Craving shellfish but short on time? Try making frozen shrimp in the air fryer! This 5-ingredient recipe can be ready in less than 20 minutes and tastes absolutely amazing.
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Frozen Shrimp in Air Fryer
Not sure what to do with that bag of shrimp hanging out in the back of your freezer? You have to try making frozen shrimp in the air fryer!
This 5-ingredient recipe is so simple, but turns out so delicious every time. A little butter, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, and minced garlic really brings everything together. It’s lighter than breaded shrimp, but still a delicious way to satisfy your craving for shellfish!
Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:
- The easiest method for cooking frozen shrimp in the air fryer
- Other seasonings to try for this dish
- How to adjust the recipe if you want to cook frozen raw shrimp in the air fryer
- What to serve with your shrimp
- Tips to make the most delicious air fryer frozen shrimp
Best of all, you can go from freezer to table in less than 20 minutes! So whether you have unexpected guests stopping by or just want to enjoy a nice family meal that doesn’t take forever to make, you have to give this air fryer frozen shrimp a try. It’s the perfect recipe to keep in your back pocket!
What You’ll Need for Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
- Frozen Shrimp – large, preferably pre-cooked
- Butter – unsalted and melted
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Lemon Juice – freshly squeezed is best
- Minced Garlic
How to Cook Frozen Shrimp in Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Heat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.
STEP TWO: Break apart any frozen shrimp, then add them to a large bowl with butter, Old Bay, lemon juice, and minced garlic.
STEP THREE: Stir to combine, making sure to coat all of the shrimp.
STEP FOUR: Lay the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket, cooking in batches if necessary.
STEP FIVE: Cook for 6 to 7 minutes. Repeat with any remaining shrimp.
How Long to Cook Frozen Shrimp in Air Fryer
This is going to depend on a few factors like the size of the shrimp, if they are pre-cooked or raw, and whether or not they’re breaded. For example, if you’re making SeaPak butterfly shrimp, these will take longer due to the size and breading.
For pre-cooked frozen shrimp without breading, I find 6 to 7 minutes to be the perfect amount of time. You want to cook your prawns until they are opaque all the way through and have a nice pink color on the outside.
Air Fry Shrimp Frozen Recipe tips
- Cook the shrimp in a single layer without any overlap. My air fryer was able to fit about half a pound at a time.
- Leave the shells on while air frying as they will actually add a bit of flavor and result in plumper, better-looking finished shrimp.
- Add a fresh squeeze of lemon juice right before serving.
Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp Seasoning Ideas
I really like keeping my air fried frozen shrimp simple with some Old Bay seasoning, butter, lemon, and garlic. But if you want to get a little more creative, go right ahead!
Italian seasoning, cumin, or smoked paprika would all add a nice pop of flavor. For some extra heat, try mixing in a little cayenne pepper or chili powder. You can also top the cooked shrimp with fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or dill!
What to Serve with this Frozen Shrimp Air Fryer Recipe
Air Fryer Shrimp Frozen FAQs
Absolutely! I don’t bother removing the shells before cooking frozen shrimp in the air fryer. I think the shrimp actually cook a little plumper, plus it’s so easy to take off the shells after they’re cooked!
You bet! Just increase the cooking time to 8 to 10 minutes to ensure the shrimp are fully done. They should be pink on the outside and opaque all the way through.
The easiest way to tell if shrimp is fully cooked is by checking the color, shape, and texture.
When air fried shrimp is perfectly cooked, it will be opaque with a pink to orange color, depending on the variety.
The texture of your shrimp should be soft and tender, and the tails should gently curve inward.
Visual cues are usually enough, but using a meat thermometer is always a great option. For best food safety practices, air fry frozen shrimp to a temperature of at least 145 degrees F.
Overcooking shrimp is a surefire way to end up with tough, rubbery shrimp, whether you are cooking frozen shrimp air fryer style, on the stovetop, or the grill.
To avoid a tough texture, air fry shrimp, frozen or fresh, until they are just fully cooked, and then promptly remove them from heat.
I recommend seasoning shrimp before air frying it, even when the shrimp is frozen.
Toss in a mix of melted butter, spices, and lemon before adding them to the basket. After cooking, an extra splash of lemon juice is a great way to enhance the flavor even more.
Work quickly since the frozen shrimp can start freezing the butter after a minute or so.
More like this Air Fry Frozen Shrimp
- Air Fryer Shrimp with Lemon and Pepper
- Coconut Shrimp in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
- Air Fryer Shrimp Tempura
- Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp in the Air Fryer
- Crispy Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Shrimp
- Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
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Frozen Shrimp in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen cooked large shrimp
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Instructions
- Heat air fryer to 350 degrees F.
- Break apart frozen shrimp and place the shrimp, butter, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, and garlic in a large bowl. Stir to combine and coat all of the shrimp.
- In a single layer lay your shrimp (about ½ a pound per batch) and cook for 6 to 7 minutes until fully heated.
Video
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.
Are they still frozen when you cook?
Yes, they are frozen when you put them in the air fryer to cook.
Great information! I was reticent to make them so I had them for a while in the freezer, I stumbled over everydayfamilycooking and love it, saved! Now, I am going to have a feast!
– Filip
my shrimp are raw how long in air fryer?
Hi Reba,
Make sure that the shrimp is laid in a single layer in the air fryer basket, cooking in batches if necessary. If your shrimp is still raw, increasing cooking time will help with that.
It worked! I was skeptical cooking from frozen state, but the results were perfect after adding another minute. My shrimp were 26/30 size.