Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp are crispy, sweet coconut shrimp that are a nice appetizer or meal. Jumbo shrimp are coated in coconut flakes and breadcrumbs to help create a crispy layer and a tender, flavorful shrimp.
You guys have gone crazy for my Air Fryer Cod recipe and for good reason.
There is something so good about seafood that is cooked in the air fryer to get that delicious, crispy outer layer of breading.
Today’s Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp takes jumbo shrimp and coats them with a coconut flake and breadcrumb mixture.
The shrimp are then air fried for about 12 minutes to create a tender, juicy shrimp with a crispy outer layer.
Surprisingly my kids go crazy for shrimp. It is a food I would not eat as a child, so I love that my kids will eat it.
They first tried it at Hibachi when we would go to celebrate their birthdays each year.
The restaurant we would go to served a protein, vegetable, rice and shrimp. The first time we went my kids decided to try the shrimp and were pleasantly surprised how much they liked it.
Now they ask me to make all kinds of shrimp recipes like Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp, Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta and Honey Garlic Sriracha Shrimp.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s an overview of the simple ingredients we’re using. Jump to the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and printable instructions.
- Shrimp: This recipe calls for about 1 pound of peeled & deveined jumbo raw shrimp with tails. I use raw, fresh but if you want to use frozen just make sure you fully thaw them. With both fresh and frozen use a paper towel to pat the shrimp dry. This helps to ensure they don’t get soggy in the air fryer due to the excess moisture.
- Eggs: The eggs in this recipe help to create the breading crust that we all love so much with coconut shrimp. It basically creates the binding to hold the breadcrumbs and the coconut flakes on the shrimp.
- Flour: I use all-purpose flour but you can use coconut or almond flour if you would like.
- Coconut Flakes: I love the coconut flakes and the sweetness that it adds to the shrimp.
- Breadcrumbs: Plain breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs will work nicely in this recipe. If you like extra texture and crunch I would go for the panko breadcrumbs otherwise regular works great.
How do you Make this Air Fryer Shrimp
Whisk together your eggs in a small bowl. Set aside. Put the flour in a shallow bowl and set aside.
In a separate bowl, blend together your coconut flakes, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Mix until well combined.
Pat the shrimp dry on both sides with a paper towel.
Dip your shrimp in your flour and coat entirely.
After your shrimp has been coated entirely with flour, submerge in your egg mixture until it is completely coated.
From there, roll your shrimp in your breadcrumbs and coconut flake mixture.
Making sure to coat the shrimp entirely on both sides.
From there, roll your shrimp in your breadcrumbs and coconut flake mixture making sure to coat the shrimp entirely on both sides.
Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees F. Once preheated spray the basket with avocado or olive oil.
Gently place each shrimp inside the air fryer, be sure that they are not touching. Spray the shrimp with the avocado oil. Bake on 360 for 6 minutes.
Spray avocado oil over top the shrimp before flipping each shrimp over and spraying the other side of the shrimp.
Cook for 6 more minutes. Check shrimp and make sure they are an internal temperature of 120 degrees F.
When cooking time is complete for both sides, remove from air fryer, garnish with parsley and serve immediately with sweet chili sauce.
Storage Tips
You can store the cooked shrimp in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat you can heat the shrimp in the air fryer or bake them on a low temp.
Recipe FAQ
You can spice up these crispy shrimp by adding spices like cajun, old bay seasoning, cayenne pepper, lemon pepper seasoning and more. I suggesting adding the spices to the flour and mixing it together well.
I like to use jump shrimp or large shrimp for this recipe but you can use the smaller ones if you like. I find them harder to work with but they still will work fine. You might have to take the cook time down a bit because they will cook faster. I would start with 4 minutes per side and see if they are cooked through.
When cooking shrimp you want the internal temperature to reach 120 degrees F. Aside from the temperature you also want that golden brown outside with the crispy outer layer which helps keep the shrimp tender and juicy on the inside.
More Shrimp Recipes
Mediterranean
One Pot Mediterranean Shrimp Pasta
Mediterranean
Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Seafood
Greek Shrimp Marinade
Mediterranean
Lemon Shrimp and Orzo
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Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound of peeled & deveined raw jumbo shrimp with tails
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup all purpose flour {you could sub in coconut flour}
- 1 cup coconut flakes, sweetened
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons avocado oil
- Fresh parsley, for garnishing
Instructions
- Whisk together your eggs in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Put the flour in a shallow bowl and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, blend together your coconut flakes, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Pat the shrimp dry on both sides with a paper towel. Dip your shrimp in your flour and coat entirely.
- After your shrimp has been coated entirely with flour, submerge in your egg mixture until it is completely coated.
- From there, roll your shrimp in your breadcrumbs and coconut flake mixture making sure to coat the shrimp entirely on both sides
- Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees F. Once preheated spray the basket with avocado or olive oil.
- Gently place each shrimp inside the air fryer, be sure that they are not touching. Spray the shrimp with the avocado oil. Bake on 360 for 6 minutes. Spray avocado oil over top the shrimp before flipping each shrimp over and spraying the other side of the shrimp.
- Cook for 6 more minutes. Check shrimp and make sure they are an internal temperature of 120 degrees F. When cooking time is complete for both sides, remove from air fryer, garnish with parsley and serve immediately with sweet chili sauce.
Notes
- When rolling the shrimp through the breadcrumb and coconut mixture, I like to bury my shrimp in the mixture and press lightly on top. This ensures that a healthy amount of coconut flakes is pressed onto my shrimp.
- You can use unsweetened coconut but it will be less sweet.
