Air Fryer Shrimp Skewers

These air fryer shrimp skewers are seasoned with garlic and herbs, and you don't have to fire up the grill to make them. The shrimp cook right on the skewers, so they're easy to serve with the rest of dinner.

You don't need to marinate the shrimp, preheat the air fryer, or flip the skewers halfway through. Just season the shrimp, thread them onto the skewers, and air fry for 6 minutes. Start checking for doneness at 5 minutes.

Serve them with rice, a fresh salad, or your favorite vegetables. Add a squeeze of lemon at the table if you like, and keep the rest of the meal as simple as you want.

Quick Success Tips

• Use raw, fully thawed shrimp labeled 16-20 count per pound. That's the size used for the approved cooking time.
• Check your skewers before you start. They need to fit flat inside the air fryer basket.
• Give the shrimp some space. Keep the skewers in a single layer instead of crowding them together.
• Start checking at 5 minutes. The tested cooking time is 6 minutes at 360°F, starting with a cold air fryer.

Ingredients You'll Need

Find all the exact amounts in the recipe card below.

Shrimp: Use 1 pound of raw large shrimp, 16-20 count per pound, peeled, deveined, and fully thawed. The tails can stay on or come off. Already-peeled shrimp save some prep.

Olive oil: This helps the seasonings coat the shrimp.

Garlic powder and Italian seasoning: The garlic and dried herbs give these skewers their flavor. Use salt-free Italian seasoning so you can add the salt to taste.

Onion powder and sweet paprika: Use sweet paprika rather than smoked or hot paprika to match the seasoning in this recipe.

Salt and black pepper: Add both to taste.

Lemon and parsley: They're optional. Set them out when serving, rather than adding lemon juice to the shrimp before cooking.

How to Make Shrimp Skewers in the Air Fryer

• Season the shrimp. Pat the thawed shrimp dry with paper towels. Put them in a bowl and toss with the olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, onion powder, sweet paprika, salt, and black pepper.

• Thread the skewers. Pass each metal skewer through the thick body of a shrimp and again near the tail. It holds the shrimp in place. Leave a little space between shrimp instead of pushing them tightly together.

• Air fry the skewers. Lay them flat in the basket in a single layer, leaving space around them. Start with a cold air fryer. Cook at 360°F for 6 minutes without flipping. Begin checking at 5 minutes, and cook until the thickest shrimp reach 145°F and the flesh is firm, pearly, and opaque.

• Serve right away. Add the optional lemon wedges and chopped fresh parsley if you like.

Helpful Tips

Choose shrimp that are close to the same size. Shrimp that are noticeably different in size may not finish cooking at the same time. When you're threading them, try to keep similar-sized shrimp together so they're easier to check for doneness.

Use tongs to handle the hot skewers. Metal skewers get hot in the air fryer. Use tongs to lift them out of the basket and onto a plate, and be careful when removing the shrimp.

Make It a Meal

Rice and a fresh side: Serve two skewers per person with Instant Pot Brown Rice and some sliced cucumber or tomatoes. Start the rice first, since it takes longer than the shrimp.

Keep it really simple: Microwave rice, a bagged salad, and a lemon wedge are enough. You can have the sides ready before the skewers go into the air fryer.

FAQs

More Shrimp Kabob Recipes

If you like making kabobs in the air fryer, try my Air Fryer Sausage and Shrimp Kabobs when you want smoked sausage with your shrimp.

There's also my Steak and Shrimp Kabobs in the Air Fryer if you want both steak and seafood on the same skewer.

And when you don't feel like threading skewers at all, my Air Fryer Shrimp recipe is another option. Each of these recipes has its own cooking time and instructions.

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