Go Back

Frozen Shrimp in the Air Fryer

I would love to say I plan every meal down to the last detail. Not! Sometimes, I have to create a "dinner on the fly," doing a quick run down of likely ingredients while I am stuck in traffic. On those occasions, there is really nothing faster than shrimp. I usually have a bag of raw, cleaned shrimp in the freezer, and let me tell you, they have saved dinner, from time to time! Easy, quick, and simple, these shrimp prepared in an air fryer become an appetizer with the addition of your favorite sauce, or the main event, atop a dinner salad, with a lovely vinaigrette.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 804.4 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Air Fryer Essential for crispy shrimp
  • 1 Small Mixing Bowl For butter mixture
  • 1 Basting Brush For applying seasoned butter
  • 1 Spoon For separating shrimp and removing ice
  • 1 Measuring Spoons For precise seasoning amounts

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 pound frozen raw shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • ½ teaspoon seafood seasoning such as Old Bay®
  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley Optional
  • 4 wedges fresh lemon Optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 5 minutes.
  • While the air fryer is heating, separate frozen shrimp if necessary and knock off any ice crystals that may have developed with a spoon.
  • Place a single layer of frozen shrimp, about 1/2 pound, in the cooking area of the preheated air fryer and cook for 4 minutes.
  • Combine melted butter, seafood seasoning, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
  • When the timer sounds, brush each shrimp with seasoned butter, turn over, and brush the other side as well. Air-fry until shrimp are bright pink on the outside and the meat is opaque, 3 to 4 more minutes. Repeat with remaining shrimp.
  • Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges.

Notes

Achieving perfectly cooked shrimp in an air fryer hinges on proper technique. Always ensure the shrimp are in a single layer in the basket to promote even cooking and crispness; overcrowding leads to steaming. For an even richer flavor profile, consider adding a pinch of garlic powder or a hint of smoked paprika to your seasoned butter. A critical pitfall to avoid is overcooking, which results in a rubbery texture; shrimp are done when they turn bright pink and opaque. A final squeeze of fresh lemon zest into the butter or directly over the finished shrimp can brighten the entire dish. Serve immediately for best quality.