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.
» You might try these Frozen Potstickers in the Air Fryer or Simple Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli.
Super Useful Air Fryer Accessories
Once you’ve started using your air fryer more regularly, you’ll find there are so many other ways you *could* be using it, if you had a few extra useful accessories. Here are a few favorites that we use almost every day.
- 12-piece accessories kit for 3.7-5.8 quart air fryers – includes silicone cake pan, cake barrel, pizza pan, toasting/warming rack, skewer rack, silicone mat, bread rack and more
- Thermopen instant read thermometer for checking the internal temp of your meats
- Evo Oil Sprayer Bottle – BPA, latex, and dehp-free plastic, won’t clog or shatter, reusable, refillable, recyclable
Shrimp is the perfect no-fuss food for a keto or low-carb diet. It doesn’t need breading or sugary sauces to make it tasty, and it’s so easy to make.
If you’re in a hurry, but want to add a simple protein to your meal, it doesn’t get any easier than this air fryer frozen shrimp. Try cooking frozen salmon, frozen pizza, or frozen chicken wings, no thawing required.
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, in soups, and just to eat as a naturally keto-friendly snack.
If you don’t have an air fryer yet, I recommend this Ninja Air Fryer that you can purchase on Amazon. It’s spacious enough for most things you’ll want to cook for up to 4.
Can I Really Make Them From Frozen?
Yes, that’s exactly why we wrote this recipe, so you could see how easy it is. 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 them from frozen 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 juiciness and plump. They’re perfect for serving in a shrimp cocktail, on salads, or in your main dish.
Why Use an Air Fryer
An air fryer is an incredibly easy way to cook just about anything. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and hot air rapidly circulates all around the food, making the food crisp – much like deep-frying, but without the oil. You can cook anything you’d make in the oven.
- I use a Ninja MaxXL air fryer (pictured left). If you don’t have an air fryer yet, check out these options to find one that fits your needs.
- See reviews and prices for air fryers on Amazon.
- Here’s a printable Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet to get you started.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Air Fryer.
- Learn how to make fun things in the air fryer, like potato wedges, pork belly bites, and chicken wings.
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.
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.
Tips and 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.
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 28 more air fryer side dishes to try
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Like this recipe? We’d love for you to share it with your friends on social media. For more great recipes, follow us on Pinterest and Facebook, where we share our recipes daily.
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
🥧 If you’re interested in more great recipes, I share all my favorite recipes over at A Food Lover’s Kitchen, and you’ll find Instant Pot recipes at A Pressure Cooker Kitchen, and cocktails and drinks at Savored Sips. Check it out today!
Pin it for later!
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!