Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp
Crispy air fryer popcorn shrimp gives you the classic flavor and crunch of popcorn shrimp without excessive oil. This easy 20-minute recipe can be served as a main course, party appetizer, or a simple afternoon snack.
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This dish is everything you love about popcorn shrimp – crunchy, flavorful, and absolutely addictive – but made in a healthier, easier way.
The shrimp is coated in seasoned panko, cook to golden perfection in minutes, resulting in deliciously crispy shrimp with a tender, juicy interior that is easy to make!
Love shrimp? You may also want to try our coconut shrimp or homemade shrimp and grits!
Ingredients
For the Shrimp:
- shrimp
- old bay
- paprika
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- cajun seasoning
- black pepper
- white pepper
- all-purpose flour
- eggs
- panko breadcrumbs
For the Dipping Sauce:
- mayo
- ketchup
- sweet chili sauce
Note: If you’re using frozen shrimp, ensure they are peeled and deveined (you can leave the tails on or remove them, depending on your preference) and fully thawed. If they’re still frozen, place the bag in a bowl of cold or room temperature water to thaw them quickly. Regardless of fresh or frozen and thawed, make sure to pat them completely dry before breading.
Instructions
- Clean, peel, and devein the shrimp. Pat them dry.
- Mix all of the seasonings together and sprinkle 1/4 of the seasoning on the shrimp. Stir to coat well.
- In a separate bowl, add the flour and 1/4 of the seasoning. Mix until well combined. Then sprinkle over the shrimp and toss to coat each piece.
- In another separate bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and the remaining seasoning. Set them aside.
- Beat the egg. You should have 3 bowls: seasoned shrimp with flour, beaten eggs, and panko.
- Dip each shrimp in the egg mixture, then dredge in the breadcrumbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and spray the basket with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook the shrimp for about 4 minutes on each side. Repeat for each batch.
- Mix up the dipping sauce for serving if desired.
Tips for best results
- Always preheat the air fryer for the best results.
- Pat the shrimp dry before seasoning to ensure the breading sticks well.
- Make sure the shrimp are in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Use tongs to flip the shrimp gently to avoid losing the breading.
- Use a light spray of olive oil to help the shrimp crisp up.
Variations
- add extra Cajun seasoning or a pinch of cayenne pepper to spice them up
- mix in some dried herbs like parsley or oregano with the bread crumbs
- sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese into the panko mixture
Serving suggestions
You can serve them with a fresh salad, coleslaw, or even some homemade sweet potato french fries. Don’t forget your favorite dipping sauces! My favorite is a simple mix of mayo, ketchup, and sweet chili sauce but you can also try cocktail sauce, remoulade sauce, or our copycat Zax sauce.
Storage
Store leftover popcorn shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
To reheat, air-fry them for a few minutes to regain their crispiness. Avoid using the microwave as it can make them soggy.
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Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
With an air fryer, you can make perfectly crispy air fryer popcorn shrimp without excessive oil but flavorful with seasonings. Pair well with a variety of sides and sauces.
Ingredients
For the Shrimp:
- 1 pound shrimp, deveined, peeled, cleaned, and thawed
- 1 tsp old bay
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, ground
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs
For the Dipping Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
Instructions
- Clean, peel, and devein the shrimp. Pat them dry.
- Mix all of the seasonings together and sprinkle 1/4 of the seasoning on the shrimp. Stir to coat well.
- In a separate bowl, add the flour and 1/4 of the seasoning. Mix until well combined. Then sprinkle over the shrimp and toss to coat each piece.
- In another separate bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and the remaining seasoning. Set them aside.
- Beat the egg, and now you should have 3 bowls: seasoned shrimp with flour, beaten eggs, and panko.
- Dip each shrimp in the egg mixture, then in the breadcrumbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and spray the basket with non-stick spray.
- Cook the shrimp for about 4 minutes on each side. Repeat for each batch.
- Serve with dipping sauce if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: air frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 582
- Sugar: 7.1 g
- Sodium: 1047.4 mg
- Fat: 26.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 50.3 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34.4 g
- Cholesterol: 287 mg
