Air Fryer Popcorn Prawns (Shrimp)

These golden and crispy Air Fryer Popcorn Prawns, also known as Shrimp are flavoured with garlic and parmesan with a panko crumb for texture and crunch. This is the ultimate breaded shrimp that's healthy and simple to make and uses hardly any oil.

Recipe Highlights

• Quick and easy to make
• A healthier way to cook popcorn prawns
• Perfect as an appetizer, snack or light meal
• Delicious golden crunch on this outside and soft and tender on the inside
• Easy to add your own flavour and spice variations
• They’re small and bite sized
• Make these with either frozen or fresh small prawns or shrimp
• Tastes like good old fashioned prawn cutlets, but without all the oil

Ingredients

With such simple ingredients, its easy to make crispy and crunchy foods in the air fryer that taste delicious and are way healthier, like my Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites, and these kid friendly Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets.  And, honestly this Air Fryer crispy and tender Calamari is so good you’ll be eating it more often then you think!

Ingredient Notes

• Prawns/Shrimp:  Make sure prawns or shrimp have heads and tail removed had all moisture has been removed by patting dry with paper or kitchen towel
• Eggs: the egg mixture is the binder which helps the panko crumbs to stick and provide an even coating
• Flour:  this helps to “dry” the outside of the prawns so that the egg wash will stay on.  I use all purpose/plain flour, however Almond flour would work, or if in Australia even Self Raising flour would work.
• Panko:  these are the rough textured breadcrumbs that provide a crispy and crunchy coating.  Alternatively, regular wholemeal breadcrumbs could be used however will result in a smoother texture as they are more finer.
• Seasonings:  garlic powder, crushed garlic, salt and basil all work to form the base savoury flavour profile of the prawns.  Garlic powder can be replaced with onion powder or other mixed herbs, even smoked paprika will work.
• Parmesan:  I like to use a finely grated parmesan that comes is the bags in the cold section at the supermarket, and there are many varieties from mild to more bitey. 
• Vegetable Oil Spray:  this is essential as it helps to create the crunchy golden coating on the prawns/shrimp.  Alternative oils to use include:  Extra Light Virgin Olive Oil spray, grapeseed oil spray, Avocado Oil Spray, Rice Bran Oil Spray, or any other oil with a high smoke point.  Avoid Peanut oil, and sesame oil and other low smoke point oils as these are not suitable for air frying.

How To Make

2. Bread the prawns/Shrimp:  Dredge the prawns/shrimp in the flour, then the eggs, then the bread crumbs. Gently press bread crumbs into the shrimp to help it to adhere.

Garnish with chopped basil and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Use Uncooked Prawns/Shrimp:  this recipe is not suited to prawns or shrimp that have been pre cooked.  Using uncooked seafood that has the head, tail and intestinal tract removed is best.
• Size of Prawns/Shrimp:  size affects cooking time so different sizes will take longer or shorter to cook.  The times in this recipe are for small bit sized pieces of prawn or shrimp.  If yours is bigger, you may like to either cut them into smaller pieces, or increase the cooking time.  Whatever size your shrimp or prawns are, make sure they are all roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
• Air Fryer Temperature:  200 C or 400F is best for cooking foods that have been breaded or use panko as the extra heat helps to crisp up the outside and achieve that gorgeous golden colour
• Single Layer:  Don’t overcrowd the basket when cooking as you want to give the prawns/shrimp enough room so the air can circulate to create crispy crunchy outsides
• Shake Halfway Through Cooking:  To get the best results and the most even colouring and crunch, at the halfway point, take the basket out and give it a quick shake and replace to finish cooking.
• Cooking Spray Oil:  Make sure you give them a good coating of spray oil.  If at the halfway point they are looking a little dry, you may like to give them another spray.

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Crispy Fish Tacos
• Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (Low Carb!)
• Air Fryer Honey Soy Chicken Wings

Air Fryer Popcorn Prawns

Kim

These golden and crispy Air Fryer Popcorn Prawns, also known as Shrimp are flavoured with garlic and parmesan with a panko crumb for texture and crunch.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 7 mins

Total Time 17 mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 448 kcal

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 1 kilogram /2 pounds uncooked prawns/shrimp - peeled and deveined
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 medium eggs - whisked
• 3 garlic cloves - minced
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• ½ cup grated Parmesan
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 tablespoon chopped basil

Instructions

 

• Prepare the dredging station: Bowl one - combine the all purpose flour and garlic powder. Bowl Two - whisk the eggs and minced garlic. Bowl three - combine panko with parmesan, garlic salt, and chopped basil.
• Preheat the air fryer to 385* for 5 minutes
• Dredge the prawns/shrimp in the flour, then the eggs, then the bread crumbs. Gently press bread crumbs into the shrimp to help it to adhere.
• Add prawns/shrimp to the air fryer in a single layer. Spray lightly with canola oil and cook for 7 minutes, stopping once halfway through to shake the basket to redistribute them and evenly cook.
• Garnish with chopped basil and enjoy!

Notes

1. Prawns/Shrimp:  Make sure prawns or shrimp have heads and tail removed had all moisture has been removed by patting dry with paper or kitchen towel
2. Eggs: the egg mixture is the binder which helps the panko crumbs to stick and provide an even coating
3. Flour:  this helps to “dry” the outside of the prawns so that the egg wash will stay on.  I use all purpose/plain flour, however Almond flour would work, or if in Australia even Self Raising flour would work.
4. Panko:  these are the rough textured breadcrumbs that provide a crispy and crunchy coating.  Alternatively, regular wholemeal breadcrumbs could be used however will result in a smoother texture as they are more finer.
5. Seasonings:  garlic powder, crushed garlic, salt and basil all work to form the base savoury flavour profile of the prawns.  Garlic powder can be replaced with onion powder or other mixed herbs, even smoked paprika will work.
6. Parmesan:  I like to use a finely grated parmesan that comes is the bags in the cold section at the supermarket, and there are many varieties from mild to more bitey. 
7. Vegetable Oil Spray:  this is essential as it helps to create the crunchy golden coating on the prawns/shrimp.  Alternative oils to use include:  Extra Light Virgin Olive Oil spray, grapeseed oil spray, Avocado Oil Spray, Rice Bran Oil Spray, or any other oil with a high smoke point.  Avoid Peanut oil, and sesame oil and other low smoke point oils as these are not suitable for air frying.

Nutrition

Calories: 448kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 52gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gFiber: 2gSugar: 2g

Note: Sugars contained in this recipe are from naturally occurring sugars in fruits, vegetables or other natural sweeteners.

Keyword Air fryer shrimp

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