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    Home » Food

    Crispy Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

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    pinterest graphic text with air fried shrimp in a basket and being dipped in cocktail sauce

    Air Fryer Crispy Fried Shrimp (Popcorn Shrimp) - you can get crispy, delicious shrimp in a healthier way with your air fryer! No need to deep fry them.

    You can get that crispy, crunchy crust with your air fryer and a few other ingredients.

    air fried shrimp in a bowl with dipping sauce topped with lemon

    This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you decide to purchase through my link, I may earn a very small commission at no additional cost to you.

    Air Fry Popcorn Shrimp

    Air Fry Popcorn Shrimp is easy to make, healthy, and perfect for a weeknight meal. Often times when you skip on the frying, you don't get the crispy exterior you love about popcorn shrimp.

    With this method, you can still get crispy crunchy shrimp without deep frying. These are perfect as appetizers or the main course.

    Popcorn Shrimp Air Fryer Ingredients

    • panko breadcrumbs
    • grated parmesan cheese
    • old bay seasoning (I prefer lower sodium version)
    • all-purpose flour
    • eggs
    • shrimp that's been deveined, peeled, and tails removed
    • avocado oil spray
    • dipping sauce (optional)
    • lemon (optional)
    ingredients for air fryer crispy fried shrimp

    How to Make Popcorn Shrimp in Air Fryer

    Detailed instructions and measurements are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

    1. Place the panko breadcrumbs, parmesan, and old bay seasoning in a food processor. Pulse until a fine, sand-like consistency.
    2. Place the all purpose flour, egg, and panko mixture in separate shallow dishes.
    3. Dip the shrimp into the flour, coating all sides. Remove, shake off the excess, and dip in the egg, fully coating. Remove, shake off the excess, and dip in the panko mixture coating all sides. Set aside while you do the remaining shrimp. I like to set them on a cooling rack, but this isn't required.
    4. Very lightly spray your basket with avocado oil spray. Place your shrimp in one layer in your air fryer basket. Do them in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding and stacking. Spray the tops lightly with avocado oil spray.
    5. Cook in the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes.
    6. Open basket, flip your shrimp over, spray lightly with avocado oil spray again and cook an additional 3 minutes.
    7. Remove from the basket and enjoy!
    panko breadcrumbs mixed with seasonings
    breaded shrimp on a cooling rack

    How long should I air fry popcorn shrimp?

    When cooking from raw, you'll want to air fry popcorn shrimp for 8 minutes.

    tips and tricks

    • You will need an air fryer for this recipe. While it can be made in the oven, you won't get the same crispy results. I have this air fryer. It's much better than my previous one. I find that air fryers with a square basket (vs a round one) fit more and make it much more useful.
    • I like to use the lower sodium version of Old Bay in order to lower the salt. You don't have to use the lower sodium, it's just what I personally prefer.

    Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp FAQs

    Can I bread the shrimp directly from frozen?

    No. You need to use thawed shrimp. You can purchase frozen shrimp, but it needs to be thawed before it is breaded. Otherwise, you'll end up with soggy shrimp.

    Can I use regular style breadcrumbs instead of panko?

    You can, but you will not achieve the same crispy, crunchy results. A lot of the crunch comes from the panko breadcrumbs themselves.

    What size shrimp should I buy?

    I buy large/extra large shrimp because I prefer more meat over just breading. I typically buy the bags that have 21-25 per pound.

    Is frozen popcorn shrimp in air fryer possible?

    Yes, you can air fry frozen popcorn shrimp. If you want to make air fried shrimp in advance, prep completely and freeze on a baking sheet.

    When you're ready to air fry them, remove them from the freezer and place in the air fryer for 8-10 minutes. You'll need to keep a close eye not to overcook them.

    Storing and Reheating Air Fried Popcorn Shrimp

    Any leftover air fried popcorn shrimp should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days.

    To reheat air fried popcorn shrimp, I recommend using the air fryer set to 350° for 4 minutes.

    air fried shrimp being dipped in cocktail sauce

    Alterations for picky eaters

    • You can swap the Old Bay seasoning for another seasoning they prefer. The flavor isn't too strong, but if there's a seasoning they really like, I'd opt for that!
    • Serve them with fries and ketchup! Think about the way they'd enjoy any other crispy, fried item. Serve it up the same way.

    Alterations to lower the calories or WW points

    There aren't many ways to alter them and it isn't too bad to begin with. Shrimp is naturally high in protein, but low in calories and WW points. Just be careful about your dipping sauces!

    What goes with popcorn shrimp?

    If you're serving popcorn shrimp as a main course, it pairs really well with roasted vegetables. Some of my favorites are:

    • Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli & Cauliflower
    • Oven Roasted Garlic Brown Sugar Carrots
    • Oven Baked Broccoli

    You may also like:

    • Baked Shrimp Scampi
    • Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos
    • Bowties with Shrimp, Spinach, and Mushrooms
    air fried shrimp in a bowl with dipping sauce topped with lemon

    Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

    Kara - Sweetly Splendid
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 8 mins
    Course Seafood
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 198 kcal
    Protein 22 g

    Ingredients
      

    • ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
    • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 tablespoon old bay seasoning I prefer lower sodium version
    • ¼ cup all purpose flour
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 lb shrimp that's been deveined peeled, and tails removed
    • avocado oil spray
    • dipping sauce optional: cocktail, tartar sauce
    • lemon optional: for squeezing on top

    Instructions
     

    • Place the panko breadcrumbs, parmesan, and old bay seasoning in a food processor. Pulse until a fine, sand-like consistency. 
    • Place the all purpose flour, egg, and panko mixture in separate shallow dishes.
    • Dip the shrimp into the flour, coating all sides. Remove, shake off the excess, and dip in the egg, fully coating. Remove, shake off the excess, and dip in the panko mixture coating all sides. Set aside while you do the remaining shrimp. I like to set them on a cooling rack, but this isn't required. 
    • Very lightly spray your basket with avocado oil spray. Place your shrimp in one layer in your air fryer basket. Do them in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding and stacking. Spray the tops lightly with avocado oil spray.
    • Cook in the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes.
    • Open basket, flip your shrimp over, spray lightly with avocado oil spray again and cook an additional 3 minutes.
    • Remove from the basket and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp
    Serving Size
     
    1 /4th of recipe
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    198
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    5
    g
    8
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    13
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    223
    mg
    74
    %
    Sodium
     
    1012
    mg
    44
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    13
    g
    4
    %
    Fiber
     
    0
    g
    0
    %
    Sugar
     
    0
    g
    0
    %
    Protein
     
    22
    g
    44
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword air fryer, seafood, shrimp
    Have you tried this recipe? Please let us know how it was in the comments or tag us on Instagram @sweetlysplendid!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. chris david

      October 07, 2020 at 3:50 am

      5 stars
      You've outdone yourself this time.
      This is probably the best and most concise I've ever seen.

      Reply
    2. YtheWait

      October 08, 2020 at 5:24 am

      Lovely recipe, ideal to make for the weekend.

      Reply
      • kara

        October 13, 2020 at 11:01 am

        Thank you! I hope you enjoyed!

        Reply

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    Kara is a wife & mother living deep in the heart of Texas. She loves all things food and spending time with her family and dogs. She has a passion for cooking and loves making yummy, family-friendly recipes.

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