Air Fryer Shrimp With Garlic Lemon Butter 

If you’re looking for a flavorful meal packed with protein and low in carbs, then this air fryer shrimp recipe is for you! Fantastic as a main or a side, these tender shrimp are ready in under fifteen minutes.

You’ll love this air fryer shrimp no breading recipe because they’re incredibly juicy and succulent. Gorgeous texture combined with the flavors of the garlic lemon butter means that every mouthful is a treat.

This air fryer shrimp recipe is keto-friendly not only because there is no breading included but because you’re using raw shrimp, which is so packed full of protein, making it the perfect low-carb ingredient. You’ll love to eat this meal after a workout because it’s excellent for muscle repair, and it’s so quick to make!

Ingredients

To make fried shrimp in air fryer, you will need:

• Large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined.
• Minced garlic.
• Unsalted melted butter.
• Lemon juice.
• Salt and pepper to taste (optional).
• Chopped parsley to garnish.

Find the list of ingredients to make air fryer raw shrimp along with instructions at the end of this post in the recipe card.

How to make the recipe

Begin by preheating your air fryer to 350°F for 4 minutes. When cooking shrimp in an air fryer, it’s important to preheat your air fryer before getting started to ensure that the shrimp cooks all the way through. 

While the fryer is heating, add the shrimp, garlic, butter, and lemon juice to a medium-sized bowl and toss to combine season with salt and pepper if using. Ensure that you coat the shrimp evenly.

Next, place the shrimp inside the air fryer basket and cook until the shrimp is piping hot all the way through. It will take around 8 to 10 minutes for the shrimp to cook, depending on the size. Make sure that you shake the basket or stir halfway through cooking to prevent sticking.

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Finally, remove the shrimp from the air fryer, sprinkle with fresh parsley and salt, and pepper (if you’re using), and serve with wedges of lemon. 

Enjoy!

Recipe tips

• Use a paper to pat dry the shrimp before seasoning.
• How to tell when shrimp is done - shrimp are done when they reach an internal temperature of 145°F. You can check this by using an instant meat thermometer. 
• Avoid overcooking - if you overcook your air fryer shrimp, the texture will go slightly rubbery, so it’s essential to avoid this. Be sure to take the shrimp out of the air fryer as soon as they have reached the correct temperature.
• Frozen shrimp - you can make this recipe using frozen shrimp, which can be a time saver! To make frozen shrimp, follow the same steps as above but cook the shrimp for slightly longer. The cooking time for frozen shrimp is usually between 12-15 minutes, again depending on the size of the shrimp. Check to ensure they are piping hot throughout by using a meat thermometer.

How long to cook shrimp in air fryer

The cooking time for shrimp in the air fryer is usually 8-10 minutes; however, this will vary depending on the size of the shrimp. You can use a meat thermometer to check that your shrimp has cooked all the way through.

You will need to increase the cooking time if your shrimp are frozen.

What is the easiest way to peel shrimp?

Before cooking raw shrimp in air fryer, it’s a good idea to peel them, making them much easier to eat! You can remove the shell after cooking, which some people like to do, but I prefer to take the shell off beforehand or leave the tail on for ease. 

While peeling your shrimp, you can also remove the large vein that runs along the back, if yours are not deveined..

• Begin by removing the head and legs if they are still attached.
• Next, take off the outer shell. Start at the head end and peel it away. You can reserve the shell in the freezer to make fish stock if you like or throw it away.
• To devein the shrimp, cut a line down the shrimp’s back, around ¼ inch deep, using a paring knife. If you can see the vein, use the tip of your knife or your fingers to remove it. Otherwise, don’t worry too much - the vein isn’t dangerous to eat. 

How to defrost shrimp

To defrost shrimp, put them in a bowl in the fridge for 1-2 days, and use a bowl to catch any liquid. 

Alternatively, you can quick-thaw frozen shrimp by putting them in a bowl of cold water for 15-20 minutes. You can use a plate to weigh the shrimp down and keep them submerged - make sure you use cold, not warm water.

If you’re making shrimp in an air fryer, you don’t need to worry about defrosting it. Instead, you can cook straight from frozen!

What to serve with air fryer garlic shrimp

Air fryer shrimp makes a fantastic high-protein snack. And, served with some delicious sides, you’ve got yourself a healthy and delicious meal!

Try serving it with one or two of these favorites:

• Instant pot brown rice
• Air fryer asparagus
• Instant pot mashed cauliflower
• Air fryer cauliflower steaks
• Air fryer green beans

How to store air fryer shrimp with garlic lemon butter

You can store cooked air fryer shrimp in the fridge or the freezer, as long as you don’t leave it sitting out at room temperature for longer than 1-2 hours.

To store your shrimp, seal it in an airtight container or wrap it in durable foil, and then put it straight in the fridge or freezer.

You can keep shrimp in the fridge for up to 4 days and the freezer for 3 months.

How to reheat shrimp

The simplest way to reheat shrimp is to use the air fryer. Do this by preheating your air fryer to 350°F for 4 minutes, then spraying the shrimp with a bit of oil and putting them in the basket. 

• If you heat your shrimp after storing it in the refrigerator, it will take around 10 minutes to heat through.
• If you are heating frozen shrimp, it will take around 15 minutes to heat through.

Use a meat thermometer to check that your shrimp has reached an internal temperature of 145°F before serving.

Best seasoning for shrimp

The butter, lemon, and garlic combination is a winning combination as it pairs so well with the shrimp! If you’re looking for other flavors to try on your air fryer shrimp, some great combinations are:

• Garlic and cayenne pepper - for those of you who like a kick!
• Garlic, ginger, lime, miso, and brown sugar - combine with a bit of oil and coat your shrimp before putting it in the air fryer.
• Honey, soy sauce, and garlic are a great combination of sweet and salty.

More seafood recipes to try

• Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
• Smoked Salmon Taquitos
• Air Fryer Fish Nuggets
• Healthy Shrimp scampi
• Air Fryer Fish Sticks
• Easy shrimp fajitas
• Air Fryer Tuna Steaks With Lime Dipping Sauce
• Air Fryer Salmon
• Air Fryer Swordfish Steaks Recipe
• Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Air Fryer Recipe

Tools used to make the recipe.

• Paring knife.
• Air fryer.
• Medium-sized bowl.
• Garlic press.

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