Air Fryer Shrimp (no breading)
Air fryer Shrimp (no breading) is one of my favorite things to eat as an appetizer, snack, or add to tacos, noodles, and pasta.
This quick, easy way to cook shrimp changed my cooking game as this air fryer shrimp with no breading recipe takes only 5 minutes to make.
This is an easy way to cook shrimp in the air fryer, and I have found this recipe useful when I have a guest over and do not know what to serve as an appetizer.
This is not just delicious, but it gets ready within 5 minutes. Yes, it takes just 5 minutes to cook shrimp in the air fryer(depending on how big the shrimp is!).
You can use fresh or frozen shrimp for this recipe because both taste equally good. I have used raw shrimp and not precooked shrimp for this recipe.
Table of Contents
Ingredients:
- 1/2 pound (about 225g) medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1/4 tablespoon cumin powder (or seasoning of your choice)
- Cooking spray or olive oil
How to make air fryer shrimp
Prepare the Shrimp: Ensure the shrimp are peeled and deveined. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
Patting them dry will help the seasoning stick better and not mix with the moisture and get diluted.
Season the Shrimp: In a bowl, mix salt, black pepper, paprika, and cumin powder (or your preferred seasoning).
Make sure you use the seasoning to your liking, and you can switch one for another depending on your taste. You can add garlic/onion powder to give it more flavor.
Coat the Shrimp: Mix the dry seasoning with all the shrimp and ensure they all come in contact with the seasoning. Make sure to coat the shrimp evenly with the seasoning.
Line your air fryer with parchment paper- This is an important step for this recipe because it will get messy with all that seasoned shrimp cooking on the air fryer.
It is optional, but you can spray some cooking oil in the air fryer basket or brush the shrimp lightly with olive oil to prevent it from sticking.
Air Fry the Shrimp: Place the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 200°C (392°F) for 5 minutes.
Check and Adjust: Pause the air fryer at the 5-minute mark and check the shrimp. If they form a ‘C’ shape, they are perfectly cooked. If they form an ‘O’ shape, they are overcooked.
If needed, you can cook for an additional minute, but be cautious not to overcook.
Serve: Remove the shrimp from the air fryer once cooked to perfection.
Serve them with your favorite dip, or use them as toppings for tacos, noodles, or pizza. Enjoy!
Do you need to thaw frozen shrimp before air frying?
No, you do not need to thaw frozen shrimp before air frying. Shrimps can cook quickly; hence, the fact that it is frozen will give you more time to cook the shrimp without drying it.
This helps the shrimp retain its moisture so that it does not get dry, and you get nice, juicy, perfect results for your air fryer shrimp.
Best Dipping Sauces for Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
Some of the best sauces that go well with these air fried shrimps are-
- Classic Cocktail Sauce
- Garlic Aioli
- Lemon Herb Butter Sauce
- Spicy Sriracha Mayo
- Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce
- Tartar Sauce
- Remoulade Sauce
- Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
- Soy Ginger Dipping Sauce
- Bang Bang Sauce
Recipes to make with Air Fryer Shrimp
Shrimp Tacos: Fill soft taco shells with marinated shrimp, and add toppings like shredded cabbage, salsa, avocado, and lime wedges.
Shrimp Salad: Toss marinated shrimp into a fresh salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a light vinaigrette dressing.
Shrimp Pasta: Mix marinated shrimp with cooked pasta and a sauce of your choice, such as garlic butter, pesto, or tomato sauce.
Shrimp Sandwich: Create a shrimp sandwich with marinated shrimp, lettuce, tomato, and your favorite condiments on a crusty baguette or a soft roll.
Shrimp and Rice Bowls: Combine marinated shrimp with cooked rice, sautéed vegetables, and a drizzle of soy sauce or teriyaki sauce.
Shrimp Cocktail: Arrange chilled marinated shrimp on a platter with cocktail sauce, lemon wedges, and fresh herbs for a classic shrimp cocktail.
Shrimp Wraps: Roll marinated shrimp in tortillas with sliced avocado, lettuce, and a squeeze of lime for a light and flavorful wrap.
Shrimp Fried Rice: Stir-fried marinated shrimp with cooked rice, vegetables, and scrambled eggs for a tasty shrimp fried rice dish.
How to store leftover Air Fryer Shrimp?
It is easier to store leftover air fryer shrimp. You can refrigerate leftover air-fried shrimp for up to 2-3 days.
If you want to store the shrimp longer, consider freezing them. Place the cooled shrimp on a baking sheet or a plate and freeze until solid to avoid the shrimp from sticking together.
Transfer the frozen shrimp to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Remove as much air as possible before sealing. Label the container with the date for reference. Frozen air-fried shrimp can be stored for up to 2-3 months.
How to reheat fried Shrimp in Air Fryer
Reheating frozen air fryer shrimp is pretty easy; you only have to pop them in the air fryer and cook them for 3 minutes at 175°C.
Do not cook the shrimp for longer than 3 minutes at one go; make sure to have an increment of 1-2 minutes and keep checking before it gets to an ‘0’ shape, which means the shrimp is overcooked.
Just reheat it for 2-3 minutes, and maybe an additional minute if you reheat jumbo shrimp.
Monitor the shrimps at all times, as it is very easy to overcook them.
Tips to cook the best air fryer shrimp
1. Pat Shrimp Dry: It is necessary to pat the shrimp dry with a kitchen towel before seasoning or marinating. Excess moisture can interfere with the crispiness of the shrimp. If your frozen shrimp is not deveined, you have to thaw it to pull out the vein and cook it.
2. Use the Right Size Shrimp: Opt for large or jumbo shrimp for air frying. Smaller shrimp may cook too quickly and become overdone. This is why it is very important to be flexible with the cooking time.
3. Season or Marinate: Season or marinate the shrimp for added flavor. Use a mixture of olive oil, herbs, spices, or your favorite marinade. You can marinate the shrimp for at least 15-30 minutes for better flavor absorption.
4. Avoid Overcrowding: Avoid overlapping one shrimp over the other as that would cause uneven cooking.
5. Check for Doneness: Ensure the shrimp reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). The shrimp should be opaque and firm, and slightly pink in color. It should be juicy and firm but not crunchy. If it’s crunchy, then it needs to be cooked more.
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Air Fryer Shrimp
Equipment
- 1 Philips Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Medium Shrimp
- 1 tsp Cumin powder
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Pepper
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 Spray Olive Oil (Optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the shrimp by peeling and deveing the shrimp by patting them dry with paper towels, this will allow the seasoning to stick better and not dilute because of the moisture.
- In a bowl, mix salt, black pepper, paprika, and cumin powder (or preferred seasoning); adjust to taste, and consider adding garlic or onion powder for extra flavor.
- Coat shrimp evenly with the dry seasoning mixture, ensuring each shrimp is well covered.
- Line the air fryer with parchment paper to prevent mess, you can spray cooking oil in the basket or lightly brush shrimp with olive oil to so you can avoid the shrimp being too dry while cooking.
- Arrange seasoned shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 200°C (392°F) for 5 minutes.
- Pause at the 5-minute mark to check the shrimp; if they form a 'C' shape, they are perfectly cooked, but if they form an 'O' shape, they are overcooked. Adjust as needed, being cautious not to overcook.
- Remove the perfectly cooked shrimp from the air fryer and serve immediately.
