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This Air Fryer Garlic Shrimp recipe delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal effort. The air fryer’s intense heat cooks shrimp quickly and evenly, locking in sweetness while roasting the garlicky, buttery marinade. You’ll have a stunning, flavorful main course ready in under 15 minutes.

Recipe Overview

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Garlic Shrimp

Fast & Foolproof: Perfectly cooked, juicy shrimp in just 6-8 minutes.
Deep, Complex Flavor: Hot air caramelizes garlic and butter for a savory crust.
Easy Cleanup: Mix everything in one bowl or the air fryer basket.
Wildly Versatile: Serve over pasta, on salads, in tacos, or with bread.

Ingredients & Tools

1 lb (450 g) large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
To taste: kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
For serving: lemon wedges

Tools: An air fryer, a medium mixing bowl, and a microplane or fine grater for the garlic.

Notes: Using raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp is the biggest time-saver here—trust me. And don’t be shy with the garlic; it mellows and sweetens beautifully in the hot air, becoming nutty rather than sharp. The combination of melted butter and olive oil gives you the best of both worlds: incredible flavor from the butter and a higher smoke point from the oil.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories:	245 kcal
Protein:	24 g
Fat:	15 g
Carbs:	3 g
Fiber:	0.5 g

Serves: 3 | Prep Time: 8 minutes | Cook Time: 8 minutes | Total Time: 16 minutes

Before You Start: Tips & Ingredient Notes

Pat your shrimp completely dry. This might seem like a small step, but it’s a crucial one. Any excess moisture on the shrimp will steam them in the air fryer instead of allowing that beautiful, light sear to form. Just a quick pat with paper towels makes all the difference.
Don’t use pre-cooked shrimp. This recipe is designed for raw shrimp. Pre-cooked shrimp will become tough and rubbery very quickly in the high heat of the air fryer. Look for raw shrimp that are grayish in color and have a firm texture.
Fresh garlic is non-negotiable. I know the jarred stuff is convenient, but for this recipe, the flavor of fresh, minced garlic is paramount. It roasts and infuses the butter in a way that garlic powder or pre-minced garlic simply can’t replicate.
Let the shrimp marinate, even briefly. If you have just 5-10 minutes to let the shrimp sit in the garlic-butter mixture, take it. This short rest allows the flavors to penetrate the shrimp, resulting in a more deeply seasoned final dish.

How to Make Air Fryer Garlic Shrimp

Step 1: First, you’ll want to prepare your shrimp. If they aren’t already prepped, peel and devein them, leaving the tails on or off based on your preference. Then, take a few paper towels and pat the shrimp thoroughly dry. This is your secret weapon for getting a nice texture instead of a steamed one. Place the dried shrimp in a medium mixing bowl.

Step 2: Now, let’s make that incredible marinade. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, smoked paprika, onion powder, and red pepper flakes if you’re using them. Whisk it all together until it’s beautifully emulsified and fragrant. You’ll notice the smoked paprika gives the mixture a lovely warm, red hue.

Step 3: Pour about two-thirds of the garlic-butter marinade over the shrimp in the bowl. Toss everything together until every single shrimp is glistening and well-coated. Season generously with salt and black pepper. If you have a spare 5-10 minutes, let the shrimp sit and marinate at room temperature. If you’re in a rush, it’s okay to move right along—it’ll still be delicious.

Step 4: Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (190°C) for about 3 minutes. A quick preheat ensures everything starts cooking immediately and evenly. While it’s heating, reserve the remaining third of the marinade—this will be your finishing sauce, and it’s a game-changer.

Step 5: Carefully arrange the marinated shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. It’s crucial they aren’t piled on top of each other, or they’ll steam instead of air fry. A little space between them allows the hot air to circulate perfectly.

Step 6: Air fry the shrimp for 6 to 8 minutes. The exact time will depend on the size of your shrimp and your specific air fryer model. You’re looking for the shrimp to be pink and opaque all the way through, with the edges just starting to get a tiny bit golden and caramelized. No need to shake the basket halfway—this lets a nice crust form.

Step 7: As soon as the shrimp are done, transfer them to a serving platter. Drizzle the reserved, unused marinade over the top. The heat from the freshly cooked shrimp will “cook” the raw garlic in this final sauce just enough, making it safe to eat and adding a fantastic burst of fresh garlic flavor.

Step 8: Finish the dish by sprinkling the freshly chopped parsley over the hot shrimp and serving immediately with lemon wedges on the side. A final squeeze of lemon juice right before eating brightens up all the rich, buttery flavors perfectly.

Storage & Freshness Guide

Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Freezer: Freeze in a single layer then transfer to a bag for up to 1 month.
Reviving: Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes to restore texture.

Serving Suggestions

Complementary Dishes

Lemon Herb Orzo or Risotto — The creamy, citrusy grains are the perfect bed to soak up all the incredible garlic-butter sauce from the shrimp.
A Simple Arugula Salad — The peppery bite of arugula dressed with just lemon juice and olive oil provides a fresh, crisp contrast to the rich, warm shrimp.
Crusty, Toasted Baguette — This is non-negotiable for me. You’ll want something to scoop up every last bit of that delicious sauce left on the plate.

Drinks

A Crisp Sauvignon Blanc — Its bright acidity and citrus notes mirror the lemon in the dish and cut through the richness of the butter beautifully.
Sparkling Water with Lemon — For a non-alcoholic option, the bubbles and citrus cleanse the palate between each succulent, garlicky bite.
A Light Lager — A cold, crisp beer is a classic pairing with shrimp, and its effervescence makes it a refreshing counterpart.

Something Sweet

Lemon Sorbet — A scoop of tangy, refreshing sorbet continues the citrus theme and provides a clean, palate-cleansing finish to the meal.
Almond Biscotti — The nutty, crunchy cookies are lovely for dipping into a

Air Fryer Garlic Shrimp

Cost Level $$

Category Shrimp Recipes

Difficulty Medium

Cuisine American, mediterranean

Servings 3

Total Time 16 minutes

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Make juicy, flavorful Air Fryer Garlic Shrimp in just 15 minutes! This easy recipe is perfect for a quick dinner. Get the simple steps and cook it tonight!

Ingredients

For the Shrimp & Marinade:

1 lb large raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley (finely chopped)
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
lemon wedges (for serving)

Instructions

01
First, you’ll want to prepare your shrimp. If they aren’t already prepped, peel and devein them, leaving the tails on or off based on your preference. Then, take a few paper towels and pat the shrimp thoroughly dry. This is your secret weapon for getting a nice texture instead of a steamed one. Place the dried shrimp in a medium mixing bowl.
02
Now, let’s make that incredible marinade. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, smoked paprika, onion powder, and red pepper flakes if you’re using them. Whisk it all together until it’s beautifully emulsified and fragrant. You’ll notice the smoked paprika gives the mixture a lovely warm, red hue.
03
Pour about two-thirds of the garlic-butter marinade over the shrimp in the bowl. Toss everything together until every single shrimp is glistening and well-coated. Season generously with salt and black pepper. If you have a spare 5-10 minutes, let the shrimp sit and marinate at room temperature. If you’re in a rush, it’s okay to move right along—it’ll still be delicious.
04
Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (190°C) for about 3 minutes. A quick preheat ensures everything starts cooking immediately and evenly. While it’s heating, reserve the remaining third of the marinade—this will be your finishing sauce, and it’s a game-changer.
05
Carefully arrange the marinated shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. It’s crucial they aren’t piled on top of each other, or they’ll steam instead of air fry. A little space between them allows the hot air to circulate perfectly.
06
Air fry the shrimp for 6 to 8 minutes. The exact time will depend on the size of your shrimp and your specific air fryer model. You’re looking for the shrimp to be pink and opaque all the way through, with the edges just starting to get a tiny bit golden and caramelized. No need to shake the basket halfway—this lets a nice crust form.
07
As soon as the shrimp are done, transfer them to a serving platter. Drizzle the reserved, unused marinade over the top. The heat from the freshly cooked shrimp will “cook” the raw garlic in this final sauce just enough, making it safe to eat and adding a fantastic burst of fresh garlic flavor.
08
Finish the dish by sprinkling the freshly chopped parsley over the hot shrimp and serving immediately with lemon wedges on the side. A final squeeze of lemon juice right before eating brightens up all the rich, buttery flavors perfectly.