Here is a super easy and basic recipe for Air Fryer Shrimp without breading that is full of flavor and perfect for tossing with cooked pasta or serving on a salad. This is a protein-rich appetizer or dish that is gluten-free, low-carb, and ready in 20 minutes!

A bowl of cooked air fryer shrimp with lemon.

Shrimp is an easy and delicious way to add lean protein to a dish. It also makes a delicious appetizer served with cocktail sauce or hot sauce.

It’s a versatile ingredient that tastes good with nearly everything. This Air Fryer Shrimp recipe can be used in low carb lettuce wraps, on salads, in pasta, in a rice bowl, on shrimp tacos, or even eaten plain as a healthy snack.

I hope your family agrees that this is the perfect shrimp recipe for busy weeknights!

Recipe Benefits

  • Shrimp is high in protein and selenium, plus other nutrients. A 3 oz. serving of shrimp contains only 84 calories and 18 grams of protein.
  • Air fried shrimp is a great dish if you love to meal prep. Throw the cooked shrimp in a container with cooked rice and veggies for an easy but delicious lunch the next day (see all of my other meal prep ideas).
  • Many shrimp recipes use bread crumbs or all purpose flour to make a crispy shrimp. This recipe is free from breading though, so it’s much healthier.
  • This clean eating recipe is Whole30 and paleo-friendly as well as gluten-free and dairy-free.

Ingredients

Ingredients for air fryer shrimp.
  • You’ll need fresh or defrosted frozen shrimp for this recipe. Be sure to peel and devein the shrimp if they aren’t already.
  • Olive oil helps coat the seasonings on the shrimp. I used garlic powder and sea salt.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Steps

Cooking shrimp in an air fryer is surprisingly simple. Let me show you how.

Pictures showing how to cook shrimp in air fryer.

Step One

Dry the defrosted shrimp on a paper towel lined plate. Make sure your shrimp is also deveined which means the black vein down the middle is gone.

Step Two

In a large bowl combine shrimp, oil, and seasonings then toss to combine.

I like using garlic powder and salt, but you can get creative and use lemon pepper, old bay seasoning, cajun seasoning, black pepper, red pepper flakes, or whatever you like.

Step Three

Place shrimp in the basket of your air fryer.

Cook in the air fryer basket for 5 to 6 minutes, tossing halfway through.

Step Four

Once done, transfer the cooked shrimp to a large plate and serve with lemon. These cooked shrimp would also go great in my Healthy Poke Bowls!

cooked air fryer shrimp on plate with lemon.

Recipes Tips

  • Refrigerate any leftover cooked shrimp in a covered container for up to 4 days.
  • If you want to use frozen shrimp, increase the cooking time to 15 minutes.
  • For large shrimp, add an extra 2 minutes cooking time.

Recipe FAQs

Can I buy peeled and de-veined shrimp?

Yes, if you hate peeling and de-veining shrimp, it’s not a problem. Most grocery stores carry shrimp that is already peeled and de-veined for you.

Can I use frozen shrimp in an air fryer?

Yes simply increase the cooking time from 5-6 minutes to 15 minutes total. It will take a little longer since it has to defrost while cooking.

How long is air fryer shrimp good for once cooked?

Once cooked store the shrimp in a covered container for up to 4 days. Toss in with pasta, rice, or veggies for a filling lunch or dinner.

Do the shrimp have to be in a single layer in the air fryer?

The shrimp can overlap a bit especially since you’ll be shaking the basket at least one time during the cooking process.

Lemon garlic air fried shrimp with salad on a plate.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes You Might Like

Or, see my whole list of gluten-free air fryer recipes.

Don’t Miss These Air Fryer Resources

Air Fryer Pros and Cons in 2024

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45+ Healthy Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

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a bowl of lemon garlic shrimp

Air Fryer Shrimp (No Breading)

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5 from 1 review

Print Recipe

Here is a super easy and basic recipe for Air Fryer Shrimp with no breading that is full of flavor and perfect for tossing with cooked pasta or serving on a salad. This is a protein-rich appetizer or dish that cooks perfectly in just a few minutes.

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 pound medium shrimp, raw, peeled, and de-veined
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 lemon, halved

Instructions

  1. Pour the shrimp onto a paper towel-lined plate and pat the shrimp dry.
  2. Then, in a large mixing bowl, combine the shrimp, oil, garlic powder, and sea salt. Toss to combine.
  3. Transfer the shrimp to the basket of your air fryer. Set the temperature to 400°F for 5-6 minutes, tossing once during the cooking process.
  4. When the cooking time is up, transfer the cooked shrimp to a serving plate.
  5. Squeeze your lemon over the cooked shrimp and serve warm.

Notes

  1. Refrigerate any leftover cooked shrimp in a covered container for up to 4 days.
  2. If you want to use frozen shrimp, increase the cooking time to 15 minutes.
  3. For large shrimp, add an extra 2 minutes cooking time.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
  • Calories: 108
  • Sugar: 0 g
  • Sodium: 425.8 mg
  • Fat: 1.7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 0.3 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 22.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 182.5 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.