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This Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp recipe will show you just how easy it is to make tasty low-carb shrimp straight from the freezer in only 8 minutes.
Whenever I’m in a hurry, but want to add a simple protein to my meal, I go straight to that bag of frozen shrimp I keep in the freezer. It doesn’t get any easier than air fryer frozen shrimp.
We tend to buy frozen shrimp in a large bag from Costco. Since each individual shrimp is flash frozen, it’s so easy to just grab the amount needed from the bag. I use them on salads and in soups – so easy!
» Also try cooking frozen salmon, frozen pizza, or frozen chicken wings, no thawing required.
Is it Okay to Cook Frozen Shrimp?
Yes! There’s no need to defrost the shrimp before putting them in the air fryer. That means you can skip the tedious task of pulling them out of the freezer long before you’re ready to use them, so they can defrost.
Cooking it this way actually improves the texture. If you’ve ever defrosted shrimp the lazy way (by soaking them in cold water), you know that can lead to a strange rubbery texture when cooked. That doesn’t happen in the air fryer.
The shrimp get cooked to the perfect doneness, retaining their juicy plumpness. They’re perfect for serving in a shrimp cocktail, on salads, or as a main dish with rice. Now, it’s not so easy to make battered shrimp or breaded shrimp from frozen, but you can cook pre breaded frozen shrimp in the air fryer.
Ingredients Needed
- Frozen shrimp – You can use whatever size shrimp you want. You can also use shell on or off. I tend to go for anywhere from 21-25 up to 35-40 sized shrimp in the air fryer.
- Salt & pepper – You can season your shrimp with just salt and pepper.
- Seasoning – This is optional, but you might want to season your cooked shrimp with something a little extra other than salt and pepper. See our suggestions below.
Tips and Notes
- You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time if you’re cooking extra large shrimp. I used medium shrimp and 8 minutes was perfect. Likewise, smaller shrimp will take less time.
- If you are adding a seasoning to the shrimp you can easily do that when you shake the basket half way through. By then the shrimp are thawed and the seasoning will stick to the shrimp.
- There’s no need to thaw in advance or spray the shrimp with oil before cooking.
How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
There’s not much to it, honestly. You just need to place the frozen shrimp into the air fryer basket. Be sure not to crowd them or stack them too much. A full basket won’t cook evenly and the final product won’t be as good.
If you need to, make them in batches, rather than stacking them on top of each other.
Cook the shrimp at 400° F for 8 minutes. Make sure to give the basket a shake half way through. This is if the shrimp is raw to begin with. If it’s already cooked frozen shrimp, it will only take 5 minutes to heat it up to the proper temperature.
The size of your shrimp may vary, so it might be necessary to cook larger shrimp for a minute or two longer.
Seasoning for Air Fryer Shrimp
If you want to add extra flavor, you can sprinkle the shrimp with a flavorful seasoning once it’s cooked. Trying to add the seasoning before cooking is a bit futile, since they’re frozen solid. Try one of these flavor combinations.
- Lemon pepper – Either use a pre-mixed seasoning blend or add fresh squeezed lemon juice and black pepper.
- Cajun seasoning – Try this spicy and savory blend of spices to add tremendous flavor.
- Taco seasoning – Turn these shrimp into shrimp tacos or add them to a taco bowl by adding homemade taco seasoning. Throw in some rice, avocado, and a spicy sauce and you’ve got a healthy, easy meal. It’s one of the easiest ways to cook shrimp for tacos.
OUR FAVORITE AIR FRYER
There are a lot of features to love about this air fryer, but top of our list are the tempered glass display, super easy to clean basket, and ability to add shake reminders.
How to Cook Air Fryer Breaded Shrimp
If you’ve got frozen breaded shrimp that you bought in a box or bag, you can easily cook it in the air fryer too. Just put as many shrimp into the air fryer basket as you want. Cook at 400 degrees F for 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through
It’s important to note that cooking times may vary depending on the size and thickness of the shrimp, as well as the specific model of the air fryer.
What Side Dishes to Serve?
You can serve some really easy side dishes with your main dish cooked in the Air Fryer. Sometimes, you can cook them together in the air fryer to make it even faster.
Some of our favorite side dishes to serve include:
- Air fryer cauliflower
- Air fryer baked potatoes
- Brussels sprouts
- Corn on the cob
- Crispy smashed potatoes
- Cottage fries
Here are 30 more air fryer side dishes to try
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Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen shrimp
- 1 tablespoon seasoning of choice optional
Instructions
- Add frozen shrimp to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook at 400° F for 8 minutes, Shake the basket half way through. Add seasoning after 4 minutes, if desired.
Notes
- Depending on the size of the shrimp you may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time. I used medium shrimp and 8 minutes was perfect.
- If you are adding a seasoning to the shrimp you can easily do that when you shake the basket half way through. By then the shrimp are thawed and the seasoning will stick to the shrimp.
All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.
Nutrition
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Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.
I love shrimp and especially love it in the air fryer! I love to add a little seasoning once they have been cooked!
Such a great easy recipe for shrimp, they come out perfect each time!
Thanks Gina.
Makes wonderful shrimp in a few minutes. Really delicious and quick!
I love that these are made in the air fryer! Shrimp is so versatile so this recipe is definitely a keeper 🙂
Agreed! You can use shrimp in so many dishes. It’s a great time saver to make them in the air fryer.
Oh wow, great that these can be made from frozen. I always forget to defrost dinner!
It’s a huge time saver!
Wow, so easy! Will have to give this a try. Thank you!
Please suggest a subtle seasoning.
If you like garlic, a little garlic salt and black pepper is a great subtle seasoning for shrimp. You could also use a seasoning salt, like Mrs. Dash or Lawry’s.
Excellent and easy!
So fast and delicious! A wonderful quick dinner!