My super simple yet flavorful air fryer shrimp is so easy that I just toss the ingredients in a bag and then air fry them!
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My Favorite Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe
This recipe was created when I just wanted to make something super simple for dinner. Ambitious me thawed some shrimp overnight and decided I didn’t really want to cook for dinner after a busy day.
I ended up tossing all of the ingredients in a Ziploc bag then cooked them in the air fryer. And, my recipe turned out so good that I just had to share it with my readers.
The flavors are on point, and the air fryer actually does a great job cooking the shrimp evenly.
And, if you love a good air fryer shrimp recipe, try my air fryer recipes for bacon-wrapped shrimp, frozen shrimp, coconut shrimp, and popcorn shrimp.
Ingredients for Air Fry Shrimp
- Raw shrimp peeled and deveined – I’ve used small, medium, and jumbo shrimp
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice – I’ve used fresh and bottled juice
- Black pepper
- Salt
Why this is an everyday recipe that you’ll love
This air fryer shrimp recipe has minimal ingredients and hardly any prep. It’s also low-carb and keto-friendly which makes it great for a light dinner option. It packs a ton of flavor and is done air frying in just 8 minutes. I also like to say it’s a one-pan meal because I just throw away the Ziploc bag after I mix the ingredients with the shrimp!
How to Cook Shrimp in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
STEP TWO: Place the shrimp in a Ziploc bag with oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and coat the shrimp.
STEP THREE: Arrange the raw shrimp in the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer, air frying shrimp for 7-9 minutes, turning them halfway through.
STEP FOUR: Remove shrimp from the air fryer and enjoy immediately.
TIPS For Cooking Shrimp In the Air Fryer
- Use a Ziploc bag instead of a bowl as raw shrimp can be very fragile. I find it works well to lightly massage the oil and seasonings into the shrimp.
- Use medium raw shrimp that has been peeled, deveined, and tails kept on or trimmed off for the timing listed in my recipe.
- Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel before tossing them in the oil and other ingredients. This allows the oil to stick to the shrimp, making it crispy and flavorful.
- The shrimp is completely cooked when the shells turn pink and the shrimp is just slightly white, but still a little opaque.
- Air fry shrimp in a single layer with the shrimp not touching for even cooking. If I need to make extra shrimp, I air fry it in batches.
- Use a silicone liner to help prevent sticking and make clean up easier.
- Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Variations for Air Fryer Shrimp
- Use Old Bay seasoning in place of lemon pepper spices. I love this flavor change up.
- Coat the shrimp with butter and garlic powder for a nice butter garlic sauce.
- Add BBQ sauce to the shrimp in the last few minutes of cooking.
- Add parmesan cheese to the marinade or sprinkle it on top.
- Try cooking shrimp in the air fryer with the shell on using these same directions — but let the shrimp sit in the marinade for at least 20 minutes.
- Use store-bought lemon pepper seasoning in place of freshly juiced lemon and pepper. I love doing this when I have that seasoning on hand.
ways to Use Air Fried Shrimp
I love serving this recipe on top of hot buttered noodles or on salad with lettuce to keep things simple. I also love adding it to fajitas, tacos, sandwiches, and even grits or rice bowls. If I want to keep things super light or serve it as an appetizer, I pair it with a homemade cocktail sauce, guacamole, or tzatziki sauce for dipping.
Recipes To Serve alongside Shrimp
On a normal weeknight I love to pair this shrimp with some air fryer vegetables, portobello mushrooms, air fryer asparagus, or air fryer frozen green beans along with some noodles and Texas toast.
If I have a little more time, I will make some acorn squash, air fryer sliced potatoes, or air fryer spaghetti squash to go with it.
Air Fryer Shrimp FAQs
How Long TO Cook Shrimp in the Air Fryer
- Small shrimp takes just 5 to 7 minutes to cook.
- Medium shrimp takes about 7 to 9 minutes to air fry.
- Jumbo shrimp needs an additional few minutes to cook since it’s larger. I find jumbo shrimp or prawns typically cooks in 9 to 11 minutes.
How to Cook Frozen Shrimp in the Air Fryer
I recommend using fresh thawed shrimp whenever possible for the best flavor. But, I have cooked raw frozen shrimp in the air fryer plenty of times. I just cook it in a preheated air fryer at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Precooked shrimp only takes about 5 minutes.
How To Reheat Shrimp in the Air Fryer
I reheat any leftover shrimp in an air fryer preheated at 350 degrees for about 2 to 3 minutes until warmed thorough.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- Air Fryer Bacon
- Air Fryer Pork Loin
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Air Fryer Hot Dogs
- Air Fryer Frozen Hamburgers
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Easy Air Fryer Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Place the shrimp in a Ziploc bag with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Carefully combine all ingredients.
- Add parchment paper round (if using) and place the raw shrimp inside the air fryer in one layer.
- Cook for about 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. The shrimp are done when the shrimp turns bright pink but is still just slightly white, but still a little opaque.
- Remove the shrimp from the air fryer and enjoy!
Notes
- Reheat leftovers in a preheated air fryer at 350 degrees for 2-3 minutes, until warmed.
- Cook frozen raw shrimp in a preheated air fryer at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
- Cooking times:
- Small shrimp: 5 to 7 minutes
- Medium shrimp: 7 to 9 minutes
- Large/jumbo shrimp: 9 to 11 minutes
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
do the calories per serving include the pasta? it seems high if it is only for .25 pounds/113 g of shrimp only
Hi A, great question! The calories can be dependent on a few things, so I always recommend calculating using your own products, but the count is higher on this recipe because of the use of olive oil. Since not all of the olive oil is used and is more used for coating the shrimp, the calories will be slightly lower than listed.
Hi, how do I cook if I have the air fryer with trays?
Hi Lisa, you would cook the recipe just the same, but place it on the tray instead of the basket. Any recipe that says to shake, just use a spatula to turn the food.
so the pasta has no sauce?
I used buttered noodles as a pairing, but that is an optional side with it.
This didn’t turn out good at all way to much oil hardly any seasoning I took it out of the oil and reseasoned it. I’m sure 1/4 cup of oil is plenty. I dumped at least that much out. The end result wasn’t very good at all. Sorry not a fan.
I’m really sorry to hear that your dish didn’t turn out as expected. Playing around with the oil and seasoning according to your taste can really change things up. If you give it another shot, I hope it works out better for you. Your feedback means a lot, and I appreciate your honesty.