Bite-sized Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp are just as tasty as they are cute. These poppable seafood treats make a delicious light meal, can be added to a salad or served as a fun appetizer or party snack. It takes just minutes to dredge shrimp in a seasoned flour and breadcrumb mixture. Everything is air fried to crispy perfection with just a touch of cooking spray.
Homemade popcorn shrimp is superior to frozen shrimp and is so easy to prepare. Each poppable bite of shrimp will be crispy and delicious. Dunk them in your favorite sauce for a fun snack or pile them on a toasted roll for a Po’Boy sandwich. Popcorn shrimp air fryer is the perfect weeknight meal if you love seafood.
If you love bite sized, poppable food try my Crispy Chicken Bites, Crispy Oven Baked Popcorn Chicken, Cheesy Broccoli Bites, Cranberry and Brie Bites or Almond Joy Energy Bites.
Why You’ll Love This Popcorn Shrimp Recipe
- It’s fast. You can enjoy homemade popcorn shrimp in just 10 minutes. It’s the perfect snack or easy meal.
- It’s healthy. Air fryer popcorn shrimp uses just a spritz of cooking oil, so it’s much healthier than deep frying and cooks faster than an oven.
- It’s perfect for a party. Looking for a tasty snack for movie night, game night or a backyard party? Popcorn shrimp air fryer cooks fast and is ideal for sharing.
Homemade Popcorn Shrimp Ingredients
- Shrimp: use small shrimp that have been peeled and deveined.
- Flour: you will season all-purpose flour to dredge the shrimp.
- Seasonings: combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried parsley, ground black pepper and salt to mix into the flour.
- Egg: beat a room temperature egg to help the breadcrumbs stick to the shrimp.
- Bread Crumbs: use a combination of panko bread crumbs and seasoned bread crumbs to give the shrimp a crunchy coating.
- Fresh Parsley: to garnish.
How To Air Fry Popcorn Shrimp
- Dry the shrimp. Pat dry the shrimp with a paper towel and keep it aside.
- Prepare the coatings. In a medium bowl combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, parsley, black pepper and salt. Mix it well. In the second bowl whisk the egg and keep it aside. In the third bowl combine panko bread crumbs and seasoned bread crumbs. Mix it well and keep it aside.
- Coat the shrimp. Coat the shrimp in flour mixture first then dip it in egg and finally dredge in the breadcrumb mixture until well coated and keep it in a parchment paper. Repeat the same with the remaining shrimp.
- Prepare the equipment. Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Air fry the shrimp. Arrange the shrimp single layer on the basket and air fry for 5 minutes and flip to the other side and air fry further for 5 more minutes until shrimp turns crispy and golden.
- Garnish and serve. Sprinkle some parsley on top and serve the crispy popcorn shrimp with ketchup on the side.
Tips To Make Popcorn Shrimp in Air Fryer
- Use small shrimp so they cook evenly and you get that bite-sized experience of homemade popcorn shrimp.
- Pat the shrimp dry before dredging.
- Leave space between the shrimp so they get crispy.
- Turn the shrimp halfway through cooking so they get golden and crunchy.
- Cook in batches if necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Popcorn shrimp are small, bite sized shrimp that are breaded and fried.
Frozen shrimp is affordable and easy to keep on hand since fresh shrimp doesn’t have a long shelf life. If you use frozen shrimp, you will need to thaw them completely before making this recipe.
If you don’t have an air fryer, baking this popcorn shrimp recipe is easy. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the breaded shrimp on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway through cooking. Spray with a bit of cooking oil for extra crunch.
Leftovers should be refrigerated in an airtight container and eaten within 3 days. To reheat, preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F and cook the shrimp for about 4-5 minutes or until hot and crispy.
This air fryer popcorn shrimp recipe is so easy to freeze. Bread the shrimp as directed lay them on a baking sheet and place it in the freezer. Flash freeze the shrimp for several hours before placing them in a freezer bag. Cook directly from frozen and add 2-3 minutes to the cooking time to allow the shrimp to cook all the way through.
Popcorn shrimp is perfect served with your favorite dipping sauce. Make it a full meal by adding Crispy Air Fryer French Fries, Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes or Spicy Baked Zucchini Fries.
More Easy Shrimp Recipes
- Healthy Chipotle Shrimp Bowl
- Garlic Parmesan Shrimp Spaghetti
- Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- Spicy Shrimp Pasta
- Air Fryer Shrimp and Vegetables
I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, including this delicious Popcorn Shrimp Air Fryer recipe. I hope you try it, enjoy it, rate it, and share it with your friends and family!
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Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb small shrimp peeled and deveined
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ tsp Salt to taste
- 1 whole egg
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup seasoned bread crumbs
- Fresh parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Pat dry the shrimp with a paper towel and keep it aside.
- In a medium bowl combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, parsley, black pepper and salt. Mix it well.
- In the second bowl whisk the egg and keep it aside.
- In the third bowl combine panko bread crumbs and seasoned bread crumbs. Mix it well and keep it aside.
- Coat the shrimp in flour mixture first then dip it in egg and finally dredge in the breadcrumb mixture until well coated and keep it in a parchment paper. Repeat the same with the remaining shrimp.
- Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Arrange the shrimp single layer on the basket and air fry for 5 minutes and flip to the other side and air fry further for 5 more minutes until shrimp turns crispy and golden.
- Sprinkle some parsley on top and serve the crispy popcorn shrimp with ketchup on the side.
Notes
- Use small shrimp so they cook evenly and you get that bite-sized experience of homemade popcorn shrimp.
- Pat the shrimp dry before dredging.
- Leave space between the shrimp so they get crispy.
- Turn the shrimp halfway through cooking so they get golden and crunchy.
- Cook in batches if necessary.
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