Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp
These crispy Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp are golden, juicy, and ready in under 15 minutes. No deep fryer needed! Whether you’re using frozen shrimp or making them from scratch, this easy recipe delivers restaurant-style crunch with way less oil.
Pair this Panko shrimp with your favorite sauces (I love this Bang Bang Sauce) for a fun appetizer or a main course that’s ready in minutes.
Thanks to the air fryer, these crispy shrimp will cook to perfection every time. Great for entertaining, as a fun side dish, or even a light main course!
Can’t get enough seafood? I don’t blame you! Try this Air Fryer Panko Crusted Salmon or a super simple Air Fryer Sea Bass.
Why You’ll Love These
- Kid-approved and party-ready: Bite-sized and fun to dip, these are always a crowd favorite.
- Crispy and delicious: This easy shrimp recipe uses Panko breadcrumbs for a light but incredibly crunchy coating that you can’t get with plain breadcrumbs.
- Easy to make: A quick and easy homemade popcorn shrimp that even the most inexperienced chef can throw together in minutes.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Large shrimp: I like to buy mine already peeled and de-veined for easier prep, but you can also learn how to peel and de-vein the shrimp yourself.
- All purpose flour: Helps the breading adhere to the shrimp.
- Seasonings: I use a simple blend of Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, salt and black pepper for depth of flavor.
- Panko bread crumbs: Other kinds of bread crumbs would work fine, but might not give that super light and airy crunch that Panko provides.
How To Make Crunchy Popcorn Shrimp
Step 1: Prepare shrimp. Use paper towels to pat the shrimp dry.
Step 2: Make breading. In one bowl, combine flour and seasonings. In a second bowl, whisk the eggs. In a third bowl, combine the bread crumbs with seasonings and Parmesan.
Step 3: Bread shrimp. Coat each shrimp in flour, then dip into the whisked egg, and finally into the breadcrumb mixture.
Step 4: Air fry. Arrange breaded shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer and spritz with oil. Cook for about 9 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Storing & Reheating
Allow any leftover popcorn shrimp to cool to room temperature to prevent condensation and sogginess. Store shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days or so.
For best results, reheat in the air fryer or under the broiler in your oven. This will bring them back to their hot and crispy golden perfection!
If you tried this Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp or any other recipe on my blog please leave a 🌟 star rating and tell me how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 2 tsp cajun seasoning or smoked paprika
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup panko
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- olive oil spray
For serving
- fresh parsley chopped
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel. Then set up three separate bowls:In Bowl 1, combine flour with 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, and 1/4 tsp garlic powder.In Bowl 2, whisk the eggs with a fork until smooth.In Bowl 3, mix panko with 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (or paprika), 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese.1 lb large shrimp, 1/2 cup all purpose flour, 2 tsp cajun seasoning, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 2 eggs, 1 cup panko, 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- Working in small batches of 2-3 shrimp, toss them in the flour mix, then in the egg, then the panko. Place the shrimp on parchment paper while you prepare the remaining shrimp.
- Preheat the air fryer to 390F.
- Place the shrimp in a single layer (not touching each other) in the air fryer basket. Lightly spritz the shrimp with olive oil. Cook for 5 mins, flip and cook for 4 – 5 more minutes until cooked through and the coating is crispy.olive oil spray
- Serve with parsley, lemon, and your favorite dipping sauce.fresh parsley, lemon wedges
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe FAQs
These air-fried shrimp are delicious on their own, but they’re even better paired with a tasty dipping sauce! Serve them alongside Bang Bang Sauce, tartar sauce, a creamy Baja Sauce, this Crab Cake Sauce, cocktail sauce, or Yum Yum Sauce. You can also toss the finished shrimp in sauce instead of dipping, but they might get a bit soft or soggy if you don’t eat them right away.
Popcorn shrimp is considered done when (if you cut into one) the shrimp itself is opaque (you can’t see through it). Another sign it’s done is if the shrimp curls into a “C” shape, indicating that the flesh is cooked through. If overcooked, it may curl into a tighter “O” shape.
Yes! Frozen popcorn shrimp cooks well in the air fryer and gets extra crispy. No need to thaw—just add a few extra minutes to the cook time.
They should be golden brown and crispy on the outside. If using raw shrimp, make sure they’re opaque and firm in the center.
More Perfectly Crispy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Mozzarella Balls
- Air Fryer Cheeseburger Egg Rolls
- Air Fryer Asian Wings
- Air Fryer Fried Pickles
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