Air Fryer Crispy Butterfly Shrimp

Golden, crunchy air fryer butterfly shrimp with a panko coat - the restaurant appetizer made light and fast at home.

Air Fryer Crispy Butterfly Shrimp
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 8 mins
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Medium

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Large shrimp
  • 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 0.25 cup All-purpose flour
  • 2 unit Eggs
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 0.5 tsp Garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp Salt
  • 1 unit Cooking spray

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Step 1: Butterfly the shrimp

    Slice each shrimp down the back, leaving the tail attached, and open it like a book. Pat dry.

  2. Step 2: Set up coating station

    Place flour in one bowl, beaten eggs in another, and panko mixed with paprika, garlic powder, and salt in a third.

  3. Step 3: Coat

    Dredge each shrimp in flour, then egg, then panko, pressing gently so the crust adheres.

  4. Step 4: Air fry

    Preheat to 390F (200C). Spray shrimp with oil and cook 8 minutes, flipping once halfway, until golden and cooked through.

Ingredient Substitutions & Expert Guide

## Air Fryer Shrimp: Appetizer Energy, Zero Deep Frying Butterflying the shrimp doubles its surface area, so every bite has more panko crunch and sweet, plump shrimp inside. The air fryer cooks them in minutes, delivering a golden crust that stays crisp. --- ## Why This Is The Best Butterfly Shrimp Recipe Butterflying doubles the surface area so every bite is more crust than tail. The air fryer cooks these golden panko shrimp in minutes with zero oil splatter - the appetizer-platter crunch, minus the deep fryer. ## Ingredient Substitutions - **Shrimp**: any large shrimp work; keep tails on for easy dipping. - **Panko**: crushed rice crackers or cornflakes for a different crunch. - **Egg wash**: buttermilk lends tang and helps the crust cling even better. ## Storage & Reheating Shrimp are best within hours. Leftovers keep 2 days - re-crisp 3 minutes at 360F. Never microwave, or the crust turns rubbery. ## Pro Serving Ideas Serve as an appetizer with cocktail sauce and lemon, or pile them over a green salad and crispy fish tacos for a seafood feast. ## Air Fryer Tip Dry shrimp with a paper towel before coating - any surface moisture between shrimp and crust is where the crust peels off.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I cook Air Fryer Crispy Butterfly Shrimp in the air fryer?

Cook for approximately 8 minutes at the recommended temperature, flipping halfway for maximum crispiness.

What is the preparation time for Air Fryer Crispy Butterfly Shrimp?

Prep time takes about 15 minutes to season and prepare before air frying.

How many servings does this Air Fryer Crispy Butterfly Shrimp yield?

This recipe makes 4 standard servings. You can adjust the portions using the interactive servings scaler on our recipe card.

What is the secret chef tip for the best Air Fryer Crispy Butterfly Shrimp?

Pat shrimp very dry before coating - moisture kills crispress.