This Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp recipe will show you just how easy it is to make tasty low-carb shrimp from frozen in the air fryer.
» You might like these 10 Homemade Keto and Low-Carb Soup Recipes and Low Carb Thai Coconut Curry Shrimp.
Shrimp is the perfect no-fuss food for a keto or low-carb diet. It doesn’t need breading or sugary sauces to make it tasty, and it’s so easy to make.
If you’re in a hurry, but want to add a simple protein to your meal, it doesn’t get any easier than this air fryer frozen shrimp.
We tend to buy frozen shrimp in a large bag from Costco. Since each individual shrimp is flash frozen, it’s so easy to just grab the amount needed from the bag. I use them on salads, in soups, and just to eat as a naturally keto-friendly snack.
Can I Really Make Them From Frozen?
Yes, that’s exactly why we wrote this recipe, so you could see how easy it is. There’s no need to defrost the shrimp before putting them in the air fryer. That means you can skip the tedious task of pulling them out of the freezer long before you’re ready to use them, so they can defrost.
Cooking them from frozen actually improves the texture. If you’ve ever defrosted shrimp the lazy way (by soaking them in cold water), you know that can lead to a strange rubbery texture when cooked. That doesn’t happen in the air fryer.
The shrimp get cooked to the perfect doneness, retaining their juiciness and plump. They’re perfect for serving in a shrimp cocktail, on salads, or in your main dish.
A Few Notes About Shrimp
- Wild-caught shrimp are always the way to go. Skip the farmed stuff. We like to use large shrimp (16/20 size) or prawns, though whatever size you have on hand will work fine.
- The size of the shrimp will change the cooking time.
- Especially when cooking frozen shrimp we try to start out with raw, shelled, cleaned and deveined shrimp. This makes the whole process easier.
How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
There’s not much to it, honestly. You just need to place the frozen shrimp into the air fryer basket. Be sure not to crowd them or stack them too much. A full basket won’t cook evenly and the final product won’t be as good.
If you need to, make them in batches, rather than stacking them on top of each other.
Cook the shrimp at 400° F for 8 minutes. Make sure to give the basket a shake half way through. This is if the shrimp is raw to begin with. If it’s already cooked frozen shrimp, it will only take 5 minutes to heat it up to the proper temperature.
The size of your shrimp may vary, so it might be necessary to cook larger shrimp for a minute or two longer.
If you want to add extra flavor, you can sprinkle the shrimp with a flavorful spice mix or seasoning salt once it’s cooked. Trying to add the seasoning before cooking is a bit futile, since they’re frozen solid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many carbs are in air fryer shrimp?
In this recipe, a half a pound of medium sized shrimp is only 227 calories and 0 grams of carbs. For this reason shrimp are a great protein choice to add to low carb recipes.
How long do you cook frozen shrimp in the air fryer?
Cook at 400° F for 8 minutes, shaking the basket half way through. Depending on the size of the shrimp you may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time. I used medium shrimp and 8 minutes was perfect.
Can I cook frozen cooked shrimp with this recipe?
No, we don’t recommend it. Cooked shrimp can turn rubbery and tough so easily. Cooked shrimp really just need to be warmed up.
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Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen shrimp
- 1 tablespoon seasoning optional
Instructions
- Add frozen shrimp to Air Fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook at 400° F for 8 minutes. Shake the basket half way through. Add seasoning after 4 minutes, if desired.
Notes
- Depending on the size of the shrimp you may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time. I used medium shrimp and 8 minutes was perfect.
- If you are adding a seasoning to the shrimp you could easily do that when you shake the basket half way through. By then the shrimp are thawed and the seasoning will stick to the shrimp.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Laura is dedicated to a low-carb lifestyle after losing 52 pounds on the keto diet. As many of us do, she struggles with her weight and has found that one of the only diet lifestyles that allows her to maintain a healthy weight is a low-carb diet. She shares her favorite low-carb recipes here that are both easy to make and full of flavor, so you don’t even miss the carbs.
I love shrimp and especially love it in the air fryer! I love to add a little seasoning once they have been cooked!
Such a great easy recipe for shrimp, they come out perfect each time!
Thanks Gina.
I love that these are made in the air fryer! Shrimp is so versatile so this recipe is definitely a keeper 🙂
Agreed! You can use shrimp in so many dishes. It’s a great time saver to make them in the air fryer.
Oh wow, great that these can be made from frozen. I always forget to defrost dinner!
It’s a huge time saver!
Wow, so easy! Will have to give this a try. Thank you!
Very easy preparation. I had access to a ninja air fryer so I did 375 degrees for 5 minutes then turned shrimp and did another 5 minutes. They probably could’ve used 7 minutes per side. I used precooked tail on frozen shrimp. I also added 2 other seasonings besides the butter. Nothing fancy and just enough for flavor. Ridiculously easy quick & delicious. Thanks!
We are happy to hear that it came out so well for you Demetra. We love how easily they cook up too.