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Air Fryer Firecracker Shrimp

Plump, juicy shrimp are marinated in a spicy sauce and wrapped in a crispy egg roll wrapper. Cooked in the air fryer, these shrimp are surprisingly quick and easy. These firecracker shrimp make a great addition to any appetizer platter.

Firecracker shrimp on a round plate with a dish of sweet chili sauce in the middle.
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What are Firecracker Shrimp

Firecracker shrimp are shrimp that have been seasoned with a spicy sauce or marinade coated with some sort of breading or wrapped in a shell and fried until crispy.

For these firecracker shrimp we are using the air fryer and we are wrapping them in egg roll wrappers.

After we marinade the shrimp in a spicy marinade of soy sauce, sriracha and sesame oil, then we wrap them in an egg roll wrapper.

When they are air fried the wrapper becomes bubbly and crispy and the shrimp remains plump and juicy.

Served with a dipping sauce, such as Sweet and Sour Sauce, these are the perfect little appetizer.

Why We Love This Recipe

It uses simple ingredients – You only need five simple ingredients in order to make these delicious firecracker shrimp. You should be able to obtain them at any grocery store.

It is quick – This is a quick recipe to whip up. After marinating the shrimp it should only take about 15 minutes to prepare them and another 10 minutes to cook.

It’s easy – These shrimp may look fancy, but they are actually pretty simple to make. You don’t need to know any fancy technique, you are just going to roll them up and toss them in the air fryer.

Firecracker shrimp with a dish of chili sauce and lime wedges.

Ingredients

To make these firecracker shrimp you will need:

  • Egg roll wrapper or wonton wrappers
  • Medium size shrimp, peeled and de-veined, tail on
  • Low sodium soy sauce
  • Sesame oil
  • Sriracha sauce
Ingredients for firecracker shrimp.

Step by Step Instructions

Begin by mixing the soy sauce, sriracha sauce and sesame oil in a small bowl.

Prepare the shrimp by rinsing and blotting dry on a paper towel.

Then, with a sharp knife, make several shallow cuts in the inside curve of the tail. This will help straighten the shrimp for wrapping.

Raw shrimp on a cutting board with small slits cut in the underside of the curve.

After you have prepared the shrimp place them in a bowl, add the marinade and toss to coat. Let the shrimp marinate for 15-20 minutes.

Next, prepare the egg roll wrappers by cutting them in half diagonally.

The wrappers I used for this recipe were small wrappers, about 4×4 inches in size, but you can use larger ones if that is all you can find.

Pro Tip – If you can’t find egg roll wrappers you can use wonton wrappers instead. You will not need to cut them in half. Instead, cut about an inch off of one corner and place the tail end of the shrimp on the cut edge. Then proceed to wrap as described below.

A stack of wonton wrappers cut in half diagonally.

After allowing the shrimp to marinade it is time to wrap them.

One – Place one half of an egg roll wrapper on the counter with the long straight edge facing to the right. Then place one shrimp on the end of the wrapper closest to you so the tail of the shrimp is at the long end of the triangle and the end of the shrimp is pointing toward the tip.

Two – Starting from the side closest to you, wrap the end of the egg roll wrapper over the shrimp once.

Three – Fold the tip of the egg roll wrapper over the end of the shrimp.

Four – Continue rolling the wrapper until the shrimp is fully wrapped. If the end of the wrapper will not stay in place you can add a dab of water to help it stick.

Four steps to rolling shrimp in wrappers.

Place the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray or brush the tops with a bit of oil.

Set the air fryer to 350°F and cook the shrimp for 8-10 minutes until golden and crisp.

Pro Tip – Don’t skip the oil in this recipe. The tiny amount of oil used is what will help the egg roll wrappers achieve that bubbly, crispy texture.

Firecracker shrimp in a single layer in an air fryer basket.

Serving Suggestions

These firecracker shrimp make a great addition to an appetizer plater, or you can make just a few for an easy and delicious snack.

We like to serve them alongside a dipping sauce like sweet Thai chili sauce or tangy ponzu sauce.

If you want these shrimp as part of your main meal they go great with a simple salad.

Or if you like to make sushi at home these are a great addition to the table in place of the crispy torpedo shrimp you would normally get in a restaurant.

Shrimp being dipped in sweet chili sauce.

FAQS

Can I make firecracker shrimp ahead of time?

If you want to make these shrimp ahead of time to speed things up when it’s time to serve that’s no problem. Once the shrimp are wrapped simply store them on a parchment lined baking sheet and cover and place in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook.

How should I reheat firecracker shrimp?

You can reheat these in the air fryer. Set the air fryer to 350°F and cook for 3-4 minutes until they are heated through.

More Air Fryer Appetizers

Printable Recipe

Air Fryer Firecracker Shrimp

Plump, juicy shrimp are marinated in a spicy sauce and wrapped in a crispy egg roll wrapper. These firecracker shrimp make a great addition to any appetizer platter.
4.67 from 6 votes
Print Pin Save Recipe Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 20
Calories: 31kcal
Author: Deanna

Ingredients

  • 20 Medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tail on approximatly 8 ounces
  • 10 egg roll wrappers
  • 2 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
  • olive oil spray

Instructions

  • Peel and devein the shrimp if this has not been done for you. Then give the shrimp a quick rinse and blot dry on a paper towel. You will want to leave the tail on.
  • Using a small, sharp knife, make several shallow cuts in the inside curve of the tail. This will help straighten the shrimp for wrapping.
  • Mix the soy sauce, sriracha and sesame oil in a small bowl.
  • Place the shrimp in a bowl, add the marinade and toss to coat. Let the shrimp marinate for 15-20 minutes. Then begin to wrap them.
  • Cut the egg roll wrappers in half diagonally.
  • Place one half of an egg roll wrapper on the counter so the long straight edge is facing to the right. (If you are left handed you can face it to the left.)
  • Place a shrimp on the bottom end of the wrapper with the tail on the edge of the straight side and the end pointing toward the tip of the triangle. You want the tail to sit just outside the edge of the wrapper.
  • Starting from the end closest to you, make one wrap over the shrimp.
  • Next, fold the tip of the wrapper over the end of the shrimp, then continue to roll until the shrimp is completly wrapped.
  • If the seam of the wrapper will not stick you can dab a drop of water on the end and gently press it to seal.
  • Place the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket and brush or spray the tops with a bit of oil.
  • Set the air fryer to 350°F and cook for 8-10 minutes until golden and crisp.

Notes

Wonton wrappers can be used if you can’t find egg roll wrappers.  Cut about 1 inch off of one corner and place the tail end of the shrimp on the cut end.  Then continue to wrap as directed.
The egg roll wrappers I used for this recipe were approximately 4×4 inches, but you can use slightly larger wrappers if that is all you can find.
Don’t skip the oil in this recipe.  You only need a small amount.  The oil is what will give the egg roll wrappers the bubbly, crispy texture.

Nutrition

Estimated Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer Firecracker Shrimp
Amount per Serving
Calories
31
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Sodium
 
157
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
 
4
g
1
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
3
g
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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4.67 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)
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