If you need a quick dinner that tastes like you spent way more time on it, this air fryer shrimp is your new best friend. It's ready in just 15 minutes, works with fresh or frozen shrimp, and is always a family favorite at my house. I love how simple the seasoning is, and you probably have everything already in your pantry.
The short answer: air fry shrimp at 400F for about 8 minutes total, turning once. Shrimp go from done to rubbery in under a minute, so pull them the moment they curl into a C shape. Fresh or frozen both work.
🛒 Ingredients
- Shrimp. I go for large shrimp, peeled and deveined. Fresh or frozen both work, - ust thaw if frozen.
- Avocado oil. My go-to since it holds up well in high heat. Olive oil is fine too.
- Paprika. Adds that smoky warmth. Smoked paprika makes it extra good.
- Garlic powder. A little goes a long way for flavor. Fresh garlic can burn in the air fryer, so I stick to powder here.
- Lemon wedges. A must for squeezing on top. It brightens up the whole dish.
- If you like more seafood recipes, try my tuna bake, salmon stir-fry, and shrimp in oven.
👩🍳 You'll find the complete list of ingredients below the recipe card.
🥘 How To Make Shrimp in Air Fryer
- Mix the seasoning: Stir avocado oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
- Coat the shrimp: Toss the shrimp in the mixture until they’re evenly coated.
- Let them rest: Marinate for about 10 minutes while you preheat the air fryer.
Craving more? Don't miss our 44 Easy 30-Minute Weeknight Dinners.
- Preheat the air fryer: Heat it to 400°F for 3-5 minutes.
- Cook: Place shrimp in a single layer in the basket and air fry for 5-6 minutes, shaking halfway.
- Serve: Once pink and opaque, pull them out and serve with lemon wedges and parsley.
Rita's Tip
Keep the shrimp in a single layer for even cooking! Stacked shrimp just steam instead of crisping.
📋 Tips
- Don’t overcrowd the basket or the shrimp won’t crisp up.
- Use jumbo shrimp if you like meatier bites, just add an extra minute of cook time.
- Preheating the air fryer makes a big difference in texture.
- Fresh garlic burns too fast here, stick with garlic powder.
- Frozen shrimp work fine, just thaw first.
- You can swap paprika for chili powder if you want a little heat.
- A squeeze of lemon is not optional in my book, it really lifts the flavors.
- Shrimp cook fast, so don’t walk away or they’ll go rubbery.
- Line the basket with parchment paper if you want easy cleanup.
- Leftovers taste great cold over salad the next day.
🍱 Storage Instructions
- 🍱To Store. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- 🥶Freezing. Lay cooked shrimp on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer bag. Best within 1 month.
- 🔥To Reheat. Warm in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
What To Serve With Shrimp
- Mashed potatoes
- Steamed rice or quinoa
- Roasted veggies
- A crisp green salad
- Garlic bread or cheddar biscuits
- Pasta tossed with olive oil
FAQ
It's best to thaw frozen shrimp before seasoning so the marinade actually sticks and the shrimp cooks evenly. A quick soak in cold water for 10-15 minutes does the trick.
Cooked shrimp turns pink and opaque and curls into a loose C shape. If it curls into a tight O, it's starting to overcook, so pull it right away.
Definitely, this recipe is very forgiving. Try Old Bay, Cajun seasoning, or lemon pepper in place of the paprika and garlic powder.
Fun Variations to Try
- Cajun shrimp. Swap the paprika for a Cajun seasoning blend for a spicier kick.
- Garlic butter shrimp. Toss the cooked shrimp in melted butter and fresh minced garlic right out of the basket.
- Lemon pepper shrimp. Use lemon pepper seasoning instead of paprika and finish with extra lemon zest.
More Shrimp Recipes You'll Like
📖Recipe
Perfect Air Fryer Shrimp
Equipment
- Ziplock Bag
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil, or olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
- chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the avocado oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.2 tablespoons avocado oil, 1 teaspoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Add the peeled and deveined shrimp to the bowl and toss until they are evenly coated with the seasoning mixture.1 pound large shrimp
- Let the shrimp marinate for about 10 minutes. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for about 3-5 minutes. Once the air fryer is preheated, place the seasoned shrimp in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overlapping. Cook the shrimp in the air fryer at 400°F for 5-6 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.
- Once the shrimp are pink and opaque, remove them from the air fryer. Serve the air fryer shrimp hot with lemon wedges for squeezing over the top and garnish with chopped parsley, if desired.chopped parsley, lemon wedges
Nutrition
Before You Go
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