Air Fryer Shrimp (or Prawns!)
Make deliciously juicy shrimp (or prawns) in minutes with this air fryer shrimp recipe. They are unbelievably easy to prepare, and the cooking time is super fast, so they can be ready in around 15 minutes.
Air frying has to be the best way to cook shrimp (and I’ve tried a lot of methods over the years!). They turn out beautifully cooked – tender and juicy with deliciously crispy edges. Add them to tacos, salads, pasta, or snack on them straight from the basket!
For a crumbed version, see my recipe for air fryer popcorn shrimp. Or for some more air fryer seafood ideas, check out my recipes for air fryer white fish, and air fryer salmon.
Ingredients Notes
Shrimp/ Prawns
I used peeled, deveined raw large shrimp to make this recipe. However, you can also use prawns (see note below for more details). You can use jumbo shrimp, but the cooking times will be slightly longer.
If you want to use frozen shrimp, you will have to thaw them first. Keep them chilled until you are ready to cook, as they are highly perishable.
Shrimp vs Prawns
While there is a difference between shrimp and prawns, they are nearly identical in terms of taste and texture. To further complicate things, many countries (like the UK, Australia, and New Zealand) use the blanket word “prawns” to refer to both shrimp and prawns.
Luckily, the method is the same to air fry prawns or shrimp, so don’t stress about it too much.
Oil
I use light olive oil to make this recipe, which is my usual cooking oil for air frying. You can substitute another liquid cooking oil if you like, but be sure to choose one with a high smoke point, like corn oil, vegetable oil, or avocado oil.
Pro Tip
Choose a cooking oil with a high smoke point to reduce the chance of your air fryer smoking. Vegetable oil or avocado oil are good choices.
Seasoning
I like to season shrimp with my go-to homemade seasoning mix of paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. But you can make some additions to customize the recipe to your taste.
Try using smoked paprika for a smoky wood-grilled flavor, or adding ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or chili powder to make spicy shrimp (great for shrimp tacos). Alternatively, you could substitute lemon pepper seasoning or another favorite spice blend.
How to air fry shrimp
1. Preheat the air fryer.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/ 200°C. Preheating is important for this recipe because the air frying time is relatively short, and so you want it to be hot when you put the shrimp in.
If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat mode, just set it to air fry for 3-4 minutes.
2. Prepare the shrimp.
While the air fryer is preheating, pat the shrimp dry (this helps to get the crisp golden edges), then drizzle with oil, add the seasoning, and gently toss to coat.
Note: Only season the shrimp right before cooking. If they sit for too long in the seasoning, it can draw some of the moisture out of them making them less juicy and less crispy.
3. Pop them in the air fryer.
Place the shrimp in the air fryer basket in a single layer. It’s okay if they overlap a little, but try not to pile them on top of each other – the air needs to circulate so they cook evenly.
4. Air fry shrimp.
Air fry the shrimp for around 8-10 minutes, but keep a close eye on them! Shrimp are easy to overcook, so it is best to check on them regularly close to the end of the cooking time, to get them just right.
How long to cook shrimp in the air fryer
Shrimp cook very quickly in the air fryer, and from experience, they can go from perfectly juicy to overcooked and rubbery in just a couple of minutes, especially towards the end of cooking.
As a general guide:
- medium-sized shrimp will take about 6-8 minutes in the air fryer,
- larger ones may take 8-10 minutes, and
- jumbo shrimp will take more like 10-12 minutes.
The exact timing depends mostly on their size and how powerful your air fryer is.
Rather than relying on timings alone, it’s better to watch for doneness. The shrimp should turn pink on the outside and opaque through the middle, with a slight curl.
If you want to be precise, aim for an internal temperature of 145°F/ 63°C, which is the USDA recommended safe temperature for seafood.
The first time you make them, it’s worth checking a couple of minutes early and then every minute or so after that. You can always add a little more time, but once shrimp are overcooked, there’s no way to fix them.
Serving ideas
- Smother with lemon garlic butter sauce or top with garlic herb butter.
- Make shrimp tacos – add to warm corn or flour tortillas, a zesty slaw, and a dollop of guacamole.
- Add to your favorite pasta dish, like linguine with garlic and white wine sauce.
- Make a shrimp cocktail – serve the shrimp on a bed of crisp iceberg lettuce and smother them in a tangy cocktail sauce for a classic appetizer right out of the 80s!
Air Fryer Shrimp (or Prawns)
Ingredients
- 1 lb / 450 g shrimp or prawns [Note 1] large, peeled, deveined
- 2 tablespoons / 30 ml light olive oil [Note 2]
Seasoning [Note 3]
- 1 teaspoon / 2 g paprika
- 1 teaspoon / 3 g garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon / 3 g salt
- ¼ teaspoon / 0.5 g black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/ 200°C.
- Pat the prawns dry, then place in a bowl, add the oil and seasoning, and gently toss to coat.
- Place prawns in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Try not to overcrowd the basket.
- Air fry the prawns at 400°F/ 200°C for 8-10 minutes until they are just cooked through [Note 4] and golden brown. Check them frequently towards the end of the cooking time to ensure they don't get overcooked.
Notes
- You can use shrimp or prawns for this recipe. The cooking times in the recipe are calculated for large (31/40) shrimp, and will need to be adjusted up for larger shrimp, or down for smaller shrimp.
- Or substitute another liquid cooking oil with a high smoke point.
- Or you can use pre-made seasoning rub, use around 3 teaspoons.
- If unsure, check with an instant-read thermometer – they should be 145°F/ 63°C or higher all the way through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
Best recipe, wonderfull..
Sooooooo delicious!!! and so simple and easy to make. Tasted wonderful!! Will now always make my shrimp this way.
Delicious juicy prawns. Air frying is amazing! <3
Yum! Came out perfect.
Perfect! Thanks for another excellent recipe!