Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe

Article by Alice K. Thompson

Here, crispy, light, panko-breaded shrimp that cook in minutes, no boiling oil needed. Our recipe developers have dreamed up the ultimate accompaniment, too — spicy mayo-based remoulade that channels the best parts of cocktail sauce and tartar sauce. We give this top-ranked recipe double billing as either a delicious weeknight meal or crowd-pleasing party appetizer.

How to Cook Air Fryer Shrimp Like a Pro

Our test kitchen cooks love the air fryer as much as our readers do, and they know exactly how to coax perfect results from this handy appliance. Here’s what they want you to know to ace this delicious recipe every time.

Use larger shrimp. Because smaller shrimp can overcook quickly, our test kitchen finds 16/20 count shrimp work best in the air fryer: The breading will have time to brown and crisp nicely while the shrimp remain tender inside.

Leave tails on for looks and convenience. A bit of the pink shell at the tip of the shrimp looks attractive after cooking, plus the tail acts as a nice handle for eating them as finger food.

Pat the shrimp dry. Removing moisture from the outside of the shrimp helps the breading adhere better and ensures a crunchy coating.

Panko makes the crispest breading. The larger flakes of panko breadcrumbs don’t pack together as tightly as regular breadcrumbs. This leaves the breading lighter so it fries up shatteringly crisp and stays that way longer.

Don’t overcrowd the basket. An air fryer works by circulating hot air around the food, so ensure there’s adequate space between shrimp. We suggest cooking the shrimp in two to three batches depending on your machine’s capacity.

Test for doneness early. As soon as the panko is golden and crunchy, test a shrimp by cutting into it with a paring knife; you want the flesh just opaque (white) all the way through. Cooking any longer will begin to make shrimp rubbery.

Make the sauce up to 2 days ahead. The flavors will blend nicely as it sits, so feel free to make the remoulade sauce ahead and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

How to Thaw Frozen Shrimp

Shrimp stashed in the freezer means a seafood meal or appetizer is always close at hand. Here are the best and simplest ways to defrost them depending on your time frame.

In about 20 minutes: Transfer frozen shrimp to a resealable plastic bag, remove excess air and seal. Place the bag in a bowl of cold water and they’ll thaw in 15 to 20 minutes.

Overnight: Transfer frozen shrimp to a colander set over a bowl, cover them with a damp paper towel or dish towel and place the whole thing in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Fried Shrimp

Make these shrimp a full meal with air fryer french fries or oven sweet potato fries and an easy beachy side like classic coleslaw or a salad like kale and apple salad or cucumber salad.

More Great Air Fryer Recipes to Try

Can’t get enough of the air fryer? Neither can we! Here are some more of our best-loved recipes for it.

Air Fryer Fried Chicken. Southern-style buttermilk-brined fried chicken couldn’t be easier. The air fryer delivers results that rival deep-fried.

Air Fryer Pork Chops. Center-cut pork chops air fry for crispy perfection outside, tender and juicy meat inside. And it takes just about 10 minutes per batch.

Ginger and Soy Salmon Fillets with Broccoli. This glazed air fryer salmon couldn’t be simpler, and since it’s cooked on top of broccoli florets it’s an almost full meal ready in about 20 minutes. Just add rice or your favorite grain.

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts. Love extra-crispy, caramelized Brussels sprouts, but not all the added fat they typically require? Then these air fryer Brussels sprouts are for you.

Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs. Yes, you read that right! Believe it or not the handy air fryer can cook up a half dozen hard-boiled eggs in about 5 minutes, no actual boiling required.