Crispy Garlic Butter Air Fryer Shrimp
Crispy Garlic Butter Air Fryer Shrimp combines jumbo shrimp with a rich garlic butter coating that crisps perfectly in the air fryer. Ready in just 15 minutes, this dish delivers restaurant-quality seafood with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 pound large or jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined (tails on or off, your preference)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 4-5 garlic cloves finely minced or pressed
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, for heat
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs for extra crispiness
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped (for garnish)
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the shrimp by patting them thoroughly dry with paper towels. Excess moisture prevents crispiness, so don’t skip this step.
- Create the garlic butter sauce by combining the melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, paprika, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until well combined.
- Toss the dried shrimp in the garlic butter mixture, ensuring each piece is evenly coated. The oil helps conduct heat while the butter provides rich flavor.
- Sprinkle the panko breadcrumbs over the shrimp and gently toss to coat. The breadcrumbs will create extra texture and absorb some of that delicious garlic butter.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (190°C) for 2-3 minutes. Preheating ensures immediate searing when the shrimp are added.
- Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in your air fryer basket, giving them space so they crisp properly. Work in batches if necessary—overcrowding is the enemy of crispiness.
- Air fry for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking. The shrimp are done when they turn pink, opaque, and reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
- Transfer immediately to a serving dish, garnish with fresh chopped parsley and lemon wedges, and serve while hot and crispy.
Notes
- For best results, use shrimp that are at least 16-20 count (large) or 13-15 count (jumbo) per pound—smaller shrimp cook too quickly and may dry out.
- Fresh shrimp is ideal, but frozen works great too—just thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight and pat very dry before using.
- This recipe can be prepped ahead of time by mixing the garlic butter sauce up to 24 hours in advance, but don’t add the shrimp until right before cooking.
- The cooking time varies depending on your air fryer model and shrimp size—start checking at the 5-minute mark to prevent overcooking.