Description
This Air Fryer Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp recipe offers a quick, flavorful, and healthier way to enjoy succulent shrimp coated with a seasoned cornstarch mix and tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce with a zesty lemon kick. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it’s ready in under 20 minutes and pairs beautifully with rice or a fresh salad.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp Coating
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled, deveined, and dried)
- Cooking spray
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, melted
- 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice (about one lemon)
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 390°F if your model requires preheating to ensure even cooking.
- Prepare Coating Mixture: In a small bowl, combine cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and dried basil to create a flavorful shrimp coating.
- Coat the Shrimp: Blot shrimp dry with paper towels. Place shrimp and the seasoning mixture in a gallon-sized bag and toss until shrimp are evenly coated.
- Arrange Shrimp in Basket: Lay the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Use cooking spray generously to coat the shrimp before cooking. You may need to cook in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Air Fry the Shrimp: Cook at 390°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping shrimp halfway through, and spraying again after flipping. Cook until shrimp are pink, tightly curled, and slightly crisp.
- Make Garlic Butter Sauce: While shrimp cooks, mix melted butter with minced garlic and fresh lemon juice in a bowl to make a vibrant garlic butter sauce.
- Toss Shrimp in Sauce: Transfer cooked shrimp to a large bowl and toss thoroughly with the garlic butter sauce so each piece is well coated.
- Optional Sauce Thickening: For a thicker sauce, heat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook shrimp with sauce for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens. This step is optional.
- Serve: Remove shrimp from heat and serve immediately with rice. Garnish with chopped parsley and a lemon wedge if desired for extra freshness.
Notes
- Make sure shrimp are thoroughly dried before coating for the best crispy texture.
- Cooking times might vary slightly depending on the air fryer model; adjust accordingly.
- Butter can be substituted with a non-dairy alternative to make the recipe dairy-free.
- Feel free to add a pinch of paprika or chili flakes to the coating for a spicy kick.
- Serve immediately for the best texture as shrimp can become soggy if left to sit.
