This air fryer shrimp recipe makes the perfect appetizer or main dish! With juicy and tender shrimp on the inside and a delicious crunchy panko breading on the outside, this air fryer recipe is a mouthful of heaven.
Delicious Shrimp, Cooked in the Air Fryer
We LOVE easy air fryer recipes here on Fit Foodie Finds, so when we realized we didn’t have an air fryer recipe for shrimp, we just HAD to give it a try. And… who would have known that the air fryer cooks the PERFECT shrimp?
We loved this easy air fryer shrimp recipe so much, that we couldn’t keep it from you all any longer. Whether you serve this tasty dish as an appetizer, quick weeknight meal, or healthy snack, know that this juicy shrimp will be the star of the show. Happy cooking!
Air Fryer Shrimp Ingredients
- Shrimp: we used large, raw shrimp that is deveined with the tail still on. You can use medium shrimp or jumbo shrimp if you want to, but you may need more egg wash and panko mixture.
- Salt & pepper: salt and pepper really elevate the flavors of the shrimp. Don’t skip it!
- Paprika: this spice adds a little kick of heat that tastes amazing with the breaded shrimp.
- Lemon juice: some citrusy acidity is great for balancing out the spicy and savory notes of this dish.
- Panko crumbs: Panko provides a nice satisfying crunch to the shrimp that you can’t get with other breadcrumbs.
- Parmesan cheese: a little cheese takes this air fryer shrimp recipe to a whole new level.
- Eggs: eggs work as a binding agent so that the breadcrumbs stick to the shrimp seamlessly.
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Shrimp
Rinse the shrimp under cold water, pat dry, and transfer the shrimp to a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt, pepper, paprika, and lemon juice to the shrimp and toss until coated. Set aside for 15 minutes.
While the shrimp is marinating, mix the panko crumbs, cheese, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl. Crack the eggs into a separate bowl and whisk. After 15 minutes, preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
Next, dredge a shrimp through the egg wash and allow excess egg to drip from the shrimp. Place the shrimp on a plate and sprinkle with the panko mixture until evenly coated.
Then dredge the shrimp through the egg wash a second time and repeat the breading process. Set the shrimp on a plate. Repeat until all the shrimp are coated.
Pro Tip: We highly recommend breading the shrimp on a plate rather than directly in the bowl with the panko mixture, so the mixture doesn’t become soggy and unable to stick to the shrimp.
Drizzle olive oil in the bottom of the air fryer and transfer the shrimp to the air fryer. Be sure the shrimp are not touching in the air fryer.
Air fry the shrimp for 2 minutes, then flip the shrimp and fry for another 2 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the air fryer and repeat until all the shrimp are golden brown and cooked.
Serve the shrimp on their own with a fresh squeeze of lemon, with a marinara sauce, or on top of a salad. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Shrimp
These shrimp are yummy enough on their own, but if you’d like to make a more substantial meal, there are many fun ways to incorporate this tasty shrimp with other ingredients. Here are some of our favorites:
- Tacos: Wrap your shrimp up in flour tortillas and top with cilantro to make these Easy Shrimp Tacos!
- Salads: Toss your air fryer shrimp in a bowl of greens, beans, and veggies like this Healthy Shrimp Salad.
- Bowls: These Cilantro Lime Shrimp Bowls and Fresh Grilled Shrimp Meal Prep Bowls can easily be subbed out with this shrimp!
- Mains: Turn your shrimp into a tasty main by making Shrimp Fried Rice or pairing it with baked beans, potato salad, or Greek salad.
Other Ways to Cook Shrimp
We love this cooked shrimp recipe, but if you are looking for more ways to cook shrimp, we’ve got you covered there, too.
Store your air-fried shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
More of our Favorite…
Shrimp Recipes
- Kung Pao Shrimp
- Asparagus Shrimp Scampi
- Easy Shrimp Panang Curry
- Grilled Shrimp Foil Packets
- Baked Coconut Shrimp with Chili Mango Dipping Sauce
- Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
- 1 lb. raw large shrimp, tail on and deveined
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt separated
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¾ cup panko crumbs
- ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese or pecorino romano
- 2 large eggs
- Rinse the shrimp under cold water and pat dry. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt, pepper, paprika, and lemon juice to the shrimp and toss until coated. Set aside for 15 minutes.
- While the shrimp is marinating, mix the panko crumbs, cheese, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl. Crack the eggs into a separate bowl and whisk.
- After 15 minutes, preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
- Dredge a shrimp through the egg wash and allow excess egg to drip from the shrimp. Place the shrimp on a plate and sprinkle with the panko mixture until evenly coated. Dredge the shrimp through the egg wash a second time and repeat the breading process. Set the shrimp on a plate. Repeat until all the shrimp are coated. We highly recommend breading the shrimp on a plate rather than directly in the bowl with the panko mixture so the mixture doesn’t become soggy and unable to stick to the shrimp.
- Drizzle olive oil in the bottom of the air fryer and transfer the shrimp to the air fryer. Be sure the shrimp are not touching the air fryer.
- Air fry the shrimp for 2 minutes, flip the shrimp and fry for another 2 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the air fryer and repeat until all the shrimp are golden brown and cooked.
- Serve the shrimp on their own with a fresh squeeze of lemon, with a marinara sauce, or on top of a salad.
- We used large shrimp for this recipe. You can use medium shrimp or jumbo shrimp if you want to, but you may need more egg wash and panko mixture.
- The process of breading the shrimp takes some time, so be patient.
- You can substitute breadcrumbs for the panko crumbs if desired.
