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Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Shrimp

by Katerina

4.89 from 9 votes

May 01, 2020, Updated Oct 05, 2021

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These Air Fryer Buffalo Shrimp are plump, juicy and cooked in minutes in the air fryer! Toss them in tangy and spicy homemade buffalo sauce for a perfect crispy bite!

The Most Delicious Air Fryer Shrimp Ever

I’m going to be honest here, I think I’d eat anything tossed in buffalo sauce. Chicken, cauliflower bites, tater tots, I can keep going if you’d like. I might even go so far as to say I’m addicted to buffalo – anything! I’m not kidding. If I were a superhero, buffalo dip would be my kryptonite.

So with my obsession with all things in buffalo sauce, it didn’t take me too long to realize I needed to make some buffalo shrimp! I love me some shrimp, especially fried shrimp! Why not combine two things I can’t get enough of – buffalo sauce and crispy shrimp – and use my new favorite kitchen gadget, my air fryer!

Why Make Shrimp in an Air Fryer?

Here’s the thing, I love fried foods, but my waistline? Not so much. The air fryer is the perfect compromise! You get that crispy crunchy fried texture without all of the added fat and grease.

What makes the air fryer even more perfect for these buffalo shrimp is that the air fryer doesn’t add moisture (aka fat and grease). So my buttery, tangy buffalo sauce sticks perfectly to each crisp shrimp!

Recipe Ingredients

Check out this ingredient list, you’ve got options. Chances are you have something you can use right in your kitchen.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• large shrimp peeled, deveined, tails on
• salt and fresh ground pepper
• all-purpose flour or you can also use any gluten-free/Keto friendly flour, I use coconut flour
• creole seasoning
• garlic powder
• eggs
• panko crumbs or pork rind crumbs
• cooking spray

How to Make Buffalo Sauce

To make a smooth and spicy buffalo sauce, you only need 3 ingredients:

• butter
• Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
• ground cayenne pepper

All you’ll have to do is melt the butter and combine it with the hot sauce, plus cayenne pepper. Then, whisk it all together until it is thoroughly incorporated. Ta da! Delicious homemade buffalo sauce. 😋

How to Make Buffalo Air Fryer Shrimp

1. Prep: Spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray and set it aside.
2. Pat dry shrimp with paper towels. Then, season the shrimp with ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper and set them aside.
3. Whisk: In a mixing bowl whisk together the flour, the remaining salt, creole seasoning, and garlic powder. Whisk it until it is all well combined.
4. Set up stations: Place the beaten eggs in a separate bowl.
5. Add the panko crumbs to a third bowl.
6. Dredge: Dip the shrimp, working one by one, into the seasoned flour. Shake off any excess and then dip into the eggs.
7. Dredge the shrimp in the panko crumbs until evenly coated.
8. Transfer each to a plate and repeat with remaining shrimp.
9. Preheat: Preheat your air fryer to 385˚F.
10. Air Fry: Working in batches, place some shrimp in a single layer in the fryer basket; lightly spray with cooking spray.
11. Cook for 10 minutes, flipping the shrimp halfway through the cooking process.
12. Repeat with remaining shrimp.
13. Coat and serve: Coat cooked shrimp with buffalo sauce and serve.

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Shrimp

Here are a few tips you’re going to want to follow to make sure you end up with the crispiest, juiciest, air fryer buffalo shrimp around!

• Don’t forget to fully preheat your air fryer! If you don’t, the cooking times will be off.
• Make sure your shrimp are peeled and deveined. You can leave the tail on or off, I prefer leaving it on.
• Always work in batches, you do not want to layer the shrimp in the fryer. Take the time to do multiple batches, don’t rush perfection.
• You can use any type of flour you prefer to make this recipe gluten free or Keto friendly. I really like to use coconut flour. It adds an addictive flavor and texture.
• If you don’t have panko crumbs but you do have pork rinds, you can smash them up and use them instead. Who am I kidding, you can just use the pork rind crumbs even if you’ve got panko. 🙌

Serving Suggestions

These little flavor bombs are perfect just by themselves as a starter or appetizer. Pop them on a plate with some blue cheese dressing, carrot sticks, and celery sticks and they are ready to go.

If you’d like to make a meal of them, here are my top suggestions:

• Buffalo shrimp tacos – throw in a side of beans and rice.
• Buffalo shrimp fajitas – Perfect with a side of Mexican street corn
• Serve your Buffalo shrimp with a side of cheesy grits.
• Buffalo shrimp over pasta – for the most decadent pasta you’ve ever had, throw your Buffalo shrimp on top of some fettuccine Alfredo.
• Top a big salad with your Buffalo shrimp.
• Buffalo shrimp wrap – serve with fried pickles and french fries (make them both in the air fryer, too)!

How to Store Leftovers

• If you end up with leftovers (which I’m going to predict – you won’t), they’re not going to have a super long shelf life. Place them in an airtight container and store them in your fridge for just about 2 days. The sauce may cause them to get a bit soggy but the flavor will still be on point.
• You could also opt to freeze the shrimp in a freezer safe airtight container or zip top bag. If you do this, they will last for about 2 months. Make the sauce before serving. Be sure to date the container or bag so you know when to use them up.

More Shrimp Recipes

• Skillet Barbecue Shrimp
• Cajun Shrimp and Guacamole Tortilla Bites
• Skillet Shrimp Fajitas

ENJOY!

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4.89 from 9 votes

Air Fryer Buffalo Shrimp

by Katerina | Diethood

These Air Fryer Buffalo Shrimp are plump, juicy and cooked in minutes in the air fryer! Toss them in tangy and spicy homemade buffalo sauce for a perfect crispy bite!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

For the Shrimp

• ▢ 1 pound large shrimp, (about 18 to 20 shrimp), peeled, deveined, tails on or off
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon salt,, divided
• ▢ fresh ground pepper,, to taste
• ▢ ½ cup coconut flour, (you can also use all-purpose flour, or any other gluten free/keto friendly flour)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning
• ▢ ½ tablespoon garlic powder
• ▢ 2 eggs,, beaten
• ▢ 1 cup pork rind crumbs OR panko crumbs
• ▢ cooking spray

For the Buffalo Sauce

• ▢ 3 tablespoons butter,, melted
• ▢ ½ cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
• ▢ 1 tsp ground cayenne pepper

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Instructions 

• Spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray and set aside.
• Pat dry shrimp with paper towels; then, season with ¼ teaspoon salt and some pepper. Set aside.
• In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, remaining salt, creole seasoning, and garlic powder; whisk until well combined.
• Place beaten eggs in a separate bowl.
• Add panko crumbs to a third bowl.
• Dip shrimp, working one by one, into the seasoned flour; shake off any excess and then dip into the eggs.
• Dredge in panko crumbs until evenly coated.
• Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining shrimp.
• Preheat Air Fryer to 385˚F.
• Working in batches, place some shrimp in a single layer in the fryer basket; lightly spray with cooking spray. DO NOT crowd the air fryer basket with shrimp; work in batches.
• Cook for 10 minutes, flipping the shrimp halfway through cooking.
• Repeat with remaining shrimp.
• In the meantime, make the buffalo sauce; combine melted butter, hot sauce, and cayenne pepper in a bowl; whisk until thoroughly incorporated.
• Coat cooked shrimp with buffalo sauce or serve shrimp with buffalo sauce on the side.

Notes

NET CARBS: 4 g 

Nutrition

Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 397mg | Sodium: 2505mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1109IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 179mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

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