Air-Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

These air-fried popcorn shrimp get crispy and crunchy with very little oil. We pair it with a smoky, spicy dipping sauce for a tasty snack you'll want to make again and again.

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Prep Time:
10 mins
Additional Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 servings

How to Make Air-Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

Set Up Your Breading Station

Breading is a three-part process that creates a crust on the shrimp. You will need three shallow dishes: one for flour, one for eggs and water and another one for the panko breadcrumbs and seasonings.

Bread the Shrimp

Dredge the shrimp in flour. This step will help the egg stick to the shrimp. Then dip the shrimp in the egg mixture, which will help the panko to stick. Finally, dredge the shrimp in the panko mixture, shaking off any excess.

Air-Fry the Shrimp

Cook the shrimp in two batches. Coat the shrimp with cooking spray, then air-fry at 360°F until crispy and cooked through, about 8 minutes, turning once. Make sure the shrimp is in a single layer in the air fryer. Overcrowding the air fryer basket will prevent the shrimp from crisping up.

Make the Dipping Sauce

This smoky dipping sauce is full of flavor! It has five simple ingredients: ketchup, chipotle chiles, cilantro, lime juice and salt. We recommend using no-salt-added ketchup to reduce the amount of sodium in the sauce.

Additional reporting by Jan Valdez

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 eggs, well beaten

  • 2 tablespoons water

  • 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs

  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin

  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder

  • 1 pound small shrimp, peeled and deveined

  • ½ cup no-salt-added ketchup

  • 2 tablespoons chopped chipotle chiles in adobo

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

  • 2 tablespoons lime juice

  • teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

  1. Coat air fryer basket with cooking spray.

  2. Place flour in a shallow dish. Combine eggs and water in another shallow dish. Combine panko, cumin and garlic powder in a third shallow dish. Dredge shrimp first in the flour, then in the egg, then in the panko, shaking off excess. Place half of the shrimp in the prepared basket; coat well with cooking spray. Cook at 360°F until crispy and cooked through, about 8 minutes, turning once during cooking. Repeat with the remaining shrimp.

  3. Combine ketchup, chipotle chiles, cilantro, lime juice and salt in a small bowl. Serve the dipping sauce with the shrimp.

Equipment

Air fryer

Note

Look for the smallest shrimp you can find so they will cook evenly.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

297 Calories
4g Fat
35g Carbs
29g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size 6-7 shrimp & 2 Tbsp. sauce
Calories 297
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 35g 13%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 29g 58%
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 276mg 92%
Vitamin A 616IU 12%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Folate 59mcg 15%
Sodium 291mg 13%
Calcium 102mg 8%
Iron 2mg 13%
Magnesium 49mg 12%
Potassium 390mg 8%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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