Air Fryer Fried Shrimp is an easy way to make light and crispy shrimp in no time. Freeze half of the batch to have on hand for a quick weeknight meal.
To my own surprise, the air fryer might be my favorite kitchen appliance. We find ourselves putting almost everything in there, from frozen chicken nuggets to raw broccoli. The result is always something crispy and delicious in no time at all!
It turns out that making crispy battered shrimp in the air fryer is easy, quick, and really yummy, and now you can all try it at home. As a bonus, this recipe will likely make extra shrimp, which can be frozen and re-air fried another day.
How do I use an air fryer?
To start, read your air fryer manual. Each one operates slightly differently.
What do I use an air fryer for?
Use it for practically anything! Air fryers are actually just small convection ovens. They work by circulating hot air around the food, generally resulting in a crispy outcome. They’re great for reheating leftover fried food (not the healthiest, I know). French fries, chicken fingers, frozen tater tots, etc. will all taste like they’ve been freshly cooked.
More surprisingly, the air fryer is a great way to roast veggies quickly. Toss in plain, raw veggies, like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green beans, or potato wedges, and in minutes, they become browned and a little crispy. For a quick snack, drain a can of chickpeas, dry them off with a towel, and throw them in the air fryer for a bit. Yummmm.
I’ve heard of people cooking chicken or fish in their air fryers as well, but I haven’t tried myself.
What can’t you cook in the air fryer?
Anything wet. Freshly battered food that’s still dripping or wet will just make a mess.
The Setup
To prepare for battering the shrimp, it’s best to create an assembly line. Set out a plate or bowl of shrimp, the batter, a plate of bread crumbs, and a final plate on which to place the breaded shrimp. Get some tongs ready so you don’t have to dirty your hands.
Prepare to make extras
Whenever a recipe calls for dirtying multiple dishes, I like to see if it’s something I can make in bulk to freeze for later. Lasagna is one such recipe; making a double batch is no messier than making a single, and it freezes beautifully. Air Fryer Fried Shrimp falls into this category, as well. For small families, I recommend making a full batch of shrimp; for larger families, you can double the recipe if you want to have leftovers. Once the cooked shrimp have cooled to room temperature, place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet in the freezer for about 30 minutes, and then transfer them to a zip top bag and place back in the freezer. When you want to reheat, just pop the already cooked and frozen shrimp into the air fryer once more, and in minutes, the crispy shrimp are ready.
How should I use the shrimp?
While flavorful on their own, these shrimp make the perfect blank canvas to take on the flavors of any meal. Here are some ideas:
- use the crispy shrimp in tacos, and try them with this easy Vegan Cilantro Cream Sauce or Pico de Gallo
- coat the shrimp in buffalo sauce
- toss them in teriyaki sauce
- eat them on their own
These easy Air Fryer Fried Shrimp are bound to be a favorite. Try them this week!
Air Fryer Fried Shrimp
Air Fryer Fried Shrimp is an easy way to make light and crispy shrimp in no time. Freeze half of the batch to have on hand for a quick weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup gluten-free flour (can use regular flour, but gluten-free makes a lighter batter)
- 1 1/2 cup light beer or seltzer water
- pinch of kosher salt
- 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1 lb raw peeled and deveined shrimp, thawed if frozen (I used 21-30, which means there are 21-30 shrimps per pound)
Instructions
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Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees.
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In a medium-sized bowl, mix the flour, beer, and salt together into a batter.
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On a dinner-sized plate or dish, mix the breadcrumbs together.
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Make an assembly line. From left to right: plate/bowl of raw shrimp, bowl of batter, plate of breadcrumbs, empty plate for the breaded shrimp.
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Dry the raw shrimp with a paper towel. Using tongs, pick one up and dip it into the batter. Allow some of the excess to drip off, and then dip the shrimp into the breadcrumbs to coat. Gently shake them off, and place down on the plate. Repeat with the remaining shrimp.
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Place the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer. My air fryer fits about 8 at a time. Cook at 360 for about 5 minutes, flip, and then cook for another 5 minutes. The shrimp should be pink on the outside and opaque all the way through.
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Remove, and place on a paper towel on a plate or sheet pan. Repeat the cooking process with the remaining shrimp.
Recipe Notes
*In order to save time, you can batter/bread 8 shrimp, and then place them in the air fryer to cook while you batter and bread the remaining shrimp.
*to freeze: cool the cooked shrimp to room temperature. Place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, and freeze for about 30 minutes. Transfer to a zip top bag, and then place back in the freezer.
*to reheat frozen shrimp: place the frozen shrimp (not defrosted) in a 360 F air fryer for about 5-6 minutes per side, until completely cooked through.
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