As Bubba from Forrest Gump famously knows, there’s more than one way to cook shrimp. He lists 21 ways to be precise, but he forgot one updated version…Air Fryer Fried Shrimp! This modern twist on a classic gives you all the crispy, golden goodness of deep-fried shrimp without the mess of hot oil. It’s easy, affordable, and completely irresistible. Trust me, this easy fried shrimp recipe deserves a spot as number 22 on Bubba’s list—air fryer shrimp is a total game-changer!
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Crispy Fried Shrimp in the Air Fryer
It only takes about 15 minutes to cook two batches of fried shrimp in the air fryer, and they come out perfectly crisp every time. I bread the shrimp in a simple mix of seasoned flour, egg wash, and Italian breadcrumbs, and they become golden and SO satisfying. It’s seriously one of the easiest ways to get your fried shrimp fix without making a big, greasy mess in the kitchen. Dunk these air fryer breaded shrimp in some cocktail sauce, and you’ve got a budget-friendly appetizer that still feels like a total treat!
Budget-Saving Tip
I was lucky to purchase the shrimp for this recipe with my Kroger membership and saved $1.01. The shrimp were originally $5.00, but I got them for $3.99! It’s worth checking the weekly deals, memberships, or loyalty programs at your local stores, because little savings like this really add up!
Air Fryer Fried Shrimp
Servings 2 servings (~11 shrimp per person)Ingredients
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (60g, $0.16)
- 1 Tbsp Old Bay seasoning ($0.35)
- 1 tsp garlic powder ($0.06)
- 1 tsp dried parsley ($0.05)
- ½ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.08)
- 1 egg (beaten, $0.33*)
- 1 Tbsp water ($0.00)
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs (30g, $0.33**)
- cooking spray ($0.01)
- 10 oz. frozen shrimp (large, thawed, (31-40 per lb., 283g) $3.99***)
Instructions
- Gather and prepare all ingredients.
- Grab 4 medium bowls or shallow dishes. In the first bowl, combine the flour, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, dried parsley, and pepper. In the second bowl, whisk together the egg and 1 Tbsp of water. In the third bowl, add the breadcrumbs. The last bowl will be for placing the breaded shrimp.
- Toss the thawed shrimp in the flour, coating all sides, then dip in the egg mixture to completely cover. Lastly, press the shrimp into breadcrumbs on both sides. Work in batches if needed, and place breaded shrimp in the final bowl until ready to air fry.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Arrange the breaded shrimp in a single layer. You will have to work in batches. Spray with nonstick spray and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Using tongs, carefully flip and spray the shrimp again, then cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Remove the fried shrimp and repeat the process until all the shrimp are done.
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Equipment
- Air Fryer
- 4 Mixing Bowls
Notes
Nutrition
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Gather all of your ingredients.
Prepare the breading station: Grab 4 medium-sized bowls or shallow dishes. In the first bowl (top left), add ½ cup flour, 1 Tbsp Old Bay seasoning, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried parsley, and ½ tsp black pepper. Mix to combine. Then in the second bowl (top right), beat 1 egg with 1 Tbsp water. Pour 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs into a third bowl (bottom left). Leave the last bowl empty.
Bread the shrimp: Toss 10 oz. large shrimp (thawed) in the flour mixture, making sure to coat all sides. Then dip the flour-coated shrimp in the egg wash, then into the breadcrumbs. Press the shrimp into the breadcrumbs on both sides. Place the breaded shrimp in the empty bowl and repeat until all shrimp are coated.
Air fry the shrimp: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place a single layer of breaded shrimp across the bottom of your air fryer basket. You will likely need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Spray the shrimp with nonstick cooking spray and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Use kitchen tongs to carefully flip the shrimp over. Cook for a further 3-4 minutes.
Once cooked and golden, remove the air fryer fried shrimp and repeat the process until all the shrimp are done. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Success Tips!
- I use large shrimp (31–40 per pound), and they cook up perfectly in 6–8 minutes per batch. You can use any size shrimp you like, but keep in mind that smaller shrimp will cook faster, while larger shrimp may take a little longer. Air fryer fried shrimp is fully cooked once the breading is golden and crispy, and the shrimp inside are opaque and firm to the touch (with a 145°F internal temp on a meat thermometer).
- Preheat the air fryer. I preheated my air fryer for a few minutes to help the breading get crispy right from the start.
- Cook your fried shrimp in batches! I cooked mine in two batches, keeping them in a single layer so the breading got extra crispy. Each batch took about 6–8 minutes, so I had two servings of perfectly golden shrimp in 16 minutes total.
- Flip your air fried breaded shrimp over halfway through cooking for even crispness all over!
- You can use frozen or fresh shrimp, with the tail on or off. I went with frozen tail-off shrimp, which I thawed myself following the package directions. My shrimp was also already peeled and deveined for convenience. If you pick up shell-on shrimp, you’ll have to peel and devein them yourself.
- I went with coastal classic flavors on the shrimp seasoning and chose Old Bay, but have fun, and raid your cabinets and season with what you have on hand! Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, or a smoky chipotle powder would be delicious twists!
Serving Suggestions
I go straight for my homemade cocktail sauce whenever I make this shrimp recipe…it’s the BEST dip for crispy fried shrimp (in my opinion 🙂). But a tartar sauce would be just as tasty if that’s more your style. You can also skip the dip and serve the shrimp right on top of a crisp Caesar salad, or toss them into a simple pasta like spaghetti aglio e olio. Or use them to make a shrimp po’ boy, piled high on a toasted roll with lettuce, tomato, and remoulade sauce!
Storage & Reheating
These air fryer fried shrimp are definitely at their best fresh, when the breading is super crispy and the shrimp are cooked just right. If you do have leftovers, stash them in the fridge for 2-3 days in an airtight container. When you’re ready to reheat, pop them back in the air fryer for about 5 minutes, flipping halfway, until they’re hot and crispy again and the internal temp reaches 165°F. Just be careful not to overdo it since shrimp can dry out fast.
