Air Fried Breaded Shrimp

These air-fried breaded shrimp are quick and easy. Lightly seasoned with a crispy coating, these shrimp are so good you won’t believe they aren’t deep-fried.

Jump to:

• Why this recipe works
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• Step by Step Instructions
• Cook Time
• Top Tips & FAQS
• More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
• Printable Recipe

I love shrimp no matter how it’s cooked, but this recipe for air fried breaded shrimp is one of my favourites.

These shrimp are ready in minutes and are perfectly crispy and golden brown without the added fat that comes with cooking them in a deep fryer.

They are so good that I can easily eat the whole batch myself and I wouldn’t even feel guilty doing so.

My favourite way to serve them is with a dish of tzatziki sauce for dipping. I know that cocktail sauce is more traditional, but I prefer the fresh, tangy flavours the tzatziki provides.

Tartar sauce and sweet chilli sauce are also great dipping options. But if you prefer to eat these shrimp just as they are, they are great that way too.

Why this recipe works

The combination of panko and fine breadcrumbs give these shrimp a delicious crispy coating. While the air fryer provides a quick cook time, resulting in plump, juicy shrimp.

Ingredients & Substitutions

The ingredients you will need to make these breaded shrimp are:

• Shrimp – I like using medium-sized shrimp with the tail off, but you can use small or large shrimp if you like.
• Flour – Just regular all-purpose flour
• Corn starch – If you don’t have cornstarch, you can just use flour
• Garlic powder, Onion powder, Salt – I like keeping the seasoning simple for this recipe, but you can use any seasonings you like
• Eggs – The eggs make the breading stick to the shrimp, if you are allergic to eggs you can replace with melted butter
• Panko breadcrumbs – These provide a great crunch, you could also use crushed cornflakes.
• Fine breadcrumbs – The addition of the fine breadcrumbs help make sure the shrimp is completely coated.

For a different flavour, try seasoning these shrimp with cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, or seasoning salt instead of garlic and onion powder.

Step by Step Instructions

These crispy breaded shrimp come together in just a few simple steps.

• Rinse the shrimp under cold water and then lay on paper towel to blot dry
• In a small bowl, mix the flour, cornstarch and seasonings
• Place the shrimp in a small bowl, sprinkle the flour mixture over the shrimp and toss to coat
• In a shallow bowl, which the eggs with 2 tablespoons of water. In a separate bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs and fine breadcrumbs
• Shake the excess flour off the shrimp, then dip each shrimp in the egg mixture making sure it is fully coated, then toss in the breadcrumbs. Place the coated shrimp on a plate
• Continue until all shrimp are coated then add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to your airfare basket and add the shrimp
• Place in the air fryer to cook until crisp

If you are gluten free you can bread these shrimp with gluten free flour and breadcrumbs, or crushed gluten free cereal.

Cook Time

It only takes 7 minutes in the air fryer to cook these shrimp to a crispy golden brown.

Top Tips & FAQS

Can I use small shrimp instead?

Yes, you can. If you would like these to be more like a popcorn shrimp, then using small shrimp works well. Reduce the cook time to 5 minutes to start with and then check for doneness. You don’t want to overcook shrimp.

Can these be made ahead of time?

If you would like to make these ahead of time that’s no problem. Simply cover and refrigerate after breading and then add them to the air fryer when you are ready to serve.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Printable Recipe

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