Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe

Air frying shrimp will give you tasty shrimp that’s perfectly cooked and full of flavor. This recipe is so easy to put together that it can be made on a busy weeknight or as a flavorful entree for a carefree weekend meal. It’s one of my family’s favorites. 

Seafood wasn’t a big part of the meals I ate growing up. In fact, the only time I would eat shrimp was deep-fried at a restaurant. I’m not sure if it was a matter of taste or budget. 

As an adult, my eating habits are very different. I have been exploring all types of foods and finding many favorites. Seafood is a regular part of my menu these days and it isn’t always deep-fried shrimp, like it was when I was a kid. I love shrimp cooked simply with some herbs and dipped in a bit of butter. I eat shrimp mixed into pasta, polenta, burritos, and salads. Deep-fried shrimp remains a favorite, but I like it a bit lighter these days. 

This recipe combines the flavor of deep-fried shrimp with a lighter corn-starch batter, fried crispy in the air fryer. It avoids the saturated fat of deep frying without compromising on the texture or flavor. The key is to eat the shrimp soon after they come out of the fryer. 

What Makes a Good Shrimp Recipe 

Shrimp is one of the easiest seafood ingredients to cook, making it something you can have even on a busy weeknight with minimal cooking effort. However, there is a fine line between perfectly cooked shrimp and shrimp that is dry, overcooked, and rubbery. 

How can you cook perfect shrimp every time? 

• You want to use shrimp that are the same size. That way, you don’t have half the shrimp getting overdone while the rest are still cooking.
• Everything should be placed in the skillet or fryer at the same time, so they all cook for the same amount of time.
• Don’t have shrimp stacked on each other. This will end up with some shrimp undercooked while the rest are perfect.
• When the color at the base of the shrimp turns completely opaque, it’s done.

Another challenge with shrimp is getting the right size when you go shopping. 

In the US, shrimp are sized according to how many are in a pound. You will see designations like 16/20 or 21/25 on the package. That tells you how many shrimp you get in a pound. For example 16/20 means that one pound will contain between 16 and 20 shrimp. 

Many stores will label shrimp as “large” or “jumbo”. Unfortunately, there are no standards to the use of those terms. The only way to know is to use the standard numerical designations.

How To Make The Best Air Fryer Shrimp

I’m using the Power Air Fryer Oven which comes with the wire rack tray. This allows the heat to circulate on both sides. I did not have to flip the shrimp. However, if you do not have this with your air fryer it is important to flip the shrimp halfway through the cooking cycle.

For extra crispy coating, you can try the 3 step coating method. Have two separate bowls. In one bowl, is the batter. The other bowl is just plain cornstarch. First, dip the shrimp in cornstarch, then transfer to the batter, and lastly dip it back in the cornstarch. Lightly spray each shrimp with olive oil.

Shrimp tend to shrink when cooked, so I suggest at least medium size shrimp or larger. 

Feeling hungry or serving more people? You might want to try my air fryer whole chicken or meatloaf recipe!