Crispy and juicy fried popcorn shrimp, cooked in just 10 minutes in the air fryer! Uses so much less oil than deep frying, but has all the amazing crunch you expect from fried shrimp. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will enjoy!
There’s something so amazing about that crunchy coating and plump shrimp inside!
But deep frying can be a bit messy and intimidating if you’re not used to doing it… not to mention all the oil you end up consuming. That’s where the air fryer comes in! All the crunch with a fraction of the oil!
These fried shrimp are perfect as a fun family meal, or as an appetizer. They’re so fun and pop-able!
HOW TO MAKE FRIED SHRIMP IN THE AIR FRYER
- Prepare breading station. You’ll need three shallow bowls. Flour and seasonings in one, eggs in the second, and breadcrumbs and seasonings in the third.
- Bread shrimp. Coat shrimp in flour mixture, in eggs, and in panko mixture. Do this one at a time, then repeat with remaining shrimp.
- Fry shrimp. Cook shrimp in a 390°F air fryer for 5 minutes, shake basket and spray with oil, then cook another 5 minutes.
Air Fryer Fried Shrimp
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 2 tsp black pepper divided
- 2 tsp kosher salt divided
- 1 tsp paprika divided
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 lb. peeled and deveined raw shrimp (I normally use 21/25)
- canola oil cooking spray (or any nonstick spray)
- store-bought remoulade sauce
Instructions
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Get out 3 shallow bowls. To the first one, add flour, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp paprika. Stir with a fork until combined.
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In the second bowl, add 2 eggs and whisk. In the third bowl, add the panko and the remaining 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp paprika. Stir with a fork to combine.
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Pat shrimp dry with a paper towel, then coat the shrimp, one at a time, in the flour mixture, then in the eggs, then in the panko mixture. Set aside on a plate and repeat with remaining shrimp.
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Preheat air fryer to 390°F. Add breaded shrimp in a single layer to the bottom of the air fryer basket. Lightly spray with a canola oil cooking spray, then cook for 5 minutes.
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Shake the basket, lightly spray with oil again, and cook another 5 minutes, or until shrimp is golden brown.
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Serve hot, with any dipping sauces you like.

