Easy Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp

Making frozen precooked shrimp in the air fryer is a great way to put a quick and east meal on the table. Frozen precooked shrimp cook up very quick in the air fryer and are healthier alternative to frying in oil.  

Brands of Precooked Shrimp for the Air Fryer

There are multiple different brands of frozen shrimp you can put in your air fryer. Many include instructions on the box for air frying, but some do not. There are also brands that have popcorn shrimp or coconut shrimp. 

These are a few of the brands of frozen shrimp that cook well in the air fryer: 

• Gorton’s Butterfly Shrimp
• Gorton’s Air Fried Shrimp
• SeaPak Jumbo Butterfly Shrimp
• SeaPak Crispy Tempura Shrimp
• Kroger Breaded Butterfly Shrimp
• SeaPak Popcorn shrimp
• Kroger Crunch Coconut Shrimp

I have generally found that, regardless of the brand, I find the cooking method is generally the same for any of various breaded or battered frozen shrimp recipes. The only thing that might change is larger shrimp or jumbo shrimp might require a bit more cooking time than a small shrimp such as popcorn shrimp.  As with any air fryer recipe, I recommend monitoring cooking and remove the shrimp when they are crispy and golden. 

You can also make unbreaded pre-cooked shrimp in the air fryer. However, I prefer to prepare unbreaded shrimp through other methods.

How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp

Preparing pre-cooked frozen shrimp in an air fryer is easy. It is also a convenient way to enjoy precooked seafood with minimal preparation. 

For this post, I used Gorton’s frozen shrimp because it is a popular product and is known for its quality and flavor. The goal with air frying is to get crispy shrimp that is not overcooked and is light on the use of oil.

Preparing The Shrimp

I start with a light cooking spray or a light coating of oil. My preferred oils are olive oil, coconut oil., or avocado oil. Go easy on the oil! You do not need much. If you use too much your shrimp will not be crispy. Remember, your goal is to achieve crispy air fryer shrimp, not soggy! In fact, with frozen shrimp, you can actually put them in the air fryer with no use of oil whatsoever if you like. Most frozen brands are formulated to be oven baked with no oil. They tend to be fine in the air fryer with it too. But I like to add a touch of oil. 

You can use most brands of shrimp right out of the box. However, it can also be fun to season the shrimp to your liking with whatever is your favorite seasoning. Try adding things like garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, lemon pepper, or Italian Seasoning to your shrimp for extra flavor.  If using seasoning, just sprinkle it on after lightly coating or spraying the shrimp with oil.

Air Frying the Shrimp  

Preheat your air fryer to 400. Arrange the frozen shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not stacked or overlapping. It is important not to crowd shrimp in order to get even cooking and crisping. 

Cook for about 5 minutes, then flip the shrimp and cook for about 3 minutes more. The shrimp are ready when they are hot, crispy, and golden brown. 

The overall cook time is usually about 8 minutes. However, the size of the shrimp matters. Popcorn shrimp might be ready quicker. Jumbo shrimp might take 10. 

When done, blot the any excess oil with paper towels. 

Serving Air Fryer Shrimp

Serve your shrimp with a favorite dipping sauce of your choice I like cocktail sauce, but tartar sauce is also popular. Various hot sauces are also tasty. In fact, you can make a pretty spicy buffalo shrimp recipe by cooking frozen shrimp in the fryer and then coating them with a buffalo sauce. Serve that one with ranch or blue cheese dressing! For a great “real deal” buffalo sauce recipe, use the recipe from my Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer Chicken Wings.

Various sides go well with Shrimp. You could try my Instant Pot Baked Beans, or Instant Pot Corn on the Cob as a side. 

What to do with Leftover Frozen Shrimp

 I rarely have leftover shrimp because I cook only what I need. That is the nice thing about using a boxed frozen shrimp. You do not have to use the whole box. However, if you do find yourself with leftovers, store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Shrimp does not keep very well, so plan to consume any leftovers promptly. 

My favorite use for leftover shrimp is to put it on a salad. Often I simply reheat my shrimp for lunch the next day.  

In sum, the air fryer really is a game-changer when it comes to cooking precooked shrimp. Whether you’re working with fresh breaded shrimp or relying on the convenience of frozen options like Gorton’s shrimp, the air fryer helps you achieve the perfect balance of crispy and tender. 

Below is an air fryer shrimp recipe card with instructions