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These small batch air fryer shrimp are seasoned simply, cooked quickly, and come out perfectly tender with a light crispness on the outside. No breading, no fuss, just juicy shrimp with big flavor and ready in less than 10 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Ready in under 10 minutes with minimal prep.
- Big Flavor: Juicy shrimp with a light, crisp finish from the air fryer.
- Perfect Portion: A small batch recipe, ideal for one or two people.
- Customizable: Use your favorite spice blends to change up the flavor.
When I want something fast, flavorful, and a little impressive, this small batch shrimp recipe is my go-to.
The air fryer works its magic in minutes with no breading and no mess. Just tender shrimp with a hint of crispness. I love how the simple seasonings let the shrimp shine, and a quick squeeze of lemon at the end brings everything to life.
It’s one of those recipes that feels special without trying too hard. I find myself making it again and again for a light meal or an easy appetizer.
Although I love enjoying this shrimp on its own, it’s also great in shrimp tacos for one, single serving shrimp and grits, or single serving shrimp fettuccine.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this single serving air fryer shrimp recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Shrimp: Large shrimp are best. Smaller shrimp cook too fast and can turn rubbery. If using frozen shrimp, thaw them in the refrigerator before cooking. If you’ve got extra shrimp, use them in a single serving shrimp quinoa bowl, shrimp étouffé for one, or single serving shrimp fried rice.
- Olive Oil: Helps the seasonings stick and gives the shrimp a light golden finish.
- Seasonings: A simple mix of garlic powder, paprika, and kosher salt adds flavor without overpowering the shrimp. You can also use other spices like ground cumin, our homemade garam masala, or small batch creole seasoning. If using Creole seasoning, skip the added salt, it’s already included.
- Lemon: A quick squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end brightens the dish and adds a fresh, citrusy aroma that pairs perfectly with the shrimp.
Recipe Variations
You can change up the flavor by finishing the shrimp in different ways or adding simple ingredients before or after cooking.
- Garlic Butter Shrimp: Toss with melted butter and minced garlic after cooking.
- Parmesan Shrimp: Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese while the shrimp are still hot.
- Smoky BBQ Shrimp: Brush with a small amount of barbecue sauce during the last minute of cooking.
- Herb Butter Shrimp: Mix softened butter with herbs and place a small pat on top of the shrimp as soon as they’re done.
Tip: How to Peel and Devein Shrimp
If your shrimp still have shells, here’s how to get them ready:
- Peel: Remove the legs, then peel away the shell from underneath.
- Remove the Tail (Optional): Pinch the tail where it meets the body and pull it off.
- Devein: Make a shallow cut along the back with a small knife and lift out the dark vein.
How To Cook Shrimp In An Air Fryer
The photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this quick air fryer shrimp recipe. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (182°C) for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel and place them in a medium bowl.
- Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with garlic powder, paprika, and kosher salt. Toss to coat evenly.
- Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each one.
- Air fry for 6 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the shrimp and serve immediately. For extra color and flavor, sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired.
No air fryer? No problem!
You can cook the shrimp in a skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes on each side. Or try our single serving baked shrimp recipe, ready in just 10 minutes.
Expert Tips
- Preheat the Air Fryer: A few minutes of preheating helps the shrimp cook evenly and get lightly crisp on the outside.
- Pat the Shrimp Dry: Use a paper towel to remove excess moisture before seasoning. This helps them brown better.
- Don’t Crowd the Basket: Arrange the shrimp in a single layer with space between each one so they cook evenly.
- Flip Halfway Through: Turn the shrimp over halfway through the cooking time to get even color and texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cook the shrimp in the air fryer at 360°F (182°C) for 6 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
Store any leftover cooked shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Absolutely. Just be sure to cook the shrimp in batches so they’re in a single layer and have space to cook evenly. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this single serving air fryer shrimp recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Small Batch Air Fryer Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients
- 9 large shrimp peeled and deveined
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- Optional: squeeze of lemon and chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (182°C) for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel and place them in a medium bowl.
- Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with garlic powder, paprika, and kosher salt. Toss to coat evenly.
- Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each one.
- Air fry for 6 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the shrimp and serve immediately. For extra color and flavor, sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- Preheat the Air Fryer: A few minutes of preheating helps the shrimp cook evenly and get lightly crisp on the outside.
- Pat the Shrimp Dry: Use a paper towel to remove excess moisture before seasoning. This helps them brown better.
- Don’t Crowd the Basket: Arrange the shrimp in a single layer with space between each one so they cook evenly.
- Flip Halfway Through: Turn the shrimp over halfway through the cooking time to get even color and texture.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Great recipe.
Thank you!