Having trouble deciding what to do with the bag of shrimp you have in the freezer’s back. You must try cooking frozen shrimp in the air fryer!
Even though this recipe only calls for five ingredients, it always comes out delicious. A little butter, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, and minced garlic really bring everything together. Although it’s less heavy than breaded shrimp, it’s still a delicious way to sate your shellfish craving!
Ingredients for Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
Only 3 ingredients are needed for this super-fast shrimp! The shrimp turn out delightfully tender and tasty on their own, so you don’t need much else!
- Frozen Shrimp – 1 pound of frozen shrimp. Even though this recipe calls for raw, frozen shrimp, you can air fry some cooked, breaded, or raw shrimp that hasn’t yet defrosted. Take a look at my recipe notes!
- Coconut Oil – 1 teaspoon of coconut oil (spray bottle or drizzled). Alternatively, use your preferred cooking oil. I use a small manual pump spray bottle or brush my air fryer basket with oil directly using a pastry brush (or simply grab a paper towel or napkin).
- Sea Salt – 1 teaspoon sea salt. Sea salt really complements seafood, but you can use any salt or seasonings you like. Check out my variations for some ideas.
- Lemon Wedges – 2-4 lemon wedges (optional). Lemon wedges, lemon juice, or a dipping sauce that includes lemon just go hand-in-hand with shrimp (and seafood in general)!
- Cocktail Sauce – (optional) If desired, top the dish with your preferred cocktail sauce.
Variations
Cajun – Drizzle the cooked shrimp with some olive oil, then add some of my Cajun seasonings and toss the shrimp until well-coated. Yummy!
Dynamite – Use my amazing dynamite (bang bang) sauce to toss the shrimp with! Creamy, tangy goodness!
Lemon Pepper – Use the zest and juice from a lemon to toss the cooked shrimp in, and season with freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Also Read: 20+ Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes 2023 – Tasty & Delicious
How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
This easy air fryer recipe couldn’t be simpler! An air fryer and some silicone kitchen tongs are all that are required.
1 pound of frozen shrimp makes about 4 servings. Just remember to work in batches and there will always be more to make!
- Prepare. For the best shrimp, do start out by preheating your air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Lightly oil your air fryer basket or trays using spray or a pastry brush to apply the cooking oil.
- Transfer. Open the bag of frozen shrimp and transfer them into your air fryer basket or trays. Knock off any big pieces of ice.
- Spread in a single layer. Arrange shrimp in a single even layer in your basket or on the rack (depending on your model). Be sure that the shrimp are not too crowded or overlapped too much (a bit is OK).
- Air fry. Cook at 400°F (204°C) for approximately 4-5 minutes, then remove the basket or trays and use a pair of kitchen tongs or fork to turn over all the shrimp.
- Finish cooking. Return the basket or tray(s) to your air fryer and continue cooking at 400°F (204°C) for another 4-5 minutes. If not fully cooked, add 1-2 minutes.
- Cool and serve. Once the shrimp are fully cooked, remove the basket or trays carefully (it’s hot!) and allow to cool slightly before serving.
Dipping sauces like my drawn butter or Bloves sauce will make this simple shrimp the perfect appetizer or snack! Make it a filling seafood meal by serving up some smoked salmon fettuccine Alfredo as the main course after your shrimp! Enjoy!
Can I Cook Frozen Shrimp With Its Shell in the Air Fryer?
Without a doubt! I cook frozen shrimp in the air fryer without taking the trouble to remove the shells. The shrimp cook a little plumper, in my opinion, and it’s so simple to remove the shells once they’re done.
Can I Cook Frozen Raw Shrimp in the Air Fryer?
You bet! Just increase the cooking time to 8 to 10 minutes to ensure the shrimp are fully done. They must have a pink exterior and be completely opaque inside.
Other Seasonings to Try on Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
My favorite way to prepare air-fry frozen shrimp is simply with some Old Bay seasoning, butter, lemon, and garlic. But by all means, feel free to use a little more imagination!
Cumin, smoked paprika, or Italian seasoning would all taste great together. A little cayenne pepper or chili powder can be added for some extra spiciness. Fresh herbs like dill, cilantro, and parsley are also great additions to cooked shrimp!
How Do You Know When Shrimp is Done?
The skin should be pink with red tails when it has been cooked properly. The flesh should appear somewhat opaque and somewhat white. The shrimp were probably overcooked if it is bright white in color.
You have to watch them carefully because there is a thin line between perfect and overdone.
For best results, allow to cool sufficiently to remove shells and consume right away.
Tips & Recipe Notes
- Oil your air fryer basket or trays using spray oil or a pastry brush to lightly coat the air fryer basket or trays to prevent the shrimp from sticking. Make sure to AVOID using non-stick cooking sprays that are aerosolized. The coating on the air fryer is harmed by this kind of spray oil.
- No need to thaw your frozen shrimp!
- Make sure to leave room for the air to circulate (without crowding your shrimp).
- For the best results and evenly cooked shrimp, be sure to arrange them in a single layer (as much as possible, some minor overlapping is OK) in the basket or tray.
- All cooking times are approximate and may vary slightly based on your particular air fryer model.
Storing & Reheating
Transfer the cooked shrimp from the air fryer to a shallow airtight container after it has cooled completely. Your leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days maximum in an airtight container.
Freezing
While I don’t recommend refreezing cooked shrimp (that was previously frozen) due to the texture and flavor loss, it can be done! Cooked shrimp should be fully cooled to room temperature, then spread out evenly on a baking sheet.
Reheating Air Fryer Shrimp
The best way to reheat your air fryer shrimp is…in the air fryer! Preheat your air fryer to 300°F (149°C) then spread the shrimp in an even layer in your lightly oiled air fryer basket. After 2 minutes of heating, flip the shrimp over and cook for an additional 1–2 minutes, or until the shrimp is thoroughly warmed.
Cooking Times
Cooking times are all approximations. However, in general, your air fryer shrimp should be done when cooked at the suggested temps and times given in the chart below.
| Type of Shrimp | Cooking Time |
|---|---|
| Frozen, Cooked Shrimp | 5 minutes |
| Frozen, Raw Shrimp | 10 minutes |
| Frozen, Breaded Shrimp | 10 minutes |
| Fresh, Raw Shrimp | 5 minutes |
The timings given are for air frying one pound of frozen shrimp at 400°F (205°C). For best results, turn your shrimp over halfway through the cooking process.
Add up to 2-4 minutes of cooking time if your frozen shrimp was stored in a chest freezer.
FAQs
How Can You Tell If the Shrimp is Done?
When the shrimp have cooked for 8 to 10 minutes, remove the basket and check to see if the shrimp are opaque and pink. If not, cook them for an extra one to two minutes.
Should I Thaw the Frozen Shrimp before Cooking?
You don’t have to! This recipe turns frozen raw shrimp into cooked shrimp in just 10 minutes. Cook the shrimp for 3 to 5 minutes if you do decide to thaw them for this recipe.
Can I Use Fresh Shrimp That Isn’t Frozen?
If you don’t have a bag of frozen shrimp in your freezer, you can definitely use fresh shrimp instead. Cook them at 400°F (204°C) for 5 minutes.
Try the following Air Fryer recipes if you are interested!
