Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

Get ready to wow your taste buds with these restaurant-quality Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp! These easy-to-make appetizers feature crunchy and perfectly cooked battered shrimp, delivering the best crispy and golden coating that will transport you straight to seafood heaven.

You’ll be transported to a luxurious beach with your favorite cold drink when you sink your teeth into this air-fried coconut shrimp. Thankfully, you don’t have to be a five-star chef to replicate this tropical appetizer. You only need a shallow dish (or three) and an air fryer! This air fryer coconut shrimp recipe is so easy that beginning cooks with no experience can make juicy shrimp with a perfectly crispy coating. 

The air fryer is the perfect tool for easy weeknight meals. It is a great way to cook crispy or crunchy food without oil or grease. And it makes cleanup a breeze, too. This shrimp is a simple recipe you can whip up even when distracted or too busy to cook. It comes out with a nice golden brown color every single time!

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

• Incredibly crispy – just like a restaurant 
• Ready in 30 minutes  
• Made with five simple ingredients 
• Perfect for snacks, appetizers, or as a side with seafood  

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

• Shrimp: Purchase peeled, deveined shrimp to save time.  
• Flour: Use either all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour  
• Panko breadcrumbs: This helps the shrimp be extra crispy. You can use pork rind crumbs if you need them to be gluten-free. 
• Shredded coconut: For the best flavor, use sweet coconut 
• Eggs: Beaten egg helps all the ingredients stick to the breaded shrimp.  

How to Make Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

• Step One: Using three shallow bowls, prepare ingredients.  Place flour in one bowl.  Combine panko and coconut in a second bowl and eggs in the third bowl. 
• Step Two: Working in batches, coat all sides of the shrimp in flour.  Transfer to egg and coat all sides.  Then place into panko/coconut mixture, firmly pressing crumbs onto shrimp, ensuring all sides are covered.  Carefully dip in the egg a second time, then panko/coconut a second time.   

• Step Three: Spray the air fryer basket with oil or grease with a paper towel.  Place shrimp in a single layer into the basket.  Spray tops with oil.  Cook 350F for 5 minutes or until golden brown.  Flip and cook another 5 minutes or until golden brown.
• Step Four: Repeat steps 2-3 with the remaining shrimp.  Serve with sauce.

Equipment Needed

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• Three shallow bowls – Create a dredging station by placing a separate ingredient in each bowl. 
• Air Fryer – This is what cooks the shrimp.
• Oil sprayer – This prevents the shrimp from sticking to the basket. 
• Tongs – Use them to flip the shrimp.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

This crispy air fryer coconut shrimp is the perfect thing to serve at parties or much on for a snack. Here are some of my favorite sides that taste delicious with shrimp. Bonus – they are also my favorite air fryer recipes too!

• Air Fryer Crab Cakes
• Pretzel Bites
• Air Fryer Ravioli
• Fried Pickles
• Cauliflower Bites
• Air Fryer Corn Ribs

Variations and Substitutions

• Change the flavors. Use seasoned flour instead of plain. 
• Use unsweetened coconut flakes. 
• Add some zesty flavors. Spritz the amazing coconut shrimp with fresh lime juice. 
• Spray the basket with coconut oil spray to keep the crispy shrimp tasting like coconut. 

Storage Instructions 

They are best when they are served immediately.  Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator covered in an airtight container for up to 3 days.  Reheat on low (300F) in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp Tips and Tricks

• If you purchase frozen shrimp, thaw them in cool water until thawed.
• I prefer a good amount of coating, but if you like your shrimp a little lighter, coat once with flour, egg, and panko/coconut.
• Remember to flip the shrimp halfway through cooking in the air fryer. 
• Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray so the shrimp doesn’t stick. 
• Place a single layer of shrimp in the air-fryer basket. 

Why Air Fry Instead of Deep Fry  

Using an air fryer is healthier and better than frying in oil. Deep frying in hot oil has more saturated fat, which isn’t good for your heart health. When you air fry coconut shrimp, you’ll get perfectly crispy shrimp without all the extra oil dripping off them. 

Can I Use Frozen Shrimp 

This is one of my favorite appetizers because you can use either frozen or fresh shrimp. If you use frozen shrimp, let it thaw completely before you coat it with the coconut batter. 

How To Defrost Frozen Shrimp 

Frozen shrimp will thaw in about 20 minutes. Fill a bowl with cold water. Then, place the frozen shrimp in a sealed zip-top plastic bag. Submerge the bag of frozen shrimp in the cold water. After 20-30 minutes, the shrimp will be defrosted.

Remove the shrimp from the bag and pat the shrimp dry. It won’t be as crispy if you leave the shrimp too wet. 

Is the shrimp pre-cooked or raw before air frying?

You will use raw shrimp when you make the restaurant quality appetizer. Using raw shrimp lets it cook at the perfect rate without overcooking it. 

What size or type of shrimp works best for this recipe?

Use either large shrimp or jumbo shrimp in this air fryer shrimp recipe. If you use shrimp that’s too small, it will look and taste like popcorn shrimp. 

Can you prepare the shrimp ahead of time and cook it later in the air fryer? 

If you want to prepare it ahead, I suggest storing it in the freezer. To do this, prepare the shrimp according to the steps in the printable recipe card. Do not cook the shrimp. Place them on a  lined baking sheet and freeze until they are solid (about 2 hours).  Transfer to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag.  Store frozen for up to 3 months.

Then, air fry the frozen coconut shrimp at the same time and temperature as instructed in the recipe. 

Tips for a Crispy Coating on the Shrimp

If you follow this recipe, you’ll get a crispy texture every single time. Make sure the shrimp is patted dry before you place it in the flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. 

Then, remember to flip the shrimp over halfway through cooking. This will air fry it evenly on both sides.  See? Anyone can make this easy recipe for fried shrimp.

Dipping Sauces

What is your favorite thing to dip shrimp into? You can always make your own dipping sauce or buy a jarred sauce, like one of the following options below: 

• Sweet Chili Sauce 
• Cocktail Sauce 
• Hot Sauce
• Dijon Mustard
• Greek Yogurt

FAQ

Shrimp Recipes   

Want more easy shrimp recipes? Here are some of my favorites:

• Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
• Shrimp Pasta Salad
• Curried Shrimp Rolls
• Zesty Shrimp Flatbread
• Air Fryer Shrimp
• Buffalo Shrimp

Try my Air Fryer Corn Ribs and Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken.

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