The best breaded air fryer shrimp in under 20 minutes! The crispy, seasoned shrimp are so flavorful and make a great app or addition to dinners like shrimp tacos. We tested this breaded shrimp in the air fryer several times and even includes a gluten free option!
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A good crispy shrimp recipe is what we all need and I'm glad I'm here to deliver! I tested this recipe 3 times before being happy with sharing with all of you! Let's cut right to the chase and talk about how to make the best air fryer shrimp.
Ingredients for breaded shrimp in air fryer
- large shrimp, peeled and deveined with the tails on
- almond flour (or all purpose flour)
- cajun seasoning
- Panko bread crumbs, gluten free bread crumbs or crushed/blended gluten free crackers (I like Simple Mills sea salt crackers)
- Eggs
- Cooking spray (I use avocado oil or coconut oil spray)
What shrimp to buy
There are so many options when it comes to deicding. We like to buy wild caught shrimp and if I'm low on time I'll buy the deveined and peeled shrimp from the counter. The whole shrimp that's individually quick frozen is really good if you have the time to thaw, peel and clean them yourself. Ready these 8 mistakes when buying shrimp for more information.
Although some countries eat shrimp shells, it's not customary here in the US and you need to peel them before breading them. If you but shrimp with the peels on, take them off and you can save them for a flavorful seafood stock.
Leaving the tails on makes them look pretty and makes it easier to pick up and dip if you're eating them that way. If you're putting them in another recipe, like tacos, remove them!
Best temperature to fry shrimp
The best temp to fry this shrimp is 375°F (190°C).
How long does it take to air fry frozen shrimp?
I don't recommend air frying the shrimp from frozen for this recipe because of the breading, however, if you're going to air fry shrimp from frozen you should add an additional 5-10 minutes of cook time to a recipe.
How to make breaded shrimp in the air fryer:
- Prep: Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel and set another paper towel or plate aside for the breaded shrimp. Add the almond flour (or all purpose flour) and cajun seasoning to a small bowl. Next, add the eggs to the second bowl and beat them gently with a fork. Fill the third bowl with breadcrumbs or crushed crackers.
- Dredge: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 5 minutes. While it’s heating, dredge your shrimp. One at a time, dip each piece of shrimp in the flour and coat it completely on both sides then dip in the beaten eggs and finish in the bread crumbs. Place the shrimp in an even layer on the prepared plate or paper towel.
- Air fry: Place the coated shrimp in an even layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to work in batches depending on how large your air fryer is. Cook for 5 minutes then pause the air fryer, open the basket and spray the tops of the shrimp with cooking spray before flipping them. Spray the other side then continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
Tips for dredging shrimp
If you've ever made anything fried you know it can get kind of messy. It involved dredging where you dip in flour then eggs then bread crumbs. Here are a few tips!
- Use one hand the whole time so you can keep one hand clean to use it for things like setting temps, grabbing bowls etc.
- Have bowls ready before starting!
- Have a plate or paper towel ready to place the breaded shrimp.
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Air Fryer Shrimp
Ingredients
For the shrimp:
- 1 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined with the tails on (so you can easily pick them up to eat)
- ½ cup almond flour or all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
- 2 cups Panko bread crumbs gluten free bread crumbs or crushed/blended gluten free crackers (I like Simple Mills sea salt crackers)
- 3 eggs
- Cooking spray I use coconut oil or avocado oil
Spicy Remoulade (optional)
- ½ cup mayo
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish or horseradish substitute
- 1 teaspoon pickle juice
- 1 teaspoon sriracha
Instructions
- Prep: Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel and set another paper towel or plate aside for the breaded shrimp. Add the almond flour (or all purpose flour) and cajun seasoning to a small bowl. Add the eggs to the second bowl and beat them gently with a fork. Add the breadcrumbs or crushed crackers to a third bowl.
- Dredge: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 5 minutes. While it’s heating, dredge your shrimp. One at a time, dip each piece of shrimp in the flour and coat it completely on both sides then dip in the beaten eggs and finish in the bread crumbs. Place the shrimp in an even layer on the prepared plate or paper towel.
- Air fry: Place the coated shrimp in an even layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to work in batches depending on how large your air fryer is. Cook for 5 minutes then pause the air fryer, open the basket and spray the tops of the shrimp with cooking spray before flipping them. Spray the other side then continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
- While it’s finishing, make the spicy remoulade dipping sauce. Whisk all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Serve the shrimp with the sauce or use the shrimp in another recipe. See blog post for other seasoning options and ways to use this shrimp.
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