Air-Fryer Butterfly Shrimp: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Butterfly shrimp is a delicious, quick and easy dish to make in an air fryer. It's a great option for a weeknight dinner or a simple party appetizer. The best part about cooking butterfly shrimp in an air fryer is that you don't need to defrost the shrimp beforehand, making it a convenient option for busy individuals. The cooking time may vary depending on the size of the shrimp, but on average, it takes around 7-10 minutes for butterfly shrimp in an air fryer. The key to getting crispy shrimp is to arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket and ensure they don't overlap. This allows the hot air to circulate evenly and ensures that each shrimp turns out perfectly crispy and golden brown.

Butterfly shrimp ingredients and preparation

Ingredients

• Shrimp: For butterfly shrimp, you'll need large shrimp that are peeled, deveined, and butterflied with the tails left on.
• Flour: All-purpose flour will be used for breading the shrimp.
• Seafood Seasoning: This adds a delicious seafood flavour to the dish. You can use a store-bought blend like Old Bay seasoning.
• Spices: Parsley, black pepper, and paprika add flavour and aroma to the shrimp.
• Eggs: Beat 2 medium or large eggs to create an egg wash for the shrimp.
• Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs will give the shrimp a crispy texture.
• Cooking Spray: Use a non-stick cooking spray to ensure the shrimp doesn't stick to the air fryer basket.
• Dipping Sauce: Serve your butterfly shrimp with a dipping sauce on the side, such as cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, or your favourite sauce.

Preparation

• Combine the dry ingredients: In a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag, combine the flour, seafood seasoning, paprika, salt, parsley, and black pepper. Seal the bag and shake it to mix the ingredients thoroughly.
• Prepare the shrimp: Using paper towels, pat the shrimp dry. Working in batches, add the shrimp to the seasoned flour and toss to coat evenly.
• Egg wash: Dip the floured shrimp into the beaten egg, ensuring they are well coated.
• Bread the shrimp: After dipping in the egg, coat the shrimp in the panko breadcrumbs.
• Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
• Arrange the shrimp in the air fryer basket: Place the breaded shrimp in the air fryer basket, butterflied-side down, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overcrowded.
• Spray with cooking spray: Lightly coat the tops of the shrimp with non-stick cooking spray.
• Cook the shrimp: Cook the shrimp for 3 minutes, then use tongs to flip them over. Spray the other side with cooking spray and cook for an additional 4 minutes or until they reach your desired level of crispness.
• Serve immediately: Butterfly shrimp are best served fresh and crispy, so enjoy them right after cooking!

Air fryer settings

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). If you are using frozen butterfly shrimp, there is no need to defrost them first.

Place the shrimp in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overcrowded. For frozen shrimp, you can spray the tops with non-stick cooking spray to help keep them crispy.

Cooking times will vary depending on the size of your shrimp and whether they are pre-cooked or raw. For 10-15 raw butterfly shrimp, cook for 7-9 minutes. For half a bag of pre-cooked popcorn shrimp, cook for 7-10 minutes. For 20 ounces of frozen butterfly shrimp, cook at 390°F for 10 minutes.

If you are cooking raw shrimp, you may need to cook them for longer to reach an internal temperature of 145°F. You can use a digital meat thermometer to check the temperature.

Cooking times and temperatures

The cooking time and temperature for butterfly shrimp in an air fryer will depend on whether the shrimp are fresh or frozen, and whether they are pre-cooked or raw.

Frozen Butterfly Shrimp

Frozen butterfly shrimp should be cooked in the air fryer at 390°F (200°C) for 7-9 minutes for 10-15 shrimp. It is important to arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket.

Fresh Butterfly Shrimp

Fresh butterfly shrimp should be cooked in the air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 7 minutes in total. After 3 minutes, flip the shrimp and spray the tops with non-stick cooking spray. Continue cooking for 4 minutes or until the shrimp reach the desired level of crispness.

Pre-cooked Frozen Butterfly Shrimp

Pre-cooked frozen butterfly shrimp should be cooked in the air fryer at 370°F for 4 minutes, then shaken and returned to the air fryer for a further 3 minutes.

Raw Frozen Butterfly Shrimp

Raw frozen butterfly shrimp should be cooked in the air fryer at 370°F for 4 minutes, then shaken and returned to the air fryer for an additional 6 minutes.

Dipping sauces

Butterfly shrimp cooked in an air fryer can be served with a variety of dipping sauces. Here are some ideas:

Cocktail Sauce

A classic spicy sauce served with shrimp.

Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Chilli Sauce

A savoury Asian sauce with a sweet and spicy tang.

Tzatziki Sauce

A creamy sauce that pairs well with the crispy shrimp.

Thousand Island Dressing

A classic, creamy dressing with a tangy flavour.

Honey Mustard Sauce

A sweet and tangy sauce that will add a punch of flavour to your shrimp.

Homemade Ranch

A creamy, herby sauce that will complement the shrimp.

Tartar Sauce

A traditional sauce to serve with fried seafood, tartar sauce is creamy with a hint of sourness.

Boom Boom Sauce

A spicy sauce to add some heat to your shrimp.

Sweet Chilli Sauce

A sweet and tangy sauce that will balance out the crispy shrimp.

Sriracha Mayo

A creamy sauce with a spicy kick.

Serving suggestions

Butterfly shrimp can be served as a main dish or appetiser, with a variety of sauces for dipping. Here are some ideas for serving your air-fried butterfly shrimp:

Dipping Sauces

You can serve your butterfly shrimp with a variety of dipping sauces, such as:

• Cocktail sauce
• Tartar sauce
• Honey mustard sauce
• Homemade ranch
• Ketchup
• Boom boom sauce
• Sweet chilli sauce
• Sriracha mayo
• Yum yum sauce
• Remoulade
• Pineapple sauce

Side Dishes

Butterfly shrimp can be accompanied by a variety of side dishes, such as:

• Baked mac and cheese
• Garlic parmesan sweet potato fries
• Baked zucchini fries
• Air fryer asparagus

Main Dishes

Butterfly shrimp can be used in a variety of main dishes, such as:

• Tacos or burrito bowls
• Po'boy sandwiches
• Shrimp tacos or fajitas
• Pasta dishes like shrimp orzo or bowties with shrimp
• Salads, such as a rainbow chopped salad
• Sushi-inspired bowls with white rice, avocado, cucumbers, and nori, with spicy mayo

Frequently asked questions