This air fryer shrimp takes just 8 minutes to make and turns out perfectly tender and juicy every single time! Minimal ingredients and perfect to add to a plethora of dishes!
The Best Air Fryer Shrimp
Who loves using their air fryer for anything and everything? We’ve been using it to make our main meals, especially seafood. We’ve done salmon, tilapia, and now, juicy shrimp.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy to make. Minimal ingredients and no excessive clean up required,
- Healthy. Air frying foods use little oil, which makes this dish a healthy alternative to traditionally fried shrimp.
- Ready in 10 minutes. From prep to plate, the entire recipe takes less than 10 minutes to make!
- Juicy every single time. A secret ingredient guarantees the shrimp turns out perfectly juicy and tender.
Shrimp can typically be quite finicky to work with, but air frying them guarantees perfect results every single time!
Oh, and this recipe works with jumbo shrimp or smaller ones too; it’s super versatile!
By the way, if you love cooking with shrimp, try Hunan shrimp and shrimp curry.
Ingredients needed
Besides the shrimp, you should have the remaining ingredients in your pantry! Here is what you’ll need:
- Shrimp- Get large or jumbo shrimp without shells.
- Olive oil- My preferred oil, but any oil works.
- Seasonings- You’ll need lemon juice, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and Italian seasonings.
How to make shrimp in the air fryer
Pat dry the shrimp: Pat dry the shrimp with a paper towel.
Season the shrimp: Add the shrimp to a bowl and add the olive oil and seasonings and mix until the shrimp is covered.
Cook in the air fryer: Air fry the shrimp for 7-8 minutes at 200C/400F.
Serve: Enjoy shrimp with sauces like ketchup, bbq sauce, or even a cheese sauce.
Ideal cooking time
The average cooking time is 8 minutes. However, it depends on the brand of the air fryer and how large the shrimp are.
We used our favorite Phillips air fryer, which fits quite a large air fryer basket, so cooks perfectly by the 8 minute mark. If yours is larger, it will be a little shorter (check it around the 7 minute mark).
Tips to make the best recipe
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer with the shrimp. If your air fryer is on the smaller side, cook them in batches to allow them to cook evenly.
- Flipping the shrimp halfway through ensures they are super crispy.
- Drizzle with lemon juice immediately before serving.
- Do not over cook the shrimp as you want them to be juicy and flavorful.
Ways to use this shrimp
While delicious on its own, air fried shrimp is delicious to use in a plethora of ways. Here are some of my favorites-
- Shrimp salad. Add the shrimp over your favorite salad, like a spinach salad or broccoli salad.
- Shrimp sandwich. Toast some low calorie or keto bread and add the shrimp, along with mayonnaise, tomato, lettuce, and some bacon!
- Tacos. Add the shrimp to soft or hard shell tacos, along with your favorite taco fix-ins.
- Shrimp pasta. Toss through some freshly air fried shrimp into keto pasta, low calorie pasta, or your favorite pasta.
Storage info
Wondering what is the best way to store leftovers? Here are best practices for cooked shrimp storage:
- To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an air-tight container.
- To freeze: Place leftovers in a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: Thaw and then put on the baking sheet or in the air fryer basket to reheat until crispy.
More air fryer recipes to try
Frequently Asked Questions
Shrimp should be air fried at 200C/400F.
Yes, you can put frozen shrimp in the air fryer. But remember to give it some extra time to cook and/or thaw it before cooking.
If you add breading to the shrimp (like keto bread crumbs), increase the cooking time to 10 minutes.
Air Fryer Shrimp in 8 Minutes | Juicy And Flavorful
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp large or extra large
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
Instructions
- Pat dry shrimp with a paper towel.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice. Add the seasonings and mix well. Toss through the shrimp in the seasoning mix.
- Cook the shrimp at 200C/400F for 7-8 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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I made this tonight and it is so, so good! And so easy! Great flavor. I only did about a half pound of shrimp and it didn’t take quite as long to cook but that’s easy to adjust as long as you keep your eye on it. I will definitely be making this often. I see this as a good option when I really don’t feel like cooking since it is so easy yet delicious.
Do you use raw shrimp or already cooked shrimp
Raw shrimp
The simple and delightful manner in which to cook your meal, all in the time of having your first glass of Chardonnay.
This recipe is incredibly easy and delicious!
I’m always afraid of overcooking seafood, this is virtually foolproof.
The seasoning is just right. It compliments the shrimp without overpowering them.
New favorite recipe
These came out perfectly delicious! We cooked exactly as written but only 6 minutes because we didn’t want to overcook them. I highly recommend.
Best shrimp ever! Super easy! Just enough spice for me! Thanks for the recipe!!
Turned out flavorful and succulent. I made it just as written.
Perfect! Simple and quick with ingredients that I had on hand.
Loved it. So simple and easy. My boyfriend does not like shrimp but loved this.
Do I add minced garlic? Or garlic powder? The recipe doesn’t specify.
Both will work- I prefer garlic powder 🙂
Followed the olive oil and lemon juice part and did my own thing with spices. ( i like heat) Fresh shrimp from the NC/SC border. First time air frying seafood. Awesome!!
Very tasty and tender. Fast.
Easy and delicious! Substitute seasonings as you like. I used an Italian mix and it was great!
Delish!
Delish!
Made this tonight. Served it over cooked Trader Joe’s Alfredo pasta (only takes about 8 minutes to prepare while the shrimp is cooking). Thank you!