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Wondering how to cook shrimp in air fryer? This is an easy recipe that’s great for weeknights! This recipe takes literally minutes to make, are flavored with an easy seasoning mix, and you can serve the shrimp in so many ways.
The Best Way to Cook Shrimp
If you are craving a light dinner with lots of flavor, this air fryer shrimp recipe is one to add to the list. It’s so easy to make, healthy, and you can use the cooked shrimp to make all kinds of dinners. It’s a weeknight wonder!
Why you’ll love this recipe
I’ve cooked shrimp a few ways – on the stove, in the oven, and on the grill – but this air fryer method is my favorite. It’s so easy, you don’t need a lot of oil, and the shrimp cook so fast.
The shrimp are first seasoned, and then you only need a little oil to coat them before they go in the air fryer. Minutes later, they’re perfectly cooked and perfectly delicious! You can even make air fryer frozen shrimp!
Seasoning for Air Fryer Shrimp
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- Smoked paprika
- Onion powder
- Minced garlic cloves or garlic powder
Mix all of the seasonings in a small bowl, and it’s ready to toss with the shrimp!
Seasoning Variations
The best part about this recipe is that you can use the air fryer shrimp method to make almost ANY kind of shrimp!
- Make my Cajun Shrimp but cook it in the air fryer.
- Use Taco Seasoning – homemade or packaged.
- Trader Joe’s has so many seasoning blends – my favorites for shrimp would be Elote, Ranch or their vegetable seasoning.
- Simply using salt and black pepper is great too!
How to Cook Shrimp in Air Fryer
- Toss the shrimp with olive oil and seasoning mixture.
- Place the seasoned shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook them at 400°F for four minutes and then check on them. They are done when they are pink and curled up in a loose “C” shape.
- Depending on the size, they may need a few minutes longer. Large or jumbo shrimp could need up to eight minutes total cooking time. Smaller ones will need less time.
How Long to Air Fry Shrimp?
Once you’ve seasoned your shrimp, you should air fry it for about 4-8 minutes. Be sure to check them after 4 minutes and shake the basket before continuing.
Ways to Serve Shrimp
Veggies: Pair the seasoned shrimp with roasted vegetables like asparagus, potatoes, broccoli, or cauliflower.
Starch: Pile them on cooked rice or toss them with some cooked pasta.
Tacos: You can also serve them with grits or wrap them in tortillas for tacos or wraps.
Salads: I love to toss shrimp in a caesar salad or make a simple salad with some veggies and dressing. It’s an easy dinner!
Expert Tips
- Be sure to peel, devein, and remove the tails from the shrimp before cooking them.
- When you air fry shrimp, be sure to check on them early. Overcooked shrimp will have a rubbery texture, so don’t leave them in too long.
- If you don’t want to use fresh garlic, you can use ¼ teaspoon garlic powder instead of two fresh garlic cloves.
- Once you try this seasoning mix, have fun experimenting with other spices in your pantry! The possibilities are endless to come up with all kinds of shrimp recipes.
- This is a great dish for parties, but don’t leave the shrimp out at room temperature for more than two hours. If it’s hot, you should refrigerate them even sooner.
FAQs
Store leftover cooked shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I think it tastes best within three days.
You can freeze shrimp in a freezer bag for several months.
It takes just a few minutes to cook shrimp in an air fryer basket!
Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cloves garlic minced or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 pound medium shrimp peeled and deveined, tails removed
Instructions
- Whisk Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder in a small bowl. Stir in garlic.
- Make sure shrimp are deveined and peeled and tails are removed. Toss with olive oil and seasoning.
- Place in a single layer in air fryer basket. Cook at 400°F for 4 minutes, then check. If they're not quite done, shake the basket and keep going. Shrimp will cook in between 4-8 minutes depending on size. Shrimp is one when it’s pink on both sides and forms a gentle “C” shape.
- Serve immediately. Store leftovers in refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
- Be sure to peel, devein, and remove the tails from the shrimp before cooking them.
- When you air fry shrimp, be sure to check on them early. Overcooked shrimp will have a rubbery texture, so don’t leave them in too long.
- If you don’t want to use fresh garlic, you can use ¼ teaspoon garlic powder instead of two fresh garlic cloves.
- Once you try this seasoning mix, have fun experimenting with other spices in your pantry! The possibilities are endless to come up with all kinds of shrimp recipes.
- This is a great dish for parties, but don’t leave the shrimp out at room temperature for more than two hours. If it’s hot, you should refrigerate them even sooner.
Recipe Nutrition
Air Fryer Recipes
Super simple and healthy Air Fryer Shrimp is an easy recipe that’s great for weeknights!
Love the apple butter snickerdoodles.
This sounds fabulous – going to try this week
Thought you might want to know that there is a typo
Shrimp is one when it’s pink on both sides and
Shrimp is “done”