This Air Fryer Breaded Shrimp is made in under 20 minutes with almost no oil. It's so easy, crunchy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside.
Looking for air fryer shrimp recipes? Try my air fryer shrimp tacos made using the air fryer Mexican shrimp recipe.
Why You'll Love This Air Fryer Shrimp with Panko?
I used to buy breaded panko shrimp from Costco until I realized how quick and easy it is to make at home—and honestly, it tastes so much better!
The secret to getting deep-fried-style crunch in the air fryer is a few simple techniques. I use light and airy Japanese-style panko and my tried-and-true breading method, similar to the air fryer breaded mushrooms, which helps the breadcrumbs stick beautifully to the shrimp.
The result is golden, crunchy, restaurant-style shrimp that’s faster, easier, and fresher than anything from the freezer aisle!
-maria doss
★★★★★
"There are different variations for air fried panko shrimp. I chose this recipe for the simple fact that it only requires two bowls. It was incredibly tasty, but it packs some flavor! Definitely better tasting than the frozen breaded shrimp you've seen at Costco. This one's a winner!"
-TONY JAE
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Secrets for crispy breaded shrimp in air fryer
When cooked correctly, air fried breaded shrimp can be just as crunchy and irresistible as deep-fried ones. Unfortunately, many recipes result in a soft exterior or overcooked interior. We've adopted a few techniques to achieve perfectly crispy shrimp in the air fryer.
- I used the superior Japanese style panko breadcrumbs, which is light and airy than the traditional counterparts.
- I used my tried-and-true technique of breading, just like air fryer breaded mushrooms, of stirring the shrimp in a thin batter and then dredging with breadcrumbs. The breadcrumbs stick well, creating a golden, crispy crust.
- I ensure to press bread crumbs well on both sides of the prawn, to help it adhere well and give a nice crunch.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Leaving space allows hot air to circulate, ensuring a crispy exterior.
Ingredients you'll need
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Shrimp - I like to use peeled and deveined shrimp. It's quick and easy.
- Panko breadcrumbs – Japanese style panko breadcrumbs adds a superior crunch to your air fryer breaded shrimp.
- Egg - Helps to bind everything.
- All purpose flour - I use just 2 tablespoons, which helps to thicken and ensures the breading stays in place.
- Seasoning - I used a simple salt and pepper. You can try tossing in your favorite spices like garlic powder, red pepper flakes, cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika, cayenne or chili powder into the batter.
How to make panko breaded shrimp in air fryer?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
1 & 2. Add egg, app purpose flour and seasonings into a shallow bowl and whisk together to make a smooth batter.
3 & 4. Toss shrimp and mix until coated thoroughly.
5. Place panko breadcrumbs in a shallow plate.
6 & 7. Working with one shrimp at a time, coat them with panko, on both side sides, pressing to adhere. Make sure to press bread crumbs well on both sides of the shrimp, to help it adhere well and give a nice crunch.
8. Place them in a pre heated air fryer basket, cook at 400 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes, until deep golden brown.
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Tips for Success
- Shrimp size – I recommend using 21 to 25 count shrimp for this air fryer breaded shrimp recipe. If using 31 to 40 count then reduce cooking time accordingly.
- Don’t overcrowd – I used 6 quart instant vortex and 1 pound of shrimp was perfect cooked in two batches, without being overcrowded.
- Tails – Tails can be kept intact or removed. I like to leave the tails on for a prettier presentation.
- Dredge well – Using hands, make sure to press bread crumb mixture well on both sides of the shrimp to help it adhere well and give a thicker coating.
- Panko breadcrumbs – If you don’t have panko, then regular bread crumbs may be used. But, they won’t get as light and crispy.
Troubleshooting
- The breading is clumping instead of coating evenly: This usually happens toward the end of the breading process, when wet batter starts building up in the breadcrumbs. To minimize this, use one hand for the wet batter and the other for the breadcrumbs. If larger clumps form, remove them with a fork and discard them.
- The shrimp isn’t browned enough after 8 minutes: This is usually caused by overcrowding the air fryer or not using enough cooking spray. Give the shrimp plenty of space, and I recommend a light coating of cooking spray before cooking and another halfway through. This helps the panko turn golden, crispy, and crunchy.
FAQ'S
Cooking time depends on the size of your shrimp. At 400°F, large shrimp (21–25 count) typically take 7–8 minutes, while medium shrimp (31–40 count) cook in about 6 minutes. Keep in mind that air fryers can vary, so check the shrimp toward the end of the cooking time to avoid overcooking.
For simple air-fried shrimp, you can cook them straight from frozen at 400°F for about 10 minutes, then use them in your favorite recipes. However, for breaded air fryer shrimp, the shrimp needs to be completely thawed and patted very dry first. Excess moisture will prevent the panko from sticking properly and can leave you with a soggy rather than crispy coating.
If using from frozen, then place shrimp in a large bowl, and fill the bowl with cold or room temperature water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until thawed (the time will depend on the quantity of shrimp). Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
More air fryer dinner ideas
Air Fryer Breaded Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound large raw shrimp (21 to 25 count) peeled, deveined
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs
Instructions
- Prep shrimp. If using frozen shrimp, thaw completely and pat them very dry with paper towels before breading.
- Make batter. Add the egg, flour, salt, and pepper to a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Add the shrimp and toss until evenly coated.
- Breading. Place the panko in a shallow dish. Working with one shrimp at a time, dredge it in the breadcrumbs, turning and gently pressing on all sides so the panko sticks evenly. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining shrimp.👉 Press the breadcrumbs firmly onto both sides of each shrimp. This helps the coating adhere and gives you that extra-crispy crunch!
- Air fry. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Arrange half the shrimp in a single layer, leaving space between each one. Spray generously with cooking spray and air fry for 7–8 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. No need to flip!Transfer the shrimp to a plate and repeat with the remaining batch. 👉 For an extra-deep golden and crunchy coating, give the shrimp another light spray of cooking oil after about 4 minutes.
- Serving. Serve hot with spicy sriracha mayo, remoulade, tartar or bang bang sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
Storage and Reheating
Leftover air fryer breaded shrimp can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- To reheat in microwave: Simply microwave them for couple of minutes, but the breading might not crisp up.
- To reheat in air fryer: To revive the crispy coating, re heat in the pre heated air fryer, for few minutes at 390 degrees. This works best for reheating!
Serving suggestions
- Make into a meal like shrimp sushi bowls or tacos.
- Serve for dinner with rice or pasta dishes.
- Serve as an appetizer with spicy sriracha mayo, tartar sauce, remoulade sauce (I love this recipe from simplyrecipes.com) or bang bang sauce from the bang bang chicken recipe.
MADE THIS RECIPE AND LOVED IT? 💚 Please leave a ⭐️STAR rating and COMMENT below- I love to hear your feedback! Tag me with your creations on Instagram and find me on Facebook.
Hi, I’m Maria! I share easy, flavor-packed dinners, high-protein meals, and irresistible baking ideas. If you’ve ever asked, “Don’t know what to cook tonight?” you’re in the right place. And yes—there’s plenty here for breakfast, snacks, and dessert too. More about maria ->
Chris Howell
I used 500g peeled and deveined frozen shrimp tail on pacific bay brand i used 2 medium eggs and 2 heaped tablespoons of all purpose flour plus a pinch of cayenne with s and p ,the batter wasnt super smooth and i only had japanese style bread crumbs but they turned out really good in 2 batches of 12 pieces i made sirrachi and mayo with fresh lemon juice to dip and served with home made slaw delicious thanks
Maria Doss
Hi Chris, Glad you loved it, Maria
Jim and Ashley
Making Right now in our new air fryer! Going to make a lemon pepper garlic variation. Thanks so much for your cool recipe!!
Maria Doss
Happy to hear, hope you liked them - Maria
Chandra
This was delicious. I followed your recipe. The shrimp were light, flavorful, airy and yummy. Not overly spiced. The panko bread crumbs gave the shrimp a perfect crisp. Nice & crunchy. Glad I found your recipe. Definitely a keeper. So easy & quick. Thank you!!!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you love it – Maria ♡
Tony Jae
There are different variations for air fried panko shrimp. I chose this recipe for the simple fact that it only requires two bowls- 1) flour/egg mixture, 2) panko. It was incredibly tasty with just 1/2 tsp of salt + 1/4 tsp pepper, but it packs some flavor! Definitely better tasting than the frozen breaded shrimp you've seen at Costco. This one's a winner!
Maria Doss
Yay, happy to hear. Have a wonderful day - Maria
Susan Weber
Not to bash the Costco shrimp, but we said the exact same thing! This recipe tastes so good, it’s much healthier and really not that much more work.
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you love it hun – Maria ♡
Susan W
This recipe is super good and SO easy! We loved it! Used cooking spray in the air fryer as recommended and no sticking to the pan at all. Breading stayed on the shrimp well too. I only had large “cooked” shrimp on hand so went just 5 minutes in the air fryer as opposed to 7-8 minutes as referenced on the recipe card. I also added a small amount of paprika. Will definitely be making again soon! Thank you for this great recipe!!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you love it hun – Maria ♡
Mary O'Connor
Made this with tiger prawns fresh from the boat and they were so good. I added smoked paprika and garlic powder to the flour and good call adding eggs too as its less washing up.Thanks for this recipe 😋
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you love it hun – Maria ♡
MP
Very good recipe. Obviously lighter and healthier than deep fried. Add some paprika and garlic powder. Dip in sweet chili glaze.
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you love it – Maria ♡
Jvan
So far this is the best breaded shrimp recipe we have found, very delicious and no need to look further. The hint about the cooking spray is the game changer, give it a try.
Bryan
This was perfect. Spraying oil on both sides produced perfectly crunchy shrimp.
Maria Doss
Yay, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for making my recipe and coming back to let me know—it means so much - Maria ❤️