This
I don’t want to turn on the oven or use my stove on hot days. But luckily, my
This
It’s easy to whip up some extra protein to add to a salad or serve as an appetizer for guests.
Trust me, you’ll love using your
Craving more shrimp recipes? Try my Shrimp Corn Chowder, Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi, Crispy
Table of Contents
Ingredients for air fryer shrimp
- Olive oil – We’ll initially use olive oil as the fat to cook the shrimp.
- Peeled and deveined shrimp – Peeled and deveined shrimp can be found easily at most major grocery stores!
- Melted butter – We’ll use butter to slather the shrimp to make them extra juicy.
- Lemon juice – Bright and fresh, lemon juice brings a burst of citrus.
- Garlic – A traditional ingredient that will add earthiness to the dish.
How to cook shrimp in the air fryer
Making this shrimp is so deliciously simple!
- Season your shrimp with kosher salt and black pepper.
- Add to your
air fryer basket and start cooking. - Add melted butter, lemon juice, grated garlic, and thyme in a shallow bowl and mix.
- Brush the shrimp with a garlic butter mixture.
- Continue to cook until fully cooked.
Ways to use cooked shrimp
I’m happy to eat these shrimp straight from the
I think they would go great with Vietnamese Zoodle Noodle Salad, nestled in a tortilla for Shrimp Tacos with Apple Pomegranate Salsa, added to Lemon Zucchini Pasta, or topped with guacamole in my Chipotle Shrimp Fajita Bowls with rice.
What to serve with air fryer garlic shrimp
Making up a batch of this
You can easily serve them along with your favorite
You can also cook them as meal prep for your week. Cool them to room temperature, and store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to three days.
Variations and adaptations
This recipe, as written, is citrus-packed with a hint of garlic and fresh herbs.
However, if you’re looking for a few options, here are some great flavor combinations!
- Tex-Mex – mix it with lime juice and spices like cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, and cilantro.
- Italian – toss with lemon juice, Italian seasoning blend, garlic powder, and finish with Parmesan cheese.
- Asian – mix and toss with lime juice, soy sauce, fish sauce, lemongrass, ginger, and garlic.
- Cajun – toss with lemon juice and cajun seasoning.
- Lemon pepper – mix with fresh lemon juice and lots of lemon pepper seasoning.
Air Fryer FAQ
The best shrimp to use
I’m using medium-sized shrimp here, but you can ideally use whatever size shrimp you have on hand or personally like.
You may need to adjust the cooking time using larger or jumbo shrimp. Larger shrimp will take longer to cook fully.
Shrimp are fully cooked when they curl up, turn pink, and reach 145 degrees F in the middle when tested with an instant-read thermometer.
Using frozen shrimp
You can use frozen shrimp, but let it fully thaw before cooking.
Storage and leftovers
Cool the
More air fryer recipes
- Looking for another simple protein? Try my Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
- Want more seafood? Try my Air Fryer Crab Cakes.
- Need an appetizer for game day? Try my Air Fryer Honey Mustard Chicken Wings.
- Craving Mexican food? Try my Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos.
Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium-sized shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 2 cloves fresh garlic grated or finely minced
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
Instructions
- Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel and drizzle them with olive oil.
- Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Place the shrimp in a single layer and air fry at 400 degrees F for 6 minutes.
- While the shrimp cook, whisk together the melted butter, lemon juice, grated garlic, and minced thyme.
- When the air fryer has finished, brush each shrimp with garlic butter and air fry at 400 degrees F for another 1-2 minutes, or until the shrimp are bright pink and no longer limp to the touch.
- Enjoy these shrimp with cocktail sauce, on a salad, or with your favorite sides.
- Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.
Notes
- Medium shrimp is sized at 21-25 shrimp per pound.
- You can use larger-sized shrimp, but you will need to cook the shrimp for a minute to a few minutes longer, depending on size.
- I used frozen peeled and deveined shrimp to make this recipe even easier.
Natalie
Tuesday 27th of September 2022
I just made my first shrimps in an air fryer. Thank you for a thorough guide and a great recipe!