Frozen Shrimp in Air Fryer {Ready in 6 Minutes!}

When I first tried cooking frozen shrimp in air fryer, I was honestly surprised how quick they cooked straight from the freezer – about 6 minutes at 200°C/392°F and no thawing needed! After testing a few times, I found they stay juicy in the middle while getting lightly crisp on the outside with a quick Cajun seasoning toss. It’s now my easiest way to make air fryer frozen shrimp (or frozen prawns in the UK) when I need dinner sorted fast.

Why you’ll love this recipe

You can cook frozen shrimp directly in the air fryer without thawing. In fact, I’ve found cooking from frozen helps prevent overcooking and keeps the shrimp juicier. So many reasons to 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, Orzo Pasta Salad, scampi, summer rolls, and more. However you use them, you’ll be adding a good amount of protein to your dish!
• No thawing necessary: Like I said, you can air fry frozen shrimp directly – no need to think about defrosting! And once you’ve made frozen cooked shrimp in air fryer, you can refreeze them for future recipes.
• Cooks in under 10 minutes: By skipping the thawing process, these air fryer shrimp cook and crisp up in less than 10 minutes. You could also make Quick & Easy Boom Boom Shrimp in about the same time.

Love shrimp? Try this Honey and Soy Prawn Salad, Creamy Sweetcorn Orzo with Paprika Prawns and Prawn and Chorizo Pasta next.

Ingredients

Here are the key ingredients you’ll need to air fry shrimp from frozen:

• 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. You can also use them to make this Creamy Shrimp Salad Sandwich.
• Cajun seasoning: You can easily swap out Cajun seasoning for another spice blend in this frozen shrimp in air fryer recipe. Change the seasoning depending on what you plan to do with the shrimp. For example, you can add taco seasoning if you plan on making Burrito Bowls, tacos, or tostadas with the shrimp.
• Cornflour: My secret ingredient to help the flavour to bind to the shrimp and it also increases crispiness. Many air fryer frozen shrimp recipes skip this step but I find it so important!

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations/ Adaptations

• Try different seasonings: You can skip the Cajun seasoning and use another blend, like Italian seasoning, if you plan to make a pasta dish. Or try the flavour combination in The Best Garlic Prawns.
• Breaded shrimp: 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.
• Saucy shrimp: Toss the cooked shrimp in garlic butter, sweet chilli sauce, or a squeeze of lemon and olive oil right after air frying. Since they cook so quickly, adding sauce at the end keeps the shrimp juicy and prevents them from becoming soggy in the air fryer.

How to cook frozen shrimp in air fryer

1. Start by preheating your airfryer to 392°F (200°C). Once heated remove the tray ready to use (Image 1).
2. 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 shrimp 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 shrimp (Image 4).

5. Space the shrimp 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).

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.

How long to cook frozen shrimp in the air fryer

Frozen shrimp cook surprisingly quickly in the air fryer and usually take about 5-6 minutes at 200°C/392°F, depending on their size. I’ve found cooking them straight from frozen actually helps prevent overcooking, since the outside heats gradually while the centre stays juicy. Air fryer models vary slightly, so checking a minute early is always safest.

You’ll know the frozen shrimp in the air fryer are ready when they turn pink and opaque with no grey or translucent spots left. Smaller frozen shrimp in air fryer may finish closer to 4 minutes, while large or jumbo shrimp can take up to 7 minutes, so it’s best to check them early rather than overcook.

Serving Suggestions

Once you’ve made these frozen shrimp in air fryer, you can do nearly anything with them. You could always eat the shrimp as-is if you simply want a quick, high-protein appetizer, but I love adding it to other dishes as well.

Try them with:

• Airfryer Frozen Fries
• Frozen Roast Potatoes
• Airfryer Hash Browns

• The Crispiest Halloumi Fries
• Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables
• Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli
• Spicy Tomato Rice
• Creamy Tuscan White Bean Soup

Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions

Refrigerator: 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.

Freezer: You can refreeze frozen shrimp after you cook them. They should last in the freezer for another 3-6 months.

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

If you like seafood dishes, make sure to also try The Easiest Oven Baked Fish Recipe (Perfectly Juicy), Smoked Mackerel Pâté (Easy 5-Minute Recipe), and Delicious Marry Me Shrimp Pasta.