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    Home » Air Fryer Recipes » Air Fryer Main Dish Recipes

    Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated March 18, 2026 · Published June 27, 2021 · Leave a Comment

    Total time: 6 minutes minutes
    5 from 1 vote
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    These Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp go straight from freezer to table in just 6 minutes - no thawing required! Seasoned with garlic and paprika, they're perfect as an appetizer with dipping sauce or tossed into salads, tacos, or pasta. The ultimate freezer staple for quick dinners!

    air fryed shrimp with parsley on a blue plate.

    This Is the Ultimate Dinner When You Forgot to Take Something Out

    This is a new dinner favorite at my house. I always have frozen shrimp in the freezer, and cooking them in the air fryer is such a quick way to get dinner on the table.

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    It's a great simple meal for busy weeknights! Just grab the frozen shrimp, air fry quickly to thaw, season, then finish cooking them in just a few minutes. So delicious, and so easy - definitely my new favorite shrimp recipe!

    The Seasoning Makes All the Difference

    air fryer frozen shrimp ingredients.

    About the Shrimp

    Pictured above is frozen, pre-cooked shrimp. You can also make this with raw shrimp. The shrimp can be peeled or not, and tail on or off.

    Basically, use the shrimp you have! You can even use smaller shrimp, just shorten the cook time.

    How to Season

    I love the suggested seasoning, and find it turns frozen shrimp into a dish that tastes elegant and like something you could serve at a dinner party. But, you can really season them any way you like, and just follow the suggested cooking method.

    Just Cook & Season - From Frozen!

    1. Air Fry to Thaw

    Start by air frying the shrimp quickly to defrost them.

    Frozen shrimp in an air fryer before thawing.

    2. Season & Air Fry Again

    Season with olive oil and spices and air fry 2-3 minutes, until heated throughout. If starting with raw shrimp, you want to make sure they are pink all over - this means they are cooked through.

    Seasoned shrimp in an air fryer before cooking.

    3. Finish & Serve

    Mix with parsley, and serve!

    Air fried shrimp with parsley on a blue plate.

    Expert Tips

    Cook shrimp in a single layer. This is the best way to get an even cook.

    Do not overcook the shrimp. It's easy to overcook already cooked shrimp, so it's better to start with a shorter time and check if they are heated through, and adding more time if needed.

    What to Do with Leftovers

    Leftovers: Shrimp are best eaten straight away. If reheating they often turn out rubbery, so I don't recommend it. You can eat leftovers cold, but know that eating leftovers without reheating always comes with a risk. It is however better for the texture than reheating them.

    Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Freezing: I do not recommend freezing leftovers.

    Reheating in the air fryer: Reheat at 400°F (200°C) for 2 minutes.

    an air fryed shrimp that's been dipped in sauce.

    What to Serve Them With

    These shrimp are incredibly versatile! Serve them as an appetizer with a squeeze of lemon or dipping sauce, or as a main dish with rice and veggies. They're also perfect tossed into salads, tacos, or pasta.

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    Recipe

    air fryed shrimp with parsley on a blue plate

    6-Minute Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp (No Thawing!)

    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine: North American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose
    Servings: 2 as a main
    Calories: 83kcal
    Cook time: 6 minutes mins
    Total time: 6 minutes minutes
    Author: Emmeline Kemperyd
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 20 frozen jumbo shrimp raw or pre-cooked, peeled or not
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon paprika powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley finely chopped

    Instructions

    • Place shrimp in the air fryer basket and air fry 1 minute at 400°F (200°C), until thawed. Meanwhile, combine the spices and oil in a bowl.
      20 frozen jumbo shrimp, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp paprika powder, ¼ tsp salt, ⅛ tsp ground black pepper, 1 tsp olive oil
    • Remove the shrimp from the air fryer and mix with the spices and oil. Drain any water from the bottom of the air fryer
    • Place the shrimp back in the air fryer basket and air fry 2 minutes (3 minutes for raw shrimp) at 400°F (200°C) until heated / cooked through. If not done, repeat in 1 minute increments until done.
    • When the shrimp are done, place them in a bowl or on a plate and sprinkle with parsley. Mix, then serve!
      1 Tbsp flat leaf parsley

    Equipment (may contain affiliate links)

    • Air Fryer*
    • Measuring spoons*

    Notes

    This recipe was tested in a Philips HD9252/90 Air Fryer* and a Ninja DZ401 DualZone XL Air Fryer*. Cook time can vary with your air fryer model.
     
    Cook shrimp in a single layer. This is the best way to get an even cook.
    Do not overcook the shrimp. It's easy to overcook already cooked shrimp, so it's better to start with a shorter time and check if they are heated through, and adding more time if needed.
     

    What to Do with Leftovers

    Leftovers: Shrimp are best eaten straight away. If reheating they often turn out rubbery, so I don't recommend it. You can eat leftovers cold, but know that eating leftovers without reheating always comes with a risk. It is however better for the texture than reheating them.
    Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    Freezing: I do not recommend freezing leftovers.
    Reheating in the air fryer: Reheat at 400°F (200°C) for 2 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 83kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 759mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 415IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.

    Did you make this? Tag me today!Tag @alwaysusebutter and use the hashtag #alwaysusebutter!

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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