickly become one of my favorites for a quick weeknight dinner and I’m sure you’ll love them, too!

Ingredients

To make air fryer shrimp, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Shrimp: I like to use raw frozen jumbo shrimp as they tend to be juicy and delicious. But you can use any type of shrimp you like, either frozen (let the shrimp thaw before usage) or fresh. Just make sure to use raw shrimp or reduce the cook time if you want to use pre-cooked shrimp.
• Paprika powder: Paprika powder is one of the spices that you cannot skip if you want to make delicious and flavorful shrimp. Use regular paprika powder or add some smoked paprika powder if you like its flavor.
• Garlic powder: Another ingredient you should definitely use is garlic powder. It adds a ton of flavor and is super delicious. As fresh garlic burns very quickly in the air fryer, I recommend sticking to the powdered version.
• Cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper is great for adding an extra kick of spice to the shrimp. Just use as much as you like but keep in mind that it is pretty spicy, so don’t overdo it.
• Curry powder: Curry powder is great for making the seasoning taste more balanced with some added depth. It is an inexpensive seasoning mix that truly complements the flavor of the shrimp.
• Olive oil: You need some type of oil to season the shrimp. I like to use olive oil but you could also use canola oil, sunflower oil, or avocado oil.

How to make air fryer shrimp

Making air fryer shrimp is super simple! Just follow these steps:

1. Preheat the air fryer: First, preheat your air fryer to 375 °F (190 °C).
2. Season the shrimp: In the meantime, place the shrimp in a bowl. Add the oil and seasoning. Then toss until everything is combined.
3. Air fry the shrimp: Place the shrimp in the air fryer basket. Then let the shrimp cook for 8 minutes.
4. Serve: Serve the shrimp with your favorite sides and enjoy!

Tips & Notes

Here are a few quick tips that I recommend checking out before trying this air fryer shrimp recipe (don’t worry, there really is not much that can go wrong!).

• Preheat the air fryer. Most air fryers have a setting to preheat. So just set the temperature and let the air fryer preheat before you add the shrimp. It’s safer, the food cooks better, and the cook time is only accurate if you let the air fryer preheat.
• Spread the shrimp in the air fryer basket in one single layer. You want the shrimp to cook evenly from all sides. So make sure the basket is not overcrowded. There should be enough space to avoid any overlapping.
• Adjust the cook time depending on the shrimp size. Larger shrimp take longer than smaller shrimp. I used jumbo shrimp and air fried them for 8 minutes. Smaller shrimp will only need 6 minutes. Extra large shrimp may take up to 10 minutes. Cook time also varies with air fryer models. I use the Cosori air fryer for all of my recipes.

Variations

There are many different ways to season shrimp. I love the seasoning I used in this air fryer shrimp recipe as it goes well with various side dishes. But if you want to switch things up and change the seasoning, then feel free to take a look at the following ideas.

• Taco-style seasoning: If you want to serve the shrimp as part of tacos or taco bowls, you can add some chili powder and ground cumin to this recipe which is great for giving the shrimp a Mexican-style flavor. You could also add ground coriander or use fresh cilantro and lime juice after air frying the shrimp.
• Cajun seasoning: If you love Cajun seasoning, feel free to use it for making air fryer shrimp! Just use it with some paprika powder and follow the instructions as described. I love to use Cajun seasoning whenever I want to use shrimp for pasta dishes.
• Herbs: You can also use dried or fresh herbs to create a different flavor of shrimp. Either use single dried herbs like dried oregano, dried thyme, and dried rosemary. Or use herb mixes like Italian seasoning or herbs de Provence. You can also add fresh herbs after air frying the shrimp. Parsley is one of my favorites! I recommend using less paprika powder and cayenne pepper if you want to focus more on herbs.
• Sauces: If you like your shrimp covered in sauce, you can prepare a teriyaki sauce or honey sriracha glaze. Season the shrimp very lightly and follow the instructions in the linked recipes to make the sauce. Then toss the air-fried shrimp in the sauce.

How to serve air fryer shrimp

There are many different ways to serve air fryer shrimp! Here are some of my favorites.

• Taco bowl: Air fryer shrimp are perfect for making quick taco bowls! I like to cook some white rice and prepare a black bean and corn salad to make the easiest and most delicious taco bowls.
• Wraps: Another idea is making wraps with shrimp! Just pick up your favorite tortillas, some sour cream, avocados, leafy greens, and other vegetables of your choice. Then assemble everything to make tasty wraps for lunch.
• Pasta: Pasta and shrimp are a delicious combination! I absolutely love to serve these air fryer shrimp with penne alla vodka, creamy sun-dried tomato pasta, or this balsamic summer pasta salad.
• Salad: Another option is serving the shrimp alongside a delicious salad. I recommend checking out this dill potato salad or this herbed mustard potato salad. They are total favorites and very easy to prepare!

Frequently Asked Questions

More quick and delicious shrimp recipes

I love to make shrimp for dinner as they taste amazing and are super easy to prepare! Here are some of my favorite recipes that I recommend checking out if you love shrimp, too.

• Shrimp Chow Mein
• Shrimp Chop Suey
• Cashew Cajun Shrimp Alfredo
• Spicy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
• Baked Feta Pasta with Shrimp