Make popcorn shrimp air fryer style for tasty morsels that are tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and full of zesty flavor.
Air fryer popcorn shrimp are breaded in Old Bay and Cajun seasoned panko bread crumbs and air-fried to crispy perfection.
Perfectly Air Fried Popcorn Shrimp
- Super quick and easy to make, air fried popcorn shrimp are a hit as a game-day appetizer or a crunchy snack on family movie night.
- The air fryer makes cooking so easy, just punch in the time and temp and watch it work its magic. Plus cleanup is a breeze.
- Double the batch and reheat them in the air fryer all week long as an after-school snack, in shrimp tacos, or on top of a crispy green salad.
Ingredients and Variations
Shrimp: Choose fresh or frozen 61/70 or 51/60 shrimp that are perfectly ‘popcorn-sized’ for this recipe. They should be whole, peeled, and smell clean. You can use any size of shrimp, however, small, medium, or jumbo-sized, be sure to adjust the breading and seasoning amounts to accommodate larger shrimp.
Breading: Panko bread crumbs make the crunchy ‘pop’ in popcorn shrimp, but you can use any breadcrumbs you like, even crushed pork rinds for a low-carb version.
Seasonings: Old Bay and Cajun seasoning creates the bright, bold flavors in this recipe. Whisk up a DIY Cajun blend and adjust the amounts any way you like.
Variations – Switch out the Old Bay for lemon pepper seasoning or the Cajun for zesty taco seasoning – use whatever matches the menu.
How to Make Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp
- Prepare three bowls of seasoned shrimp with flour, eggs, and seasoned panko.
- Dip each shrimp in eggs, and panko (recipe below).
- Cook shrimp in a single layer with enough space for the heated air to circulate them.
Delish Dipping Sauce
Popcorn shrimp are perfect for dipping and dunking. Homemade BBQ sauce and garlic sauce are great to start, but you can dip popcorn shrimp into Ranch, 1000 Island, or any dressing you like.
Storing and Reheating Popcorn Shrimp
Store leftover popcorn shrimp in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in a preheated air fryer until heated through and crispy.
More Amazing Appetizers…
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Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp deveined, peeled, cleaned, thawed
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups Panko bread crumbs
- cooking spray
Seasoning Mix:
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Optional Dipping Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 Tablespoons ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons sweet chili sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together all seasoning mix ingredients.
- To a medium bowl, add shrimp and about ¼ of the seasoning mix. Toss to combine.
- In a small bowl, combine flour and about ¼ of the seasoning mix. Sprinkle over the shrimp and toss to combine.
- In a small bowl, beat eggs.
- In a small bowl, mix panko and remaining seasoning mix together.
- You should have 3 bowls: seasoned shrimp with flour, beaten eggs, and seasoned Panko.
- Dip each shrimp in the egg mixture then in Panko. Set aside (this gives the breading time to stick).
- Meanwhile, preheat air fryer to 400˚F.
- Once heated, spray air fryer basket or air fryer sheets with cooking spray. Spread the shrimp in a single layer, being careful to not overlap.
- Cook for 8 minutes, flipping after 4 minutes. Spray the basket and shrimp when flipping.
- Repeat until all shrimp is cooked.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Dipping Sauce (Optional)
- In a small bowl, stir mayonnaise, ketchup, and sweet chili sauce. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Leftover popcorn shrimp will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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