Southwest Air Fryer shrimp are just a few simple ingredients and ready in only 10 minutes! These tasty shrimp can be served as an appetizer, with tacos, or over salads or grain bowls.

I’m a big fan of my freezer always.

It’s completely loaded up and we have a second, smaller fridge and freezer in our garage. The fridge is mainly for drinks and the freezer there is also always packed. Plenty of leftovers, muffins and waffles, ice cream and popsicles, extra meats, we’ve got it all.

And if 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that it’s helpful to have some freezer finds stashed away.

And freezer shrimp is one of my favorites!

Shrimp is really versatile because it can take on the flavor of whatever you season it with. It’s a great protein and it cooks incredibly quickly.

Plus, both my kiddos love shrimp, so I find myself putting it on the menu regularly.

My Mexican shrimp skillet is a go-to, honey garlic shrimp is a 10-minute dinner with a delicious sauce, and I love making spicy roasted shrimp as either an appetizer or to top off salads and grain bowls.

And today’s recipe for southwest Air Fryer shrimp is amazingly flavorful, so crazy quick and easy to make, and can be used in lots of ways.

You just need a few ingredients, too: shrimp, olive oil and the seasoning mix. (I’ve included a homemade version, but store-bought is fine, too.)

Cause I’m all about simple recipes with just a few ingredients and ones that can be made without much effort or time.

I mean, that’s my motto always, but especially in these crazy, uncertain times.

So, let’s get cooking on these tasty shrimp!

(If you're looking for a crispy coated recipe, try these Air Fryer breaded shrimp. So crunchy! And if you love seafood like we do, also check out this southwestern Air Fryer salmon.)

Now, I’ve got some notes and substitutions coming up on how to make Air Fryer shrimp. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Notes on making southwest Air Fryer shrimp:

• I used a pound of extra large shrimp, which come 26-30 a pound. You can substitute another size shrimp, but you’ll need to adjust your cooking time.
• The shrimp need to be completely thawed (more on that in a minute) as well as peeled and deveined for this recipe. Please plan accordingly. (You can ask your seafood counter to prep these for you if needed. Or buy the deveined easy-peel frozen shrimp that are almost ready to go.)
• You can leave the tails on if you prefer. It adds some extra flavor while cooking, but can be a bit more fussy for eating. Up to you.
• Like it spicy? You can add a pinch of cayenne and/or serve this with a spicy dipping sauce.
• Also, while we are using a homemade southwest seasoning mix — the same one used in my southwest baked salmon — you could certainly substitute a store-bought mix if you prefer. It may not be quite as fresh or flavorful, but it will certainly do in a pinch.

(Confession: I’ve definitely made this recipe before using Trader Joe’s chili lime seasoning. It was delicious!)

Also, because I know this is your go-to question:

How long do you cook shrimp in an Air Fryer?

- Large and extra large shrimp, such as the 26-30 size, will take about 6-8 minutes in the Air Fryer at 400 degrees F. You want them cooked through, but not overdone.

- Smaller shrimp, such as the medium 36-40 size, will be done in 5-6 minutes.

- Check at the earlier side of the time and add an extra minute or two if needed.

Oh, and because this happens to me a lot…

Are your shrimp frozen? No worries. Mine are too most of the time.

Fun fact: Buying frozen seafood is often the best way to get it super fresh if you don’t live right by the coast. That’s because the seafood is flash frozen right after it’s off the boat, preserving it at peak freshness.

And in some places, the “fresh” seafood in the grocery store counter has actually already been thawed, so its shelf life is ticking down.

I’ve got a lot of experience with frozen seafood and frozen shrimp, so here are a couple of options for you on how to thaw it depending on how much time you have.

How to thaw frozen shrimp:

• You can place frozen shrimp in the refrigerator (in a well sealed container) overnight to thaw.
• You can thaw frozen shrimp quickly by placing them, frozen, in a colander and rinsing them in the sink with cold water for 2-3 minutes, until they are completely defrosted.

Since the first option takes a little more planning and foresight, I’m often in camp option number two. And it works great every time.

Also, just in case this is helpful for someone…

No Air Fryer? You can also roast these shrimp in the oven. Cook them at 400 for about 8-10 minutes.

I do love my Air Fryer though. (Especially right now since my oven is broken!) I have this model and it’s been fantastic. (It’s really easy to clean too, which is a nice bonus.)

Now, let’s get ready to eat!

There are tons of ways you can use and serve this southwest Air Fryer shrimp. Here’s a few ideas to get you started.

Serving ideas for Air Fryer shrimp:

• Use for some shrimp tacos. Just add your favorite taco fillings and toppings.
• Top a salad with these shrimp.
• Use as the protein in a grain bowl for lunch or dinner.
• Serve as an appetizer with a creamy salsa mix, spiced yogurt sauce or some creamy cilantro lime dressing for dipping.

So many possibilities!

Finally, because I have a feeling you’re going to love this southwest seasoning mixture as much as we do, you can always check out that link to the spice recipe and save it directly. (That recipe also makes a big batch; I love keeping this on hand in the pantry.)

Happy cooking!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. Stay tuned: I’ve got more Air Fryer recipes coming your way soon.

You can also sign up for my free e-newsletter to get all of my new recipes delivered straight to your inbox so you never miss a thing. I’ll even send you my free e-cookbook, Healthy Weeknight Dinners, as a thank you!