Air Fryer Buffalo Shrimp

Breaded shrimp coated in orange sauce on a wooden platter garnished with parsley.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Buffalo Shrimp

Crispy breaded jumbo shrimp air fried to crispy golden brown and topped with buffalo sauce for a crispy, spicy snack.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 320kcal

Author: Jacqueline Piper

Equipment

Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer or similar

Ingredients

For the shrimp

300 grams jumbo shrimp 16/20 size – 13 in my package
½ cup all-purpose flour mixed with 1/2 cup cold water
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup Panko breadcrumbs

For the sauce

¼ cup butter
¼ cup hot sauce
2 tablespoons honey
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

For the shrimp

Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ (200℃).
Remove the shells from the shrimp and dry with a paper towel.
Mix the flour, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. Add the cold water and whisk well.
Place the breadcrumbs in a separate bowl.
Coat a shrimp in the flour batter, letting the excess drip off.
Place the battered shrimp in the bowl of breadcrumbs and shake to coat. (or use a fork or your hands to coat it.)
Place the breaded shrimp on the air fryer tray or basket in a single layer, leaving room for air to flow. I use two trays to cook 13 jumbo shrimp. You may need to do this in two batches. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway.

For the sauce

Melt the butter in the microwave. This takes about 30-45 seconds.
Add the hot sauce, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well. Set aside until the shrimp is done.
Once the shrimp are cooked, remove them from the air fryer and either toss with the sauce or use it for dipping.

Video

Notes

About hot sauce: You can make this sauce as spicy or mild as you want. Frank's Hot Sauce has a Scoville rating of 450. I use Tapatio which has a Scoville rating of 3000. Frank's is not hot enough for me but you should use whatever hot sauce you love.

Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. The Government of Canada says shrimp are cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Don't overcrowd the shrimp. This will ensure air can circulate and you'll get crispy results. Air fry in batches if needed.

Flip halfway through cooking for even cooking. For best results, rotate the upper and lower baking trays if you have this style of air fryer. This will help achieve the most even browning.

Make breading easier by using a dry hand and a wet hand. This helps to avoid breading your fingers as well as the shrimp.

Using Japanese panko crumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs gives the most crunch.

Use your favorite buffalo sauce if you already have one or try another sauce like the sauce from my honey garlic cauliflower or teriyaki sauce from my air fryer teriyaki salmon recipe.

Nutrition