Air Fryer Breaded Shrimp Recipe

Name: Air Fryer Breaded Shrimp
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 lb. bag frozen large or jumbo (16-20) peeled, deveined, tail-on raw shrimp (thawed); 1 cup panko bread crumbs; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 ½ teaspoons Old Bay seasoning (divided); ¾ teaspoon garlic powder; ¾ teaspoon cornstarch; 1 large egg; ¾ cups water

With a satisfying crunchy bite, air fryer breaded shrimp will make you so happy you bought an air fryer!

Recipe Overview

Why you’ll love it: Unbelievably crispy and not deep fried!

How long it takes: 15 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: air fryer, whisk, bowls, tongs
Servings: 4

Perfectly breaded shrimp laid out in a single layer with a couple lemon slices.

Lots of crispy breading encasing juicy jumbo shrimp make this a real treat. Usually a thick coating of crunchy batter carries a payload of oil and fat. And that means a bunch of calories and fat grams, a no-no for most of us.

Try “frying” your shrimp in your air fryer and it’s a total game changer. Crispy breaded shrimp without any of the guilt. Bring it on! It’s pure genius.

These air fryer shrimp make a delicious main course. Serve them with a simple lemon arugula salad and roasted sweet potatoes.

Shrimp always is a popular appetizer too. Don’t forget your favorite dipping sauces. I like this lemon dill tartar sauce or homemade homemade Thousand Island dressing.

Breaded and cooked shrimp piled up on a white plate.

About this breaded shrimp

This tasty shrimp is battered and breaded. Wow! No wonder it’s so good.

It’s a two step process but it’s easy to do and the pay-off is worth it. Here’s a quick summary of how to make the best breaded shrimp.

Breaded shrimp being dipped into tartar sauce.

What you’ll need

Shrimp: Look for large or jumbo (16-20) raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, with the tails on. Frozen shrimp are super convenient and can be thawed under running cold water.
All-Purpose Flour: Flour is seasoned with Old Bay Seasoning, Garlic Powder, and a dash of Cornstarch. An Egg, lightly beaten and mixed with water, is added to the flour to make a light batter.
Panko Bread Crumbs: Panko, with its large airy crumbs, makes a better breading for the shrimp than regular bread crumbs.

What's Old Bay Seasoning?

This classic blend of 18 different spices has been around for years and is often used in seafood recipes. Currently produced by McCormick, you can also make your own similar blend. Try this recipe by The Spruce Eats.

Overhead view of ingredients needed, including raw shrimp.

How to make This Recipe

Thaw your shrimp if it’s still frozen. This can be easily accomplished by putting it in a colander and running cold water over it.

Frozen shrimp can be such a life-saver when it comes to meal time. It thaws in a matter of minutes and cooks so quickly. Keep reading for lots more shrimp recipes.

Okay, next prepare the two stations you’ll need to batter and bread the shrimp. Find two fairly large shallow bowls. Mixing bowls, pasta, or salad bowls work great.

In the first bowl, mix the flour with the seasonings. Add the egg and water and whisk until combined. That’s the batter.

In the second bowl, mix the panko with a little Old Bay seasoning. That’s the breading.

Grab a shrimp by the tail and dip it into the batter, letting the excess drip off. If the batter seems a little thick, add a bit more water. If it’s too thin, whisk in a little more flour.

Still holding on to the tail, gently roll the shrimp in the bread crumbs, making sure the shrimp is well-coated, with crumbs adhering to all sides (except the tail).

Discard any leftover batter or breading when all the shrimp have been coated.

Arrange the shrimp on the rack of your air fryer (spray it with a little oil first). They can be close together but not touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to do them in batches.

Fry until they are golden brown, curled and firm. It only takes five minutes or so.

Serve the shrimp immediately. They taste best hot out of the air fryer.

Need a great air fryer?

We’ve tried a couple and this one is one of our favorites. It has a fairly large capacity and is very user friendly.

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FAQs

How long do you cook breaded shrimp in an air fryer?

It depends on the size of the shrimp. Large or jumbo shrimp will be ready in about five minutes. Smaller shrimp will cook faster.

How do you cook frozen shrimp in an air fryer?

Frozen shrimp can easily be cooked in an air fryer. There’s no need to thaw them first if you’re not breading them. For this recipe, they need to be thawed. Set your air fryer for 400°F. Add the shrimp.
Timing depends on whether the shrimp are precooked. Cook five minutes if the shrimp are already cooked, and 10 minutes if they are raw.
Again, size does matter. Large shrimp will take longer than small shrimp.

Do you preheat an air fryer?

A couple of minutes of preheating may shave off a little cooking time but really you won’t notice much difference unless you have a really large air fryer. Most smaller models heat up so quickly that preheating is hardly necessary.

Make It Your Own

Add your own favorite seasonings! Onion powder, smoked paprika, dried green onion, and Cajun seasoning are all great options. Just add a ½ teaspoon to the flour mixture.
Can’t find panko? Use regular bread crumbs or make your own panko. Learn how to make homemade breadcrumbs or panko. It’s super easy and you can use day-old bread.
Prefer tempura fried shrimp? Skip the panko and fry the shrimp with just the batter coating.

Shrimp on the edge of a bowl of tartar sauce.

Make Ahead Ideas

Prepare the shrimp except for frying. Arrange them in a single layer on a plate or tray, cover and refrigerate for up to 3 hours.

If you prefer, instead of refrigerating the prepared shrimp, freeze them in a single layer. Once they’re frozen, put them in a tightly sealed container with parchment between layers.

Cook as directed, adding a couple minutes for frozen shrimp.

Storage & Reheating Suggestions

Cooked breaded shrimp are really best eaten right away. If you have leftovers, store them in the fridge for one day.

To reheat, put them back into the air fryer for a couple of minutes. You can also reheat them in the oven or toaster oven. Microwaving is not recommended.

Leftover Love

Pull the tails off leftover shrimp and put them on a sandwich or a salad.

More shrimp recipes

Convenient, quick-cooking, and so tasty, a bag of shrimp is so handy to have in your freezer. It’s perfect for meals like these:

Recipe