Air Fryer Shrimp

These crisp and juicy Air Fryer Shrimp are made without breading, making them low carb, gluten free, and paleo! They’re ready in less than 10 minutes and are a perfect last-minute party snack or addition to salads, pasta, tacos, and more.

Have you had a chance to cook shrimp in the air fryer yet? If not, you’re in for quite a treat! This quick and easy Air Fryer Shrimp recipe transforms regular thawed shrimp into a mouthwatering and crispy dish you can dip into chipotle aioli sauce or add to pasta and salad.

All you need to do is prep the shrimp and season it in oil and simple seasonings. Your air fryer takes care of the rest! In the end, you’ll have a batch of perfectly seasoned, succulent, and absolutely irresistible shrimp in less than 10 minutes.

Shrimp isn’t the only seafood you should be making in your air fryer. Use this hands-off method the next time you’re craving crispy scallops or need a simple air fryer tilapia for weeknight dinners. It’s so quick and easy!

Recipe features

• The air fryer produces crispy and tender shrimp, even without the breading.
• Naturally low carb, gluten free, paleo, and Whole30!
• Use the air fried shrimp as a quick and tasty protein on salads, pasta, tacos, and more.

Ingredient notes: 

• Shrimp - You’ll need one pound of large thawed and peeled shrimp with the tails on or off (up to you!). I buy peeled, deveined shrimp to make things as easy as possible. For serving purposes, keep in mind that there are typically 31 to 35 shrimp per pound.
  
• Olive oil - This is needed to coat the shrimp and help the spices cling to the outside. If you don’t have olive oil, use avocado oil or ghee instead.
  
• Spices and seasonings - A mix of garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, cayenne, and salt give the shrimp a savory and smoky flavor with a kick.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Season the shrimp. Place the thawed, peeled, and dried shrimp in a bowl and pour the olive oil over top. Stir the spices together in a separate bowl, then pour the mixture over the shrimp. Toss everything together until the shrimp are fully coated.

Step 2: Air fry the shrimp. Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry until the shrimp are cooked through (no flipping needed!).

Step 3: Serve and enjoy! Enjoy the crispy air fryer shrimp as is or pair them with chipotle aioli or healthy caesar dressing for dipping.

Expert tips and FAQs

• Don’t forget to dry the thawed shrimp with paper towels! If they’re too wet, the oil and spices won’t stick. 
• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. You may need to air fry the shrimp in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. 
• The recommended cooking time is 8 minutes for large shrimp. If you use bigger shrimp, let them cook for a few minutes longer. 
• You’ll know the shrimp are cooked when they go from gray and translucent to opaque white and bright pink. 

How long does shrimp take to cook in the air fryer?

The precise time and temperature will vary based on the shrimp size and your air fryer. For large shrimp, 8 minutes at 400ºF is a good place to start. For bigger shrimp, add 2 minutes to the cook time.  

Can I make this with frozen shrimp?

I don’t recommend using frozen shrimp because the oils and seasonings will slide right off. If all you have is frozen shrimp, be sure to let it thaw overnight in the fridge or place the bag in a bowl under cold running water for 5 to 10 minutes.

Can you thaw frozen shrimp in the air fryer? 

Yes! If you don’t have time to defrost the shrimp in the fridge or under running water, you can cook them in the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes or until thawed. Dry the thawed shrimp with paper towels before tossing them with the oil and seasonings and placing them back in the air fryer to finish cooking.

How should these be served?

• As an appetizer or snack: Serve your shrimp with dips on the side, like melted butter (or ghee for paleo/Whole30), chipotle aioli, caesar dressing, or spicy avocado sauce.
• Add it to salad and pasta: Air fryer shrimp with no breading is a healthy protein you can toss on a salad or add to pasta dishes, like kale pesto zoodles, garlic zucchini noodle pasta, or sun-dried tomato pesto pasta.
• As a weeknight meal - Pair the tender shrimp with all kinds of side dishes for an easy weeknight meal. It goes well with my easy weeknight broccoli, sauteed asparagus, roasted red potatoes, and coconut rice. 

Storing

Refrigerator: Keep the cooked shrimp in a shallow airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. 

Reheating: Air frying is a great way to reheat shrimp without overcooking it. Simply place the chilled, cooked shrimp in the air fryer basket and reheat at 350ºF for 4 to 5 minutes, flipping halfway through. 

More air fryer basics

• Chicken Thighs
• Pork Chops
• Chicken Tenders (No Breading!)

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!