Air Fryer Shrimp

Juicy and perfectly seasoned, Air Fryer Shrimp are a quick appetizer or effortless salad topper. Glossed with olive oil and coated in lemon zest, dill, and paprika, they cook up tender and lightly browned in minutes.

This air fryer shrimp recipe is my new favorite way to dress up a salad or round out a pasta dinner. I, like many of you I’m sure, first got an air fryer envisioning crunchy falafel, mess-free chicken wings, and other snacky bits. The biggest surprise is that it has become among my favorite tools for cooking seafood, especially on weeknights when I’m multitasking to get dinner together quickly. 

The circulation of hot air inside an air fryer is surprisingly good at cooking delicate shrimp. At a high temperature setting, you can get browning just as nice as the direct heat of a frying pan, and the results are more even.  

This is the kind of recipe that works well as a supporting player or a standalone appetizer. Serve the shrimp hot, straight from the air fryer, with a squeeze of lemon, or add them onto salads, grain bowls, or pastas. 

Just as with my Air Fryer Salmon recipe, a key to achieving good color on the shrimp is avoiding moisture so there’s no marinating required. Just grab a few spice cabinet staples and they’re ready to go!

Table of Contents

1. Ingredients for Air Fryer Shrimp
2. Ingredient Spotlight
3. How to Make Air Fryer Shrimp
4. How Long to Cook Shrimp in an Air Fryer?
5. Make It Your Own
6. What to Serve with Air Fryer Shrimp
7. More Fast Shrimp Dinner Ideas
8. Air Fryer Shrimp  Recipe

Ingredients for Air Fryer Shrimp

A short list of pantry staples transforms frozen shrimp into something special. Here’s what you’ll need to make this quick, flavorful dish.

• Shrimp: One key factor in this recipe is that the shrimp must be large. Smaller shrimp will overcook too quickly. I recommend using extra jumbo shrimp (16-20 per pound). Start with whole, frozen shrimp, defrosted in the refrigerator overnight, then peeled and deveined. If you plan to serve them as an appetizer, leave the tails on. If you’re adding them to a dish you’ll eat with utensils, remove the tails before cooking.
  • READ MORE: Our guide to buying, prepping, and cooking shrimp
• Extra virgin olive oil helps the spices stick so the air fryer fan doesn’t blow them off. And yes, it’s safe to cook with extra virgin olive oil at high temperatures and in the air fryer. Read more in our full guide to Cooking With Olive Oil. 
• Lemon zest adds brightness and a citrusy aroma that complements the flavor of the shrimp without adding moisture, which inhibits browning, or acid, which can make the shrimp mushy. 
• Dill weed, aka dried dill, adds a mild, grassy flavor that pairs beautifully with seafood. This is a rare case where I prefer dried over fresh because it sticks well to the shrimp and it avoids adding moisture. If you have fresh dill, a finishing sprinkle on the cooked shrimp is also nice!
• Paprika gives the shrimp an appealing orange color. You can use either sweet or smoked, either will work. More on this versatile pepper powder below! 
• Garlic powder: Minced garlic can burn quickly in an air fryer, so I prefer garlic powder to add that savory, sharp flavor. 
• Kosher salt boosts the flavor of the spices and the shrimp.
• Freshly ground black pepper gives the wet rub for the shrimp a pleasant warmth. 
• Baking soda (optional) might seem like a strange addition to a seafood recipe, but adding a tiny bit to the shrimp increases the pH, which helps them stay plump and juicy as they cook. You can skip it if you like.

Ingredient Spotlight

Made from dried and ground red chili peppers, Spanish paprika is one of our go-to Mediterranean peppers. It adds rich red-orange color and depth to anything it touches. Sweet paprika has a mild red pepper sweetness, while smoked paprika gives the shrimp a subtle, smoky depth. Either works in this recipe—your call which to use! 

• TRY IT: Sweet Spanish Paprika or Smoked Spanish Paprika 
• BEST SUBSTITUTE: If you’re out of Spanish paprika, try Hungarian paprika for color, or swap smoked paprika with a touch of chipotle or chili powder for a similar smoky kick.

How to Make Air Fryer Shrimp

You don’t need to plan marinating time to make this air fryer shrimp recipe. Just a few moments while your air fryer preheats is enough! Here’s the whole process: 

• Mix the wet rub. In a large bowl combine 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, the zest of 1 lemon, 1 teaspoon dill weed, 1 teaspoon sweet or smoked Spanish paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and a big pinch each of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, if using. Whisk to combine. 
• Prep the shrimp. Peel and devein 2 pounds raw extra jumbo (16-20) shrimp, and pat them dry. Add them to the olive oil mixture, turning to completely coat them. 
• Air fry the shrimp. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Transfer the shrimp to the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each one. Air fry the shrimp until they are pink throughout, curled, and beginning to brown at the edges, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Serve. While the shrimp cooks, cut the lemon into wedges. Serve the air-fried shrimp with the lemon wedges for squeezing and chopped fresh dill, if you like.  

How Long to Cook Shrimp in an Air Fryer?

Even extra jumbo shrimp (16-20 per pound) take only 5 to 6 minutes to cook in a 400°F air fryer, which is why it’s important to choose large shrimp for this recipe to ensure they stay juicy inside even as they begin to brown.

Make It Your Own

This air fryer shrimp recipe is hugely versatile. In fact, you could change up the herbs and spices entirely and just follow this recipe as guidelines for the cook time and temperature. Here are a few ideas for how to change it up. 

• Dry brine the shrimp: If you have time, toss the raw, peeled shrimp in the baking soda and salt. Let them brine for about 10 or 15 minutes before adding the olive oil and spices. This extra brining time will increase the impact of the baking soda, resulting in shrimp with an even juicier, snappier texture. 
• Add some heat: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix for a more pronounced warmth.
• Swap the citrus: Swap the lemon zest for lime or orange zest to change up the flavor profile.
• Try a different herb: Replace dill with dried Greek oregano, thyme, basil or Italian Seasoning for a different aromatic touch.
• Add a crispy coating: Toss the shrimp in a light dusting of cornstarch before air frying for an extra-crispy exterior.
• Swap the spices: Replace the paprika with smoky ground cumin, a spice blend like ras el hanout, or any other spice that lines up with the dishes you plan to serve with the shrimp. 

What to Serve with Air Fryer Shrimp

Air fryer shrimp are great on top of a salad, mixed into pasta, or served with rice pilaf and sautéed vegetables for a well-rounded meal. While developing this recipe, my family loved them with Lemon Pasta and Blanched Asparagus and also atop Classic Caesar Salad. I think they’d also make an excellent addition to a brown rice bowl.

If I’m serving them on their own as an appetizer, they make a great match for garlic aioli for dipping. For sipping, add a nice cold Aperol Spritz. Bright, bubbly, and just the right amount of bitter, it’s the perfect citrusy drink alongside the crispy shrimp. 

Because Air Fryer Shrimp cook so quickly, I recommend having the rest of your meal prepared before adding them to the air fryer so they don’t get cold! 

More Fast Shrimp Dinner Ideas

Entree

Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe

Fish and Seafood

Shrimp and Orzo in a Garlic Tomato Sauce

Fish and Seafood

20-Minute Shrimp Fra Diavolo

Spanish

Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp)

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