Simple Air Fryer Shrimp with Sriracha Lime Sauce

Do you want fried shrimp without the extra calories and fat? Then these Simple Air Fryer Shrimp with Sriracha Lime Sauce are for you! Crispy, spicy and full of flavor!

There is nothing quite like fried shrimp. They are a great finger food, easy to pass and everyone loves them. The great thing about using an air fryer is you don’t have to mess around with all that oil. If you don’t have an air fryer, I highly recommend getting one. The air fryer delivers really crisp tasty food, without all the fat and grease.

I use the Instant Pot Vortex 4 in 1 Air Fryer – 6 Quart. What’s great is that the basket is big enough to get a lot of food through the fryer and cuts down on batches. For this recipe, I did about 16 shrimp per batch. This recipe is for 1 lb. of shrimp, but it is easy enough to scale for whatever size crowd you are trying to feed.

Simple Air Fryer Shrimp with Sriracha Lime Sauce- Instructions

The first thing you want to do is set up your assembly line for coating the shrimp. This is a classic dredging technique. 1st bowl: add flour. 2nd bowl: whisked eggs. 3rd bowl: cornstarch, panko bread crumbs, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder mixed thoroughly. The key to not turning into a sticky mess is to only use your left hand for the flour and your right hand for the egg and bread crumbs.

First, with your left hand coat the shrimp in flour, shaking off an excess. I work in batches of 5-6. Next, place the shrimp in the egg wash. Using your right, hand make sure the shrimp are fully coated with the egg wash and then transfer to the bread crumb bowl. Fully coat the shrimp with bread crumbs. You may need to press them onto the shrimp in a few places. Transfer the coated shrimp to a plate. You will repeat this process until you have coated all the shrimp. I tend to clean off my right hand after a couple of batches if it gets really clumpy and messy.

Now, spray the basket of the air fryer with olive oil and pre-heat to 400 degrees. (I use the Instant Pot Vortex 4 in 1 Air Fryer – 6 Quart). Once the air fryer has pre-heated, place the shrimp into the basket. You must place the shrimp in a single layer and do not crowd them together. If the shrimp are touching, you will get uneven cooking and some of the coating will not get crispy. Spray the top of the shrimp with olive oil spray and cook for 4 minutes.

Next, flip the shrimp. If you see any dry coating, spray again with olive oil, then cook for an additional 4 minutes.

Sriracha Lime Sauce

This sauce has become a new family favorite. It is so simple, you’ll want to put it on everything! Just combine the sour cream, Sriracha and the zest of 1 lime in a bowl and mix thoroughly. That’s it! If you don’t have sour cream you can substitute Greek yogurt. Also, you can adjust the amount of Sriracha to the heat level you enjoy. Just have fun with it.

These Simple Air Fryer Shrimp with Sriracha Lime Sauce are sure to be a hit at your next gathering! Serve as an appetizer or pile them up on a plate and serve as a main for your true shrimp lovers! Enjoy!

Love shrimp? Then check out our Tequila Lime Shrimp which are fantastic too!