Air-Fryer Shrimp

You can prepare a dish of sizzling air-fryer shrimp in just 20 minutes. Lightly spiced thanks to paprika and garlic, air-fryer shrimp is easy to adapt to your flavor preferences or depending on the dish you’re going to put it in. And then? You’re on your way to any number of tasty family dinners, from angel hair scampi to taco recipes to big, leafy dinner salads.

As a quick protein, shrimp rivals chicken in its versatility. While we have all kinds of fun shrimp recipes to try, this speedy technique takes things back to basics with your favorite kitchen appliance. Here’s how to make it, plus lots of ideas for pairings and variations.

Ingredients for Air-Fryer Shrimp

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• Shrimp: This recipe calls for one pound of uncooked shrimp, but you can scale it up as needed. You’ll usually get about 26 to 30 shrimp per pound. If they aren’t already peeled and deveined, you’ll need to clean the shrimp. You may use frozen shrimp if you prefer, just allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Many types of shrimp will work in the recipe, but we suggest smaller-sized ones so they’ll cook quickly and evenly.
• Olive oil: Our recipe calls for olive oil, which has a rich flavor and healthy omega-3 fats. You may swap in another type of cooking oil, if you prefer, such as canola or grapeseed. Use a liquid oil, since you’ll whisk the seasonings into the oil.
• Seasonings: An easy homemade spice mix brings subtle heat with a dash of paprika and garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. For more or less heat, experiment with different types of paprika.
• Fresh parsley: Chopped parsley adds a pleasing green speckle and fresh flavor to the spicy shrimp. Feel free to use another soft, leafy herb, such as cilantro, basil or dill.
• Lemon wedges: A squeeze of lemon brightens the flavor of the shrimp, cutting the spice a bit. You can skip if you’re fresh out of fresh lemon.

Directions

Step 1: Season the shrimp

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Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.

In a large bowl, whisk the olive oil, salt, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and pepper. Add the shrimp and toss to coat in the seasoned oil.

Step 2: Air-fry

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Arrange the shrimp in a single layer on a greased air-fryer tray. Don’t crowd them together, or they won’t get crispy; you’ll probably need to cook in batches. Cook until the spice coating is lightly browned and the shrimp turn pink, about six to eight minutes. Keep the cooked shrimp warm while you fry the remaining batches.

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Before serving, sprinkle the shrimp with parsley. If desired, serve with lemon wedges.

Recipe Variations

• Change up the spices: The seasonings are endlessly adaptable. Dial up the heat by adding cayenne pepper, or add a smoky flavor by swapping in smoked paprika. Try your favorite spice blend too; anything from Italian spices to taco seasoning would be yummy here. Keep it super-simple, using lemon pepper, garlic salt and a squeeze of lemon, or toss in a complex Creole seasoning mix.
• Serve with a dipping sauce: If you’re serving the shrimp as an appetizer, don’t forget the sauce. Dunk them into hot Creole dip, use skewers to run them through cilantro dip, chop them into tropical pineapple dip, make an appetizer out of cheesy shrimp dip or keep it simple with traditional cocktail sauce.
• Cook on a stovetop: If you don’t have an air fryer, you can prep the shrimp in a skillet on the stovetop. Heat to medium and cook for about three minutes on each side.

How to Store Air-Fryer Shrimp

Store leftover air-fryer shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for three to four days. To reheat leftovers, pop them back into the air fryer for a few minutes, until they’re warmed through.

Air-Fryer Shrimp Tips

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How do you peel and devein shrimp?

You’ll need to remove the head, legs and shells. In general, they’ll come off with a gentle tug or twist, though our complete guide to preparing shrimp will walk you through it in detail. You may want to remove the veins, too: they’re dark lines along the back of the shrimp. If they’re large and quite visible, they may be gritty, and you can cut them out. But if you can’t see them, they won’t be noticeable when eaten. If you’re making air-fryer frozen shrimp, the shrimp will likely be deveined and partly prepared.

How long do you cook shrimp in an air fryer?

Shrimp generally cook in about six to eight minutes in the air fryer. Air fryers have a range of cooking powers, so when we test recipes, the food often cooks at different rates. The best way to ensure good results is to keep a close eye on the shrimp, and start checking for doneness a couple of minutes before the recipe suggests. When the shrimp turn pink, they’re done.

What can you serve with air-fryer shrimp?

Air-fryer shrimp make a delicious appetizer before a holiday party or potluck. Serve with a tasty dipping sauce. Fried shrimp also make a healthy protein for many meals. Toss shrimp into your favorite pasta, or serve shrimp with rice and steamed broccoli for a quick weeknight dinner. Add shrimp to a salad to make a filling, healthy dinner. Tuck shrimp into a sandwich wrap or burrito, or serve with roasted vegetables and quinoa or cauliflower rice.