These Air Fryer Shrimp come out perfectly juicy and tender every time! They’re drenched in a rich garlic butter sauce and ready in under 10 minutes. Enjoy them over a scoop of rice with a wedge of lemon for the perfect dinner!

For more easy Air Fryer Recipes, be sure to check out my Air Fryer Meatloaf, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, and Steak Bites in the Air Fryer.

a plate full of rice and shrimp with lemon on the side.

Oh, delicious, juicy, buttery, garlic shrimp. One of my favorite simple meals. If you’re a lover of garlic butter shrimp, then you’ve come to the right place!

We spent a few years living in Hawaii where delicious garlicky shrimp served from roadside trucks is a big thing. After a day spent on the beach, a plate of rice, garlic shrimp, and a scoop of Hawaiian style Mac salad just hits the spot!

a spoon drizzling garlic butter over a plate of shrimp.

Since we live in Texas now and can’t visit Giovanni’s on the North Shore of Oahu as much as I’d like (read: daily!) I get by with this recipe for Air Fryer Shrimp with Garlic Butter.

This recipe is different than that the Hawaiian food truck variations in that I use peeled shrimp here and don’t incorporate a flour coating. Using peeled shrimp helps make everything a little less messy, and the Air Fryer helps crisp the shrimp slightly without the need of flour. The easy garlic butter sauce is the perfect finishing touch, since I also use less garlic than the food truck version.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Shrimp with Garlic Butter

  • jumbo size fresh, raw shrimp
  • olive oil
  • salt + pepper
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • unsalted butter
  • fresh garlic
  • lemon
  • red pepper flakes, optional
  • fresh chopped parsley, optional

How to Cook Shrimp in the Air Fryer – Step by Step

Step 1: Coat the shrimp

Place the shrimp in a large bowl and add the olive oil, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Toss to coat. 

Step 2: Air Fry

Preheat the air fryer to 400° Fahrenheit. Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray, then add the shrimp to the air fryer in a single layer without overlapping. Air fry for 6 minutes or until the shrimp is pink, curled, and opaque. Repeat with the remaining shrimp.

step by step photos for making shrimp in the air fryer with a garlic butter sauce.

Step 3: Make garlic butter

While the shrimp are cooking in the air fryer, melt the butter in a small skillet or sauce pan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, red pepper flakes, and parsley, if using. 

Step 4: Serve

Drizzle the garlic butter over the cooked shrimp and serve over rice if desired.

a plate full of rice and shrimp with lemon on the side.

Air Fryer Shrimp – Tips and Notes

  • Use fresh garlic in the sauce. Don’t use the kind that comes packed in oil in a jar. I use that from time to time, too, but you want the fresh stuff here for best flavor!
  • Cook your air fryer shrimp in batches. For best results, don’t crowd your air fryer. Be sure to prepare in batches so that all the shrimp cooks evenly.
  • Preheat your air fryer. I like to preheat my air fryer for a few minutes before adding the food. This ensures that the proper temperature has been reached and that your shrimp will cook up nice and juicy. 
  • Cooking time may vary. Depending on the size of shrimp that you use, you may need to adjust the time. I used jumbo 21-30 count shrimp here.
  • Storing leftovers. Any leftover shrimp and garlic butter can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
a plate full of rice and shrimp with lemon on the side.

Serving Suggestions

We love this garlic shrimp served over rice with a little wedge of lemon on the side for squeezing over the top! Almost any veggie side dish tastes great with air fryer shrimp. Try one of these:

a plate full of rice and shrimp with lemon on the side.

FAQs

Can I use frozen shrimp?

Not for this recipe. I only recommend using raw, fresh shrimp. You can use frozen shrimp that has been completely defrosted and patted dry, though.

What kind of shrimp should I use?

I recommend fresh, raw jumbo size shrimp that is peeled and deveined, with the tails on.

How long to cook shrimp in the air fryer?

Fresh, raw jumbo shrimp can be cooked in the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 minutes.

a plate full of rice and shrimp with lemon on the side.

More Shrimp Recipes You Should Try!

If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. I love to hear from you and always appreciate your feedback!

a plate full of rice and shrimp with lemon on the side.
4.98 from 39 ratings

Recipe: Air Fryer Shrimp with Garlic Butter

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
These Air Fryer Shrimp come out perfectly juicy and tender every time! They're drenched in a rich garlic butter sauce and ready in under 10 minutes. Enjoy them over a scoop of rice with a wedge of lemon for the perfect dinner!
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Ingredients

For the shrimp

  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails on
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

For the garlic butter

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped, optional

Equipment

  • 1 Air Fryer

Instructions
 

  • Place the shrimp in a large bowl and add the olive oil, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Toss to coat.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400° Fahrenheit. Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray, then add the shrimp to the air fryer in a single layer without overlapping. Air fry for 6 minutes or until the shrimp is pink, curled, and opaque. Repeat with the remaining shrimp.
  • While the shrimp are cooking in the air fryer, melt the butter in a small skillet or sauce pan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, red pepper flakes, and parsley, if using. 
  • Drizzle the garlic butter over the cooked shrimp and serve over rice if desired.

Notes

  • Use fresh garlic in the butter sauce. Don’t use the kind that comes packed in oil in a jar. I use that from time to time, too, but you want the fresh stuff here for best flavor!
  • Cook your air fryer shrimp in batches. For best results, don’t crowd your air fryer. Be sure to prepare in batches so that all the shrimp cooks evenly.
  • Preheat your air fryer. I like to preheat my air fryer for a few minutes before adding the food. This ensures that the proper temperature has been reached and that your shrimp will cook up nice and juicy. 
  • Cooking time may vary. Depending on the size of shrimp that you use, you may need to adjust the time. I used jumbo 21-30 count shrimp here.
  • Storing leftovers. Any leftover shrimp and garlic butter can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Dish
Author: Ashlyn Edwards | Belle of the Kitchen
Calories: 307kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 16g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 15g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 204mg, Sodium: 1230mg, Potassium: 171mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 0.2g, Vitamin A: 1036IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 78mg, Iron: 0.5mg
Did you make this recipe?Let me know! Mention @TheBelleoftheKitchen on Instagram or tag #BelleoftheKitchen.