Crispy Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp makes for a restaurant quality appetizer in the comfort of your own home. Better yet? This dish is much healthier than the traditionally fried version.
Crispy Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp is one of our family favorites. My boys love how the crispy breading pairs with the juicy, plump shrimp on the inside. I love the air fryer because I can rest assured that my kids aren’t eating food that is drenched in oil.
Tips For Air Fryer Shrimp
- Pat your shrimp dry. Remove any extra liquid from your shrimp to help the breading stick better.
- Use fresh or thawed shrimp. Don’t attempt to dredge and coat frozen shrimp. They simply won’t take to the breading.
- Don’t crowd the basket. To ensure even cooking, lay only a single layer of shrimp in the air fryer basket at a time.
- So many shrimps, so little time. Any size shrimp will work, but we prefer to use large shrimp.
- Keep the tail on. Keep the tail on your shrimp for easier dipping and coating.
- Always preheat your air fryer. Allow your air fryer to fully preheat before you place the shrimp inside.
- Don’t skip the flip. Make sure to flip your shrimp halfway through cooking to make sure they get the love they need to be crispy on both sides.
How to Defrost Frozen Shrimp
Defrost frozen shrimp by setting them in the fridge overnight. If you need to quick defrost, remove frozen shrimp from the bag and place them in a colander in the sink. Run cool water over the shrimp for 7-8 minutes, making sure to separate and toss the shrimp every now and again. Before you begin dredging and coating, make sure there are no residual icey bits left on the shrimp.
How To Make Air Fryer Shrimp
- Prepare the coating.
- Dip a shrimp into a bowl with beaten eggs.
- Then, immediately dip the shrimp into the coating.
- Repeat the above steps and add coated shrimps into the air fryer basket until you get one, even layer.
- Air fry your shrimps to golden brown perfection!
Freezing and Air Frying
If you’re meal-prepping or simply making these coconut shrimps for later, simply follow the coating instructions and place your shrimps on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet directly into the freezer so each individual shrimp freezes evenly. Frozen shrimps will take 3 to 3 ½ minutes extra to air fry on each side.
Storing Your Leftovers
Store your leftover shrimp in an airtight container. It will last for up to three days. To reheat, zap them in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or heat them up in a skillet over medium-heat. If you end up freezing your raw and breaded shrimps, they will last for up to three months in the freezer.
More Air Fryer Recipes
At Momsdish, we love using the air fryer to make healthy (and just as tasty!) versions of our favorite fried foods.
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings – Sometimes chicken wings are the only food that will do the trick. This air fryer version gives them the perfect crisp, while keeping the inside moist and tender.
- Air Fryer Pork Chops – Overcooked, tough pork chops are the worst. This air fryer recipe comes out perfectly juicy each time.
- Air Fryer French Fries – We love french fries. But making the traditional kind is not only messy — it’s super unhealthy. Air fryer fries are just as crispy and nearly guilt-free.
- Air Fryer Baked Potato – On a busy weeknight, a quick air fryer baked potato and salad is a lifesaver.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb raw shrimp with tails attached
- 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 eggs
- cooking spray
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all-purpose flour, salt, pepper, coconut flakes and panko bread crumbs. In a separate bowl whisk the eggs.
- Pat dry shrimp and dip them into egg mixture followed by the crumbs mixture. Coat all the sides evenly.
- Spray the preheated air fryer basket with oil. Place coated shrimp in one layer inside the air fryer basket.
- Air fry shrimp at 400 °F for 7 minutes, flip it over and air fry for another 4 minutes or until it's golden brown. Enjoy it with your favorite dipping sauce!
I wonder if coconut flour would work instead of AP...?
Hey Karyn, I haven’t tried this recipe with coconut flour. I think it may work.
Hello
This recipe looks amazing for my new diet. I just have a quick question. Are the nutrition facts for the whole recipe or a portion that I missed?
Hey, so glad you enjoyed them. This recipe makes 4 servings.
Can I substitute egg dip for something else? Someone in the family is allergic to eggs
Thank you
You can use chickpea juice, aquafaba, from the can to act as the egg coating. Worked well for my chicken tenders I made.
Oh rally interesting. Thank you for sharing!
Hey Dina, I am not sure what people use typically. It helps to hold the coating.
Can you put the shrimp in frozen?
No you can't put them in frozen but, there are instructions on how to defrost shrimp and when you can bread them.
Hi, I am new to the air fryer - question on the coconut shrimp recipe- pan fry them first in butter and then coat them??
Thank you,
Linda
Hey Linda, no, the air fryer will fully cook them. No need to precook them.
Your instruction 2 says to “pan try”. I think you mean pat dry....
Great catch, thanks for letting me know!
Yummy! My favorite kind of shrimp - now made in the air fryer. I love using my air fryer and these were perfect!
Lisalia, I am glad you found this recipe. Enjoy it!
Coconut shrimp is my favorite!!! These turned about perfectly crispy and were so stink'n good!
Oh, I am so happy to hear this. Thank you Stephanie.
I love using my air fryer, and this came out fabulous! I can't wait to try it again!
Allyson, thank you! So glad enjoyed it!
The air fryer makes them come out so crispy and tasty! Love it!
Yes, I am with you, I love the crispy crust!