If you need a quick meal idea, this easy air fryer shrimp recipe is perfect. Simply toss shrimp with a few basic seasonings, air fry for less than 10 minutes, sprinkle with fresh lemon juice, and voilà! Plump and so flavorful, air-fried shrimp is a crowd-pleasing appetizer or delicious main dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
My air fryer shrimp has no breading, and is perfectly crispy on the outside and so tender on the inside. Be sure to choose jumbo shrimp for the best results! If you’re looking for more easy air fryer recipes, try my air fryer coconut shrimp, air fryer salmon, and air fryer buffalo cauliflower.
Ingredients Needed
Shrimp — use jumbo shrimp for the juiciest air fryer shrimp. Ssmaller shrimp can turn rubbery quickly. Be sure to peel and devein them (instructions below).
Oil — I like using olive oil for this shrimp recipe, but avocado oil or melted butter will also work well.
Seasonings — a simple combination of salt, garlic powder, paprika, and ground black pepper add plenty of flavor to the sweet shrimp.
Lemon — seafood loves lemon juice! Fresh lemon juice adds brightness and takes the shrimp to the next level.
How To Make Air Fryer Shrimp
1. Use paper towels to pat the raw shrimp dry. Place them in a large bowl.
2. Drizzle with olive oil, and then sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. Mix well so the shrimp is coated evenly with the seasonings.
3. Place the shrimp in the preheated air fryer basket. The shrimp needs to be in a single layer so it cooks evenly, so you will probably have to work in at least 2 batches. Air fry shrimp at 400°F for 3 minutes.
4. Shake halfway through or turn each shrimp over so both sides turn out crispy. Air fry for another 2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp are cooked through. Transfer the cooked shrimp to a serving bowl and repeat these steps with the remaining shrimp.
5. Toss the shrimp with lemon juice.
6. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve the perfect air fryer shrimp with lemon wedges.
How to Peel and Devein Shrimp
You can buy fresh peeled and deveined shrimp to save time. But if the variety of shrimp you want isn’t prepped for you, peeling and deveining shrimp is a simple process:
- How to peel shrimp: Twist and pull off the head if it is still attached. Pinch the legs between your thumb and forefinger and pull off the legs, then crack open the shell along the underside. Peel off the shell. You can leave the tail on or pinch it where the tail meets the shrimp and pull it off. I left them on for this air fryer shrimp recipe.
- How to devein shrimp: Use a small, sharp paring knife to make a shallow cut along the back of the shrimp. Carefully pull the slit apart, and you will see the vein, which will be dark brown in color. Gently lift it out with the tip of the knife and throw it away. Rinse the shrimp in cold water and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
How to Serve Air Fryer Shrimp
This tasty shrimp recipe is so versatile! Serve it as an appetizer or main dish. Here are some ideas:
- Shrimp and garlic butter sauce: You can make an easy garlic butter sauce for the cooked air fryer shrimp. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Once bubbling, add 2 chopped cloves of garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the garlic is softened and fragrant. Remove from the heat. Add the 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and swirl the pan to emulsify with the butter. Pour over the cooked shrimp and mix well to combine, or serve the butter as a dipping sauce.
- Rice bowl: Top cooked white rice or fragrant coconut rice with air-fried shrimp and any of your favorite toppings.
- With vegetables: Serve shrimp with a side of air fryer veggies like air fryer asparagus, air fryer green beans, or air fryer Brussels sprouts. Don’t forget to add the lemon wedge and a good sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley!
- Shrimp tacos: Use these air fryer shrimp as the main component in shrimp tacos. Add your favorite topping like cabbag, pickled onions, and cilantro.
- Shrimp salad: This refreshing salad is perfect for hot days.
- Shrimp alfredo: Swap out the shrimp in the recipe for this air-fried shrimp.
- Shrimp cocktail: serve these juicy shrimp with tartar or cocktail sauce for a delicious appetizer.
Recipe Variations
Feel free to change up or add to the spices I used to suit your preferences.
- Paprika: You can use smoked paprika instead of regular sweet paprika for a slightly smoky flavor.
- Seasoning additions: Italian seasoning, onion powder, and/or dried parsley are excellent additions to the dried spices used in this recipe.
- Use premade seasoning blends: Old Bay seasoning, Cajun seasoning, and taco seasoning work very well!
How to Store
Once leftover shrimp has cooled completely, store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat it in the air fryer at 350°F for just a few minutes until it is warm and crispy again.
You can also freeze it. Once cooled, transfer the shrimp to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or reheat it from frozen in the air fryer at 300°F for 3 to 5 minutes.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- For more color: If your shrimp aren’t very pink, and you want them to be more vibrant, you can add more paprika for color (up to ½ teaspoon).
- Preheat the air fryer: Shrimp cook fast, so they can turn rubbery quickly. If you wait to add the shrimp once the air fryer is up to temp, you will be less likely to overcook them.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. The shrimp should be in a single layer in the basket, so you will need to work in at least 2 batches, depending on your air fryer capacity. Overcrowding the air fryer will lead to shrimp that is not crispy or evenly cooked.
- To cook large shrimp instead of jumbo shrimp: Reduce the heat to 375°F and keep the same cooking time.
- Don’t skip the lemon juice. Shrimp and lemon juice are the perfect match. Lemon juice brightens the flavors and complements the natural sweetness of the shrimp.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use frozen shrimp for this recipe. Thaw the shrimp completely and pat them very dry with paper towels. You may need to switch out the paper towels 2 to 3 times to remove as much moisture as possible from the shrimp. This will ensure the shrimp crisps up in the air fryer.
If you don’t have time to thaw the shrimp, prepare and cook them as directed in the recipe, adding 2 to 3 minutes of extra cooking time.
Yes, you can cook shrimp on the stovetop in a skillet with 1 tablespoon of oil for 3 to 5 minutes over medium-high heat. Or simply follow my sautéed shrimp recipe.
Raw shrimp is usually gray or pale pink and appears translucent. When cooked, the shrimp turns light to bright pink, becomes opaque, and feels firm but with a bit of give. The best indicator is to look for the color change. Once that happens, the shrimp is cooked! Shrimp cooks very quickly, so keep an eye on it.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this air fryer shrimp recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe
Equipment
- 6-quart air fryer
- Paper towels
Ingredients
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined (450g)
- 4 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and place them in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the shrimp with olive oil, then sprinkle with the salt, garlic powder, paprika, and pepper. Mix well to coat the shrimp evenly with the spices.
- Working in 2 batches, place the shrimp in a single layer in the basket of an air fryer.
- Air fry at 400°F for 3 minutes, shake halfway through or turn each piece of shrimp to the other side. Continue to cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp are opaque and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining shrimp.
- Combine the batches of shrimp in a serving bowl and toss with the lemon juice. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- For more color: If your shrimp aren’t very pink, and you want them to be more vibrant, you can add more paprika for color (up to ½ teaspoon).
- Preheat the air fryer: Shrimp cook fast, so they can turn rubbery quickly. If you wait to add the shrimp once the air fryer is up to temp, you will be less likely to overcook them.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. The shrimp should be in a single layer in the basket, so you will need to work in at least 2 batches, depending on your air fryer capacity. Overcrowding the air fryer will lead to shrimp that is not crispy or evenly cooked.
- To cook large shrimp instead of jumbo shrimp: Reduce the heat to 375°F and keep the same cooking time.
- Don’t skip the lemon juice. Shrimp and lemon juice are the perfect match. Lemon juice brightens the flavors and complements the natural sweetness of the shrimp.
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