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Air Fryer Shrimp

This air fryer shrimp is an easy and quick way to cook up delicious buttery, garlicky shrimp for any appetizer or main course!

Air Fryer Shrimp in a bowl with a serving spoon.

I don’t want to turn on the oven or use my stove on hot days. But luckily, my air fryer makes cooking on hot days a breeze!

This air fryer shrimp cooks plump, garlicky, sweet, and juicy shrimp every time!

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 air fryer to make this air fryer shrimp!

Craving more shrimp recipes? Try my Shrimp Corn Chowder, Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi, Crispy Air Fryer Shrimp (made with panko breadcrumbs!), or my Cajun Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo.

Air Fryer Shrimp ingredients on a table.

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!

  1. Season your shrimp with kosher salt and black pepper.
  2. Add to your air fryer basket and start cooking.
  3. Add melted butter, lemon juice, grated garlic, and thyme in a shallow bowl and mix.
  4. Brush the shrimp with a garlic butter mixture.
  5. Continue to cook until fully cooked.
Uncooked shrimp in an air fryer basket.
Air Fryer Shrimp in an air fryer basket.

Ways to use cooked shrimp

I’m happy to eat these shrimp straight from the air fryer, BUT if you’re looking for a way to use them in dishes, I have you covered!

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 air fryer garlic shrimp offers many possibilities!

You can easily serve them along with your favorite air fryer sides like my air fryer smashed potatoes or air fryer brussels sprouts

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. 

Air Fryer Shrimp in a bowl with lemon.

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

An air fryer is a tabletop convection oven.
It mimics the outcome of a deep-fat fryer but without oil. Hot hair is moved around via a fan that quickly and crisply cooks the food. The two most common air fryers you’ll see are basket-style (that is what I have) or convection/toaster oven-style. There are pluses to both, but I prefer my basket style.

I prefer the basket-style air fryer as it’s smaller and takes up less room than the toaster oven-style air fryer. My biggest tip regarding air fryers is to pick a style that will work best for your family and the amount of food you will cook. My large basket-style air fryer can cook up to 12 wings, 2-4 servings of french fries, etc., which works well for my household.

The answer to this will depend on your brand. It is ALWAYS best to double-check all brand recommendations by reading your user manual or visiting their website and seeing if they address this question on their site. My air fryer brand is basket style, and the outer and inner baskets are dishwasher safe.

Air Fryer Shrimp sprinkled with fresh thyme.

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 air fryer shrimp to room temp, and store it in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Air Fryer Shrimp served with lemon slices.

More air fryer recipes

Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe

This air fryer shrimp is an easy and quick way to cook up delicious buttery, garlicky shrimp for any appetizer or main course!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 servings

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. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 270mg | Sodium: 1154mg
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword air fried shrimp, air fryer garlic shrimp, air fryer shrimp, garlic herb shrimp, shrimp in the air fryer
Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment and 5 star review!
Air Fryer Shrimp pin for Pinterest.
Brandy

About Brandy!

I am a food lover and recipe developer bringing you delicious recipes that taste great and are easy to make! My food is inspired by travels around the world and my love of flavorful food. A list of things that make me happy: cats, Coke Zero, houseplants, and travel. Read more...

Recipe Rating




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!

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