Whenever I’m craving seafood, but want a quick dish, I cook up this air fryer frozen shrimp recipe. It’s ready in less than 10 minutes, making it an easy weeknight meal. It’s also a great option during times I forgot to plan dinner.
These tender cooked shrimp are made with a Cajun seasoning mix, so they’re super flavorful. A light coating of cornflour means these shrimp turn out crispy every time. The best part? There’s no thawing needed for this air fry frozen shrimp recipe.
Keep reading to learn the answers to the following questions: How long to air fry shrimp? Can you air fry frozen shrimp? And, how long to air fry frozen shrimp?
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
Easy protein – This frozen shrimp in air fryer recipe is versatile, you can add the cooked shrimp to shrimp tacos, stir-fries, pasta salads, scampi, summer rolls, and more. However you use the cooked shrimp, you’ll be adding a good amount of protein to your dish!
Keeps in the freezer – Once you’ve made this frozen cooked shrimp in air fryer recipe, you can refreeze the shrimp for future recipes!
No thawing necessary – Simply toss the frozen shrimp right into the air fryer, no need to think about defrosting!
Cooks in under 10 minutes! – By skipping the thawing process, these yummy shrimps cook and crisp up in less than 10 minutes.
Love prawns? Try these yummy recipes : Honey and Soy Prawn Salad, Creamy Sweetcorn Orzo with Paprika Prawns and Prawn and Chorizo Pasta
Why air fry frozen shrimp?
There are quite a few reasons to try this frozen shrimp in air fryer recipe! For one, having a bag of frozen shrimp on hand is easy. Since they’re frozen, you won’t need to worry about using them too quickly (just within 3 months from purchasing). Also, the shrimp cook up rather quickly, so they’re great for a quick meal. You can season the shrimp as you’d like and enjoy them throughout the week in various recipes.
I find also that using frozen shrimp prevents the risk of overcooking, which is really easy with shrimp as it cooks so quickly!
Here are some other easy, cook from frozen recipes to make in the air fryer: Air Fryer Salmon Bites, Frozen Burgers in the Air Fryer and Frozen Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer
Ingredients
Frozen Shrimp – Any size of raw, frozen shrimp will do. Be sure the shells and tails are fully removed before following this air fryer shrimp recipe.
Cajun Seasoning – You can easily swap out Cajun seasoning for another spice blend in this frozen shrimp in air fryer recipe. Alter the seasoning depending on what you plan to do with the shrimp. For example, you can add taco seasoning if you plan on making burritos, tacos, or tostadas with the shrimp.
Cornflour-my secret ingredient to help the flavour to bind to the shrimp and it also increases crispiness.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations/ Adaptations
Here are a few ways to change up this frozen shrimp in the air fryer recipe to meet your taste preferences. For one, you can skip the Cajun seasoning and use another blend, like Italian seasoning, if you plan to make a pasta dish. Or try this combination of flavours; The Best Garlic Prawns
Or, swap out the raw, frozen shrimp with frozen breaded shrimp. It should take about 11-13 minutes to air fry frozen breaded shrimp. However, this can vary depending on the size and thickness of the breading.
Serve the king prawns with some delicious side dishes : The Crispiest Halloumi Fries, Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables and Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli
How to make frozen shrimps in the airfryer
- Start by preheating your airfryer to 392°F (200°C). Once heated remove the tray ready to use (Image 1).
- Place the frozen shrimp into the airfryer basket, evenly distributed so they aren’t touching. Cook for 2 minutes at 392°F (200°C) (Image 2).
3. After this time the prawns will be partly cooked (Image 3).
4. Next, add 1 tbsp rapeseed oil, Cajun seasoning and cornflour into the basket and shake to evenly coat the prawns (Image 4).
5. Space the prawns out again, then cook for a further 3-4 minutes at 392°F (200°C) (Image 5).
6. Serve with an optional squeeze of lime and a crack of black pepper (Image 6).
Tips for the best result
- This recipe works best with peeled and deveined shrimp. I recommend making this frozen shrimp in air fryer recipe with peeled, deveined shrimp. This extra step means you won’t have to deshell the shrimp when you’re eating them.
- Shrimp is fully cooked when it is all white and not at all translucent. When making this air fry shrimp frozen recipe, be sure to fully cook the shrimp. When done, they should be white/pink. If there are any translucent sections, the shrimp needs more time in the air fryer.
- Cooking times may vary depending on the size of shrimp used. I recommend starting with the times listed in my recipe below and adjusting them based on the appearance of the shrimp. You may need to shorten or lengthen the time depending on if you’ve purchased larger or smaller shellfish.
- Only cook one layer of shrimp in the air fryer basket at a time. Avoid stacking or overlapping the shrimp, as they won’t cook properly and won’t have a crispy exterior. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to make this recipe in batches.
Need inspiration for some main dish recipes? Try my : Best Chicken Meal Prep, Spicy Tomato Rice and Creamy Tuscan White Bean Soup
Serving Suggestions
Once you have your shrimp in air fryer frozen recipe cooked, you can do nearly anything with the shrimp. Here are a few ways I like to use this frozen shrimp in air fryer dish. Of course, you could always eat the shrimp as-is if you simply want a quick, high-protein appetizer.
- Over noodles – Toss the shrimp on top of chow mein noodles for a yummy Asian-inspired recipe. They also taste great with other Asian noodles, like udon, and rice noodles.
- In tacos – With the heat from the Cajun seasoning, these air fryer shrimp work great in tacos. Simply add your favourite toppings, like lettuce, tomatoes, and fresh coriander.
- On salads – You can easily boost the protein of your salad by tossing a few of these shrimp on top.
- In a casserole – You can turn these cooked shrimp into quite a few different casseroles. For example, they’re delicious in a shrimp and grits casserole.
- Stir fry – After pan-frying your veggies and noodles, toss in a few of these air fried shrimp to make a yummy stir-fry. They won’t need to sit in the pan for long, since they’re already cooked.
- With air fryer vegetables – Create a quick, healthy meal by air frying veggies alongside the air fried frozen shrimp. Add a sauce (like teriyaki) for a more flavourful dish.
Or serve with : Airfryer Frozen Fries, Frozen Roast Potatoes and Airfryer Hash Browns
Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions
Can you refreeze frozen shrimp after cooking?
Yes, you can refreeze frozen shrimp after you cook them. They should last in the freezer for another 3-6 months.
How to store in fridge/freezer?
Allow the frozen shrimp in air fryer recipe to fully cool. Then, pack the shrimp in airtight baggies or containers. Refrigerate leftovers for up to four days. Or, store them in the freezer for up to six months.
How to reheat
I recommend reheating these shrimp in the air fryer, as it’s one of the quicker methods. If you’ve frozen the shrimp, allow them to defrost overnight in the fridge first. Then, heat the shrimp at 350°F (180°C) in the air fryer for about 2-4 minutes, flipping halfway through.
FAQS
How long does it take to cook frozen cooked shrimp?
When considering the question, “how long to cook shrimp in air fryer?” it’s important to note the size of the shrimp, as this will change the time. If you use jumbo shrimp or large shrimp, they will take longer to cook than smaller varieties. You can use this as a baseline for this recipe: it will take about 5-6 minutes total to cook frozen shrimp in air fryer.
Can I cook frozen butterfly shrimp in the air fryer?
Yes, you can cook frozen butterfly shrimp in the air fryer. Since they’re sliced in half, they’ll cook much more quickly. I would recommend starting with 2 minutes and checking them in the basket before adding more time.
Should you rinse frozen cooked shrimp?
It’s not necessary to rinse air fryer frozen shrimp before cooking them. However, if you have shrimp stuck together or notice ice crystals/extra shrimp shell bits, you can rinse them to separate/clean the shrimp.
Can I air fry frozen shrimp that is breaded?
Yes, you can absolutely air fry breaded, frozen cooked shrimp. If you have uncooked breaded shrimp, that will also cook/crisp up nicely in the air fryer.
Can fresh shrimp be used?
Absolutely! Raw, fresh shrimp come out delicious when cooked in the air fryer.
Explore More Recipes
Prawn and Chorizo Pasta
The Best Garlic Prawns (Spanish Chilli and Garlic Prawns)
Simple Red Thai Prawn Curry
If you tried this Air fryer frozen shrimp recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys 💛 Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
Frozen Shrimp in Airfryer
by Mimi Harrison
5 from 1 vote
Cook Time: 6 minutes mins
Total Time: 6 minutes mins
£1.98
mains, Side
Cajun
Servings: 3
MetricUS Standard
This yummy frozen shrimp in air fryer recipe takes less than 10 minutes leaving you with tender cooked shrimp. Plus, there’s no thawing with this dish!
Ingredients
- 400 g frozen shrimp, peeled and raw (£5.95)
- Optional lime wedges to serve
Cupboard Essentials
- 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
- 1 tsp cornflour
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
Method
* If you don’t have Cajun seasoning, use 1 tbsp paprika, 3/4 tsp onion powder, 3/4 tsp garlic powder and a large pinch of salt
Preheat your airfryer to 392°F (200°C). Place the frozen shrimp into the airfryer basket, evenly distributed so they aren’t touching. Cook for 2 minutes.
Next, add 1 tbsp rapeseed oil, Cajun seasoning and cornflour into the basket and shake to evenly coat the prawns. Space the prawns out again, then cook for a further 3-4 minutes at 392°F (200°C).
Serve with an optional squeeze of lime and a crack of black pepper
Notes
- Use peeled and deveined shrimp for best results.
- Ensure shrimp is fully cooked until white/pink with no translucent sections.
- Adjust cooking times based on shrimp size.
- Cook shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket to achieve crispy exterior.
Nutrition
Servings: 3 servings
Fat: 9g
Calories: 200kcal
Carbohydrates: 3g
Protein: 28g
