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+ servings
A bowl of shrimp and rice with a fork.
5 from 1 vote

Air Fryer Firecracker Shrimp

This firecracker shrimp recipe is just the right combination of spicy, sweet, and crunchy! It's an air fryer recipe that is easy to make and even easier to love.
Prep 30 minutes
Cook 4 minutes
Total 34 minutes
Fat 9
Carbs 21
Protein 21
Yield 4

Ingredients

Sauce

Topping

  • 1-2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped

Instructions

  • Rinse the shrimp under cold water and pat dry. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt, pepper, sesame oil, and lime juice to the shrimp and toss until coated. Set aside for 15 minutes.
    Shrimp in a glass bowl on a marble table.
  • While the shrimp is marinating, mix the panko crumbs, sesame seeds, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl. Crack the eggs into a separate bowl and whisk.
  • After 15 minutes, preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
  • Dredge a shrimp through the egg wash and allow excess egg to drip from the shrimp. Place the shrimp on a plate and sprinkle with the panko mixture until evenly coated. Dredge the shrimp through the egg wash a second time and repeat the breading process. Set the shrimp on a plate. Repeat until all the shrimp are coated. We highly recommend breading the shrimp on a plate rather than directly in the bowl with the panko mixture so the mixture doesn’t become soggy and unable to stick to the shrimp.
    Fried shrimp with sesame seeds on a plate.
  • Drizzle sesame oil in the bottom of the air fryer and transfer the shrimp to the air fryer. Be sure the shrimp are not touching the air fryer.
  • Air fry the shrimp for 2 minutes, flip the shrimp and fry for another 2 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the air fryer and repeat until all the shrimp are golden brown and cooked. Let the shrimp rest for 5-10 minutes.
    Fried shrimp in an air fryer with sesame seeds.
  • Whisk the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl until combined, and then gently toss the shrimp in the sauce right before serving. Top with fresh cilantro and serve immediately.
    A bowl of shrimp and rice with a fork.

Tips & Notes

  • We used large shrimp for this recipe. You can use medium shrimp or jumbo shrimp if you want to, but you may need more egg wash and panko mixture.
  • The process of breading the shrimp takes some time, so be patient.
  • You can substitute breadcrumbs for the panko crumbs if desired.

Watch it

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 9g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g