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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.

A white tray of air fryer popcorn shrimp with a small bowl of cocktail sauce.
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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

Ingredients needed for air fryer popcorn shrimp recipe.
  • 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.
Ingredients needed for breading homemade popcorn shrimp.
  • 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.
Dredging station for popcorn shrimp air fryer.
  • 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.
Homemade popcorn shrimp breaded and laying on a baking rack topped with parchment.
  • Prepare the equipment. Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
Homemade popcorn shrimp in air fryer before and after cooking.
  • 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.
A piece of air fryer popcorn shrimp is laying in a bowl of cocktail sauce.

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. 
Cooked popcorn shrimp recipe on a round white tray with a bowl of dipping sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is popcorn shrimp?

Popcorn shrimp are small, bite sized shrimp that are breaded and fried. 

Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?

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. 

Can I bake homemade popcorn shrimp?

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. 

How do I store and reheat popcorn shrimp?

​​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. 

Can I freeze homemade popcorn shrimp?

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. 

What to serve with popcorn shrimp?

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.

A white tray with popcorn shrimp air fryer and cocktail sauce.

More Easy Shrimp Recipes

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!

If you try this recipe and liked it, please leave a star rating and comment below. Use my hashtag to share it with me on Instagram so I can see your delicious recreations! Also, follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.

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Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

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.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 184mg | Sodium: 969mg | Potassium: 248mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 541IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 3mg
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