Air-Fryer Shrimp: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious

There are several ways to make shrimp in a NuWave air fryer. You can make air-fried shrimp with cocktail sauce, air fryer coconut shrimp and apricot sauce, grilled frozen shrimp, or air-fried shrimp. The ingredients and cooking methods vary slightly for each recipe, but they all involve cooking shrimp in a NuWave air fryer. Some recipes call for breading the shrimp before cooking, while others suggest simply seasoning the shrimp or coating them in oil. The cooking time also varies, but most recipes recommend cooking the shrimp for around 5-10 minutes at a temperature of 350°F.

How to make coconut shrimp in a NuWave air fryer

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound of large raw shrimp
• 1 cup of sweetened coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt (Greek-style)
• 1 tablespoon of sweetened coconut flakes
• 2 tablespoons of orange marmalade
• 2 tablespoons of crushed pineapple
• Corn starch
• Egg whites
• Non-stick cooking spray

Instructions:

• Combine the corn starch and a pinch of salt in a shallow bowl.
• In a second shallow bowl, add the egg whites.
• In a third shallow bowl, add the coconut.
• Work with one shrimp at a time: dredge it in the corn starch mixture, then dip it in the egg whites, and finally coat it with the coconut.
• Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray.
• Place the shrimp in the air fryer basket without overcrowding—leave enough room for air to flow around the shrimp.
• Set the air fryer to 330°F for 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of the shrimp.
• Repeat the process until all the shrimp are cooked.

You can also serve the shrimp with a yogurt dipping sauce. To make the sauce, mix 1/2 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup of drained crushed pineapple, 1 teaspoon of lime juice, and 1 tablespoon of shredded coconut.

Alternatively, you can try a different recipe that uses apricot sauce:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs of uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined, with tails left on
• 1 1/2 cups of sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup of panko (Japanese) bread crumbs
• 3 dashes of Louisiana-style hot sauce
• 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
• 2 lemons, cut into wedges
• 1 cup of apricot preserves
• 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions:

• Preheat your NuWave air fryer to 375°F and set it to "Air Fry." Place the cooking rack in position 2.
• In a shallow bowl, toss the coconut with the bread crumbs. In another shallow bowl, whisk the egg whites, hot sauce, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Place the flour in a third shallow bowl.
• Dip each shrimp in the flour to coat lightly, shaking off any excess. Then, dip it in the egg white mixture, and finally, coat it with the coconut mixture, patting to help the coating adhere.
• Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Place the shrimp in a single layer in the basket, working in batches if necessary.
• Cook for about 8 minutes, until the coconut is lightly browned and the shrimp turn pink and opaque.
• While the shrimp are cooking, combine all the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over medium-low heat until the preserves melt.
• Serve the shrimp immediately with the sauce.

How to make shrimp poppers in a NuWave air fryer

Ingredients:

• 1/2 half of a 25oz – 28oz bag of SeaPak Shrimp Poppers, frozen
• Pam cooking spray

Instructions:

• Preheat your NuWave air fryer to 400°F.
• Spray the 4-inch rack with Pam cooking spray. As the shrimp are small, it is recommended to place a small fry rack on the 4-inch rack to prevent the shrimp from falling through the rack slots.
• Place the frozen shrimp poppers on the 4-inch rack.
• Cook at high power for 10 minutes.
• Ensure your shrimp poppers are thoroughly cooked. It is recommended to use a kitchen thermometer to check that your food has reached the safe temperature of 165°F.

For a more complex recipe, you can also make your own shrimp poppers from scratch. Here is a recipe for making shrimp in a NuWave air fryer, which you can adapt to make shrimp poppers:

Ingredients:

• 12 shrimp, thawed/fresh
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 ounce Old Bay Seasoning
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 cup of milk
• Pam Spray

Instructions:

• Mix the wet ingredients (eggs and milk) in a bowl with a whisk.
• In a separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients (flour, cornmeal, and seasoning).
• Dip the shrimp in the wet egg wash, coating evenly.
• Cover the egg-washed shrimp with the dry breading.
• Place the battered shrimp on the 4-inch rack in the NuWave air fryer.
• Spray both sides of the shrimp with Pam Spray, ensuring the exterior is fully moist.
• Cook for 5 minutes at High Power/350° F.
• Spray any dry spots with Pam Spray.
• Turn the shrimp and cook for another 3 minutes at High Power/350° F.

How to make frozen shrimp in a NuWave air fryer

Ingredients:

• 10 large frozen shrimp
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Seasonings of your choice (e.g. Mrs. Dash Original Blend)

Instructions:

• Cover the frozen shrimp in extra virgin olive oil.
• Place the shrimp on the 4-inch rack of the NuWave Oven.
• Season both sides of the shrimp generously.
• Cook at High Power/350° F for 8 minutes.

Tips:

• You can experiment with different seasonings to find your favorite flavor combinations. For example, try garlic Parmesan, spicy Mexican, or lemon pepper.
• No thawing is required for this recipe. Simply take the shrimp straight from the freezer to the air fryer.
• Remember to shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking.

How to make shrimp with cocktail sauce in a NuWave air fryer

Ingredients:

• 12 shrimp, thawed/fresh
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 ounce Old Bay Seasoning
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 cup of milk
• Pam Spray
• 2 tbsp horseradish (more or less to taste)
• 1 tsp or 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions:

• Mix the wet ingredients (eggs and milk) in a bowl by hand with a whisk.
• In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients (flour, cornmeal, and Old Bay Seasoning) by hand.
• Use the wet egg wash to coat the shrimp.
• Cover the egg-washed shrimp with the dry breading.
• Place the battered shrimp on the 4" rack in the NuWave Oven.
• Spray both sides of the shrimp with Pam Spray.
• Cook for 5 minutes at High Power/350° F.
• Spray any dry spots with Pam Spray.
• Turn the shrimp and cook for another 3 minutes at High Power/350° F.
• In a small bowl, mix the horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice.
• Serve the shrimp with the cocktail sauce and enjoy!

Note: You can adjust the ingredients in the cocktail sauce to match your taste preferences. For a zesty sauce, add more horseradish. If you prefer a milder sauce, use less. If you like a tangy sauce, add more lemon juice.

How to make shrimp with flour and egg in a NuWave air fryer

Ingredients

• 12 shrimp, thawed/fresh
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 cup of milk
• Pam Spray
• Salt, to taste
• Parsley, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• Seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay), to taste
• Paprika, to taste

Method

• Mix the flour, salt, parsley, black pepper, seafood seasoning, and paprika in a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag. Seal and shake to combine.
• Place the beaten eggs in a shallow bowl and mix in the milk.
• Pat the shrimp dry using paper towels.
• Working in batches, add the shrimp to the seasoned flour and toss to combine.
• Dip the shrimp in the egg mixture and then back in the seasoned flour.
• Place the battered shrimp on the 4-inch rack in the NuWave Oven.
• Spray both sides of the shrimp with Pam Spray. Ensure the exterior is fully moist.
• Cook for 5 minutes at High Power/350° F.
• Spray any dry spots with Pam Spray.
• Turn the shrimp and cook for another 3 minutes at High Power/350° F.

Tips

• You can keep the tails on the shrimp to use as a handle, or remove them if you prefer.
• Serve with cocktail sauce or your favourite dipping sauce.
• If you want to add more spices, you can include onion powder or swap the parsley for oregano.

Frequently asked questions