How do you keep breading from falling off of shrimp?

Before dredging the shrimp, make sure they are completely dry to help the coating adhere and eliminate excess moisture.

Why is shrimp coated with flour and egg before breadcrumbs?

Dredging the shrimp in flour and egg gives the breadcrumbs something to adhere to, but also helps create a thicker coating on the shrimp for a satisfying crunchy bite.

How do you know when popcorn shrimp is done?

The popcorn shrimp should be golden brown and cooked throughout before removing from the air fryer. If using a thermometer, check that the internal temperature of the shrimp is at or above 145°F.

Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp Recipe

Name: Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup (about 2 1/8 oz.) all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 2 large eggs, well beaten; 2 tablespoons water; 2 cups panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs); 2 tablespoons canola oil; 1 pound frozen peeled, deveined raw small shrimp, thawed and patted dry; Cooking spray; 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 small lemon); 3/4 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

Active Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

30 mins

Servings:

4

These perfectly poppable air fryer popcorn shrimp make a fun party snack or even a light meal when served with a side dish or tossed into a salad. Best of all, using an air fryer results in shrimp that are light and crunchy, without being greasy.

A quick dredge of flour, eggs, and panko breadcrumbs, and the shrimp are tossed in the fryer for a few minutes until they are crisp and cooked through. Tossing the breadcrumbs in oil helps encourage browning on the outer coating of the shrimp, and in no time at all you've got a platter full of golden brown shrimp perfect for snacking on.

Small shrimp are easy to find in your supermarket's freezer aisle. If substituting with larger shrimp, give them a chop before dredging or increase the time in the air fryer by a few minutes. Popcorn shrimp are even better when served with a dipping sauce—stir together our creamy Old Bay sauce for a deliciously rich complement, or use store-bought cocktail sauce in a pinch.

Where Did Popcorn Shrimp Originate?

You'll find popcorn shrimp today on menus across the country, but where it first originated is a bit murky. Red Lobster included a dish called "popcorn shrimp" on its menu back in 1974—made up of small fritters of shrimp meat, which quickly became a hit.

Paul Prudhomme, a chef famous for popularizing Creole and Cajun cuisines, created a dish called "Cajun popcorn"—battered and fried crayfish tails (or shrimp)—on a restaurant menu around the same time.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

A classic coating of flour, egg, and panko, and these snackable shrimp are ready to air fry. Serve with our homemade Old Bay-seasoned sauce for a satisfying appetizer or light meal. To make these shrimp, you'll need:

All-purpose flour: Coats the shrimp to give the egg something to adhere to.
Garlic powder and kosher salt: Seasons the flour coating.
Large eggs and water: To bind the panko breading to the shrimp.
Panko: For a crunchy coating on the shrimp. Can substitute with other types of breadcrumbs if preferred.
Canola oil: To help the panko coating brown evenly in the air fryer.
Frozen peeled, deveined raw small shrimp, thawed: Use small shrimp for the most poppable bites. If using larger shrimp, cut into pieces before dredging or increase the cooking time.
Cooking spray: Coat the shrimp before cooking to encourage browning.
Mayonnaise: The base of the dipping sauce.
Lemon juice: Acidity balances the richness of the dipping sauce.
Old Bay seasoning: For a classic flavor that pairs well with seafood.
Granulated sugar: Balances the sauce with a hint of sweetness.

How To Make Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

An air fryer doesn't just keep these shrimp from becoming greasy, it also eliminates most of the cleanup needed when making the traditional version of this dish. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

Step 1. Make dredge bowls for shrimp: Stir together flour, garlic powder, and salt in one dish. Stir together eggs and water in a separate dish. In a final dish, toss together panko and oil.
Step 2. Dredge shrimp: Working in batches, dredge shrimp in flour, then egg mixture, then panko, shaking off excess.
Step 3. Preheat air fryer: Preheat air fryer to 360°F for 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 4. Cook shrimp: Working in batches, place shrimp in an even layer in basket and coat with cooking spray. Cook until crisp and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer cooked shrimp to a platter.
Step 5. Make dipping sauce: Stir together remaining ingredients for a dipping sauce. Serve with shrimp.

Variations for Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

When making popcorn shrimp, feel free to change up the seasoning and dipping sauces as desired:

Use fresh or frozen shrimp: Thaw frozen shrimp before using for best results.
Amp up the spice: Paprika, onion powder, cayenne, Old Bay, Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, and more can be added to the dry coating of the shrimp for even more flavor.
Dipping sauces: Get creative with any of these homemade dipping sauces, or grab store-bought cocktail sauce in a pinch.
No air fryer? No problem! Popcorn shrimp can also be baked in a standard oven, or fried on the stovetop.

What To Serve with Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

Popcorn shrimp are a crowd-pleasing appetizer, no matter what the season. Serve alongside classic finger foods to get the party started, or toss into a salad or over pasta for a light meal.

How To Store and Reheat Leftover Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

Store leftover popcorn shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat in the air fryer until crisp and hot throughout before serving.

More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love

From hush puppies to wings, there's no shortage of dishes that can be improved by using an air fryer:

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
2 large eggs, well beaten
2 Tbsp. water
2 cups panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs)
2 Tbsp. canola oil
1 lb. frozen peeled, deveined raw small shrimp, thawed and patted dry
Cooking spray
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice (from 1 small lemon)
3/4 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp. granulated sugar

Directions

Make dredge bowls for shrimp:

Stir together flour, garlic powder, and salt in a shallow dish. Stir together eggs and water in a separate shallow dish. Toss together panko and oil in a separate shallow dish to evenly coat.
Dredge shrimp:

Working in batches, toss shrimp in flour mixture; shake to remove excess, and dip in egg mixture. Dip in panko mixture; shake to remove excess, and place in a bowl.
Preheat air fryer:

Preheat a 5.3-quart air fryer to 360°F for 2 to 3 minutes.
Cook shrimp:

Working in 4 batches, place about 14 shrimp in air fryer basket; coat with cooking spray. Cook until shrimp is crisp and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer cooked shrimp to a platter.
Make dipping sauce:

Stir together mayonnaise, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, and sugar in a small bowl. Serve with shrimp.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you keep breading from falling off of shrimp?

Before dredging the shrimp, make sure they are completely dry to help the coating adhere and eliminate excess moisture.
Why is shrimp coated with flour and egg before breadcrumbs?

Dredging the shrimp in flour and egg gives the breadcrumbs something to adhere to, but also helps create a thicker coating on the shrimp for a satisfying crunchy bite.
How do you know when popcorn shrimp is done?

The popcorn shrimp should be golden brown and cooked throughout before removing from the air fryer. If using a thermometer, check that the internal temperature of the shrimp is at or above 145°F.