Air-Fryer Popcorn Shrimp: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious!

Popcorn shrimp is a popular dish that can be made in an air fryer. It is a quick and easy dish that can be made from frozen and only requires a few minutes to cook. The process involves dredging the shrimp in flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs before placing them in the air fryer for around 8-10 minutes. The result is a crispy and crunchy snack or appetizer that can be served with a variety of dipping sauces.

How to make popcorn shrimp in an air fryer

Making popcorn shrimp in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to cook this snack or appetizer. You can use either fresh or frozen shrimp, but if you are using fresh shrimp, make sure they are peeled and deveined. If you are using frozen shrimp, make sure they are fully defrosted and patted dry before you start.

To make the shrimp, you will need three shallow bowls. In the first bowl, place flour and any seasonings you want to add. In the second bowl, whisk an egg. In the third bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs and any seasonings.

Now it's time to prepare the shrimp. First, coat the shrimp in the flour mixture, then dip them in the egg mixture, and finally, toss them in the panko mixture. Place the breaded shrimp on a plate and repeat this process with the remaining shrimp.

Preheat your air fryer to between 360°F and 400°F. Add the shrimp to the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overcrowded. Spray the shrimp with cooking spray or a light coating of oil.

Air fry the shrimp for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket and spraying with oil halfway through the cooking time. The shrimp are done when they are golden and crispy.

Serve your popcorn shrimp with your favorite dipping sauce, such as cocktail sauce, ketchup, chipotle mayo, or tartar sauce. Enjoy!

How to make a dipping sauce for popcorn shrimp

Popcorn shrimp is a delicious snack, and making it in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to cook it. But what really takes it to the next level is the dipping sauce. Here are some ideas for sauces to serve with your air-fried popcorn shrimp:

Classic Cocktail Sauce

A great choice if you're serving your shrimp as an appetizer or canapé. It's a simple combination of sweet and zesty flavours with a spicy kick.

Sweet Chilli Dipping Sauce

For a sauce with a bit more kick, try sweet chilli. It's a great combination of spicy chillies, pungent garlic, and sharp lime juice. This sauce is so versatile that it can also be used as a marinade.

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

A classic combination, honey mustard is a sweet and salty sauce that's super easy to make. Just mix honey and mustard together, and you've got a sauce that pairs perfectly with shrimp.

Thai Dipping Sauce

If you like Thai food, you'll love this versatile dipping sauce. It has sweet and plentiful flavours that go great with shrimp. You can also drizzle it over a bed of jasmine rice.

Buffalo Blue Cheese Sauce

This mouth-watering sauce is creamy, spicy, and tangy. It's super easy to make, requiring just three ingredients: sour cream, hot sauce, and blue cheese crumbles.

Garlic Butter Dipping Sauce

Garlic and butter are a legendary combination, and this sauce takes it to the next level. Add in Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and hot sauce, and you've got the perfect sauce to prep with a big batch of shrimp.

Soy Ginger Dipping Sauce

This multipurpose sauce is a great choice if you're serving other finger foods like wontons, dumplings, or skewers. It's packed with flavour, thanks to the soy sauce, ginger, scallions, and red pepper flakes.

Orange Chili Dipping Sauce

This sauce is a flavour bomb for your palate. It has a base of orange marmalade for sweetness, combined with Thai chili sauce and cayenne pepper for heat. It's the perfect sauce for coconut-fried shrimp.

Bang Bang Shrimp Sauce

This silky, spicy sauce is a combination of mayo, chilli sauce, sriracha, and lime. It's a perfect match for the spice of the sriracha and the creaminess of the mayo.

Chinese Hot Mustard

A tasty and tangy choice, Chinese hot mustard is easy to make at home. It has a spark of flavour from the mustard powder and the acidity of rice vinegar.

How to store and reheat leftover air fryer popcorn shrimp

Storing leftover air fryer popcorn shrimp:

Leftover air fryer popcorn shrimp should be refrigerated in an airtight container and consumed within 3 days.

Reheating leftover air fryer popcorn shrimp:

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Place the leftover shrimp in the air fryer basket and air fry for 3-4 minutes, until warmed thoroughly. You can also reheat the shrimp in an oven preheated to 400°F. Place the shrimp on a cooling rack over a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. If you don’t have a cooling rack, bake on a baking sheet, turning the shrimp over halfway through to avoid the batter getting soggy.

The history of popcorn shrimp

Popcorn shrimp is a dish consisting of small, bite-sized fritters of shrimp meat, crafted to be eaten like popcorn. It was introduced as a menu item by the American restaurant chain Red Lobster in 1974 and remains a permanent fixture on their menu to this day. Other restaurants, including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Popeyes, and Long John Silver's, also began serving popcorn shrimp as early as 1975.

Red Lobster's creation of this dish was likely influenced by the rising popularity of shrimp as a sought-after seafood choice in America during the 1970s. The dish has since become a classic American seafood staple, with Red Lobster claiming to have "invented popcorn shrimp and introduced snow crab and calamari to middle America."

The process of making popcorn shrimp typically involves coating shrimp in a batter or flour, then deep-frying or air-frying them, resulting in a crunchy, bite-sized treat. It can be served as a snack, appetizer, or part of a meal, often accompanied by dipping sauces such as tartar sauce, ketchup, or cocktail sauce.

While Red Lobster popularized the dish, some sources suggest that popcorn shrimp may have originated in Louisiana cuisine. Chef Paul Prudhomme is credited with making it famous, as he put a similar dish called "Cajun popcorn" on his restaurant's menu, which consisted of crayfish fritters with a batter of eggs, milk, corn flour, wheat flour, and spices. Prudhomme also noted that shrimp could be used as a substitute for crayfish, and over time, "popcorn shrimp" became associated with his name.

Today, popcorn shrimp is widely available, with over 20 companies selling packaged popcorn shrimp in the US alone, and it continues to be a popular choice for those seeking a quick, easy, and tasty seafood snack.

How to make other types of shrimp in an air fryer

Yes, you can make popcorn shrimp in an air fryer. Here is a recipe for you to try:

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces of large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 egg, beaten
• Nonstick cooking spray
• Salt, to taste
• Paprika, to taste

Instructions:

• Place the shrimp in a large bowl and sprinkle with flour. Toss until the shrimp are evenly coated.
• In a separate bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, onion powder, salt, pepper, and paprika.
• Dip each flour-coated shrimp into the beaten egg, then toss in the panko mixture.
• Place the shrimp on a baking sheet and let them rest for 5 minutes while preheating the air fryer.
• Set your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
• Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
• Arrange half of the shrimp in a single layer in the basket. Mist the top of each shrimp with cooking spray.
• Cook for 4 minutes. Use tongs to flip the shrimp, then mist any chalky spots with cooking spray and cook for another 4 minutes.
• Repeat with the remaining shrimp.

Now, here are some instructions on how to make other types of shrimp in an air fryer:

Air Fryer Shrimp with No Breading:

Ingredients:

• 32 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 3/4 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions:

• Mix the olive oil and spices in a medium bowl.
• Add the shrimp and mix well, ensuring the shrimp are coated on both sides.
• Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to do this in batches.
• Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 6 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
• Serve with lemon wedges.

Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos:

Ingredients:

• Shrimp (any size or amount, according to your preference)
• Olive oil or avocado oil spray
• Seafood seasoning or taco seasoning
• Corn or flour tortillas
• Shredded lettuce, black beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, and fresh cilantro for toppings

Instructions:

• Season the shrimp with olive oil spray and your choice of seasoning.
• Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place the seasoned shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
• Air fry for 4 to 5 minutes, adjusting the time as needed depending on the size of your shrimp.
• Serve the cooked shrimp in tortillas with your desired toppings.

Air Fryer Shrimp with a Dry Brine:

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces of raw, peeled, and deveined jumbo shrimp (16/20 size), tail-on
• 1/2 teaspoon of Diamond Crystal kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon of granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter, melted, or neutral oil

Instructions:

• Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels.
• In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with salt, baking soda, and sugar until evenly coated.
• Arrange the shrimp on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (205 degrees Celsius) for 5 minutes.
• Pat the shrimp dry again with paper towels, then transfer to a large bowl and toss with melted butter or oil.
• Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching.
• Cook for about 4 minutes, until the shrimp are opaque and cooked through.

Feel free to experiment with different seasonings and serve your air-fried shrimp as a main dish, in rice bowls, pasta, or salads. Enjoy!

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