Easy Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Shrimp is one of the fastest and most delicious meals I've made in such a long time! From the fridge to the plate in about 30 minutes, these tender shrimp could stand on their own as the main dish or go on top of a fresh salad for a light lunch.

Air Fryer Shrimp with Garlic

I know I don't talk about it much on here, but I have a secret love affair happening that goes beyond the pellet grill and Instant Pot land.

I am FULLY on-board the air fryer bandwagon, and I'm not even sorry.

Why don't I post more air fryer recipes, you might be wondering?

Because I cook for a crowd, around here, with 9 people coming to the table three times a day to be fed, and I don't think there's an air fryer in existence that can crank out a meal for that many.

For us, we use the air fryer for lunches, and to cook things that we'd normally cook in the oven or in the microwave.

I like it because the kids can throw in some frozen foods or snacks and it is easy to use and they all come out so much better than they do when they are cooked in the microwave.

After I tried this Roasted Shrimp Recipe that I found over on Bowl Me Over, I'm going to change my tune and maybe just employ a small army of air fryers so that my family can all enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Why You’ll Love This Dish

Dinner In 15 Minutes – From fridge to plate in about the time it takes to set the table.
No Mess Cooking – The air fryer keeps things tidy and contained, no pan of hot oil on the stove.
Endlessly Customizable – Change the seasoning and you’ve got a whole new spin on shrimp.
Perfect For Meal Prep – Cools down and stores well for salads, bowls, and wraps the next day.
Works In Lots Of Dishes – Serve on pasta, rice, salad, or as a simple protein with veggies.

Try our Cajun Prawns!

Recipe Shopping List

Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here's the list of items you'll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Shrimp, Peeled And Deveined – Medium or large shrimp work best. They cook quickly and stay tender, and peeling ahead saves time when you’re ready to cook.
Olive Oil – Helps the seasoning stick and encourages light browning in the air fryer. Any neutral oil can substitute.
Garlic Powder – Adds a steady garlic flavor that coats every shrimp without burning.
Salt – Brings the natural sweetness of the shrimp forward and balances the parmesan.
Black Pepper – Adds a gentle kick and depth to the seasoning blend.
Parmesan Cheese, Freshly Grated – Adds savory richness and helps create a light, flavorful crust. Freshly grated melts and browns better than pre-shredded.
Fresh Parsley, Minced – Brightens the finished dish with color and a fresh, herbal note.

Smoked Cream Cheese Pasta recipe

How To Make This Recipe

This is just the overview so you can see what you're actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you'll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

Prep The Shrimp – Pat the peeled and deveined shrimp dry with paper towels and place them into a mixing bowl.
Season – Drizzle the shrimp with olive oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle on garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then add parmesan cheese and parsley. Toss again until everything is evenly coated.
Load The Basket – Place the seasoned shrimp in the air fryer basket in a fairly even layer. A little overlap is fine, but avoid packing them too tightly.
Air Fry – Cook at 390–400°F for about 10–12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through so the shrimp cook evenly and the parmesan doesn’t stick in one spot.
Serve – Pull the shrimp from the basket as soon as they are opaque and just firm. Serve hot as-is, over pasta, or on top of a salad.

See all of my Easy Shrimp Recipes!

Recipe FAQ

What kind of shrimp works best for this recipe?

What particular kind of shrimp you use isn't as important as the actual size of the shrimp you are working with. The bigger, the better, when it comes to shrimp in my humble opinion.

I can enjoy salad shrimp as much as the next person, but it just doesn't quite compare to a colossal shrimp that's been cooked perfectly.

So, use what you have and what you can afford and find, but also know that if you go bigger you'll probably enjoy the end result more.

Should you keep the shells on shrimp when you cook them?

I prefer shrimp to be cooked without the shells, myself. I think it helps the seasoning wind up on the final dish in a more established way, and I just kind of like to eat my food without having to fuss with it much. Crab and lobster are one thing, but with shrimp, I just want to dig in and eat.

You can buy the shrimp with the shells on if that's what you have, but I'd suggest shelling it before you cook.

The same goes for the tails. I know some people like to grab onto those while they shovel the shrimp face-side but to me they just kind of get in the way. This is especially true if you'll be serving the shrimp in or on anything that requires a fork.

So, for instance, if you are throwing this easy shrimp on top of a bed of my Creamy Asparagus Noodles, shells and tails off.

If the shrimp will be a stand-alone appetizer or otherwise served along something else that is in the finger-food-family (like my delicious Traeger Surf and Turf Seafood Board), leave the tails on for easy grabbing.

How do you store air fryer shrimp leftovers?

Shrimp is best eaten on the day it is cooked, but if you have some leftovers you can keep it for 2-3 days in the fridge in a tightly covered container. I do not recommend refreezing shimp after it has been cooked.

What's the best way to reheat this shrimp?

Stay out of the microwave, if you can. Fish and seafood isn't done any favors by nuking them, so it is best to just stick these right back in the air fryer when you are ready to eat the next day.

Rockfish and Spot Prawn Ceviche

Serve This With

Personally, I'm going to make these again as soon as I can, and stick them on top of my Greek Salad.

They would also be fabulous next to a bed of my grilled asparagus, or if you are feeling particularly decadent you can make this mushroom risotto or my creamy mushroom pasta.

Try my Wild Rice Pilaf!

More Shrimp Recipes

Yield: 4 servings

Air Fryer Shrimp

Simple Air Fryer Shrimp will have dinner on the table in a flash! This easy recipe is endlessly customizable, and can be used in some many different dishes, or all on its own as a main course!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, freshly grated
2 tablespoons fresh minced parsley

Instructions

Make sure the shrimp are dry and place them into a bowl.
Drizzle on the olive oil and toss to coat.
Sprinkle on the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss in the parmesan cheese and parsley.
Place the shrimp into the air fryer basket, and place into the air fryer. Run at 390-400°.
Run the air fryer for 12 minutes, giving the basket a shake halfway through (if necessary).
Serve hot, over a bed of pasta, or on top of a Caesar salad!

Recommended Products

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Dome Air Fryer

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 208Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 242mgSodium: 1390mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 27g

Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate.

Tracy Lynn

Thursday 3rd of October 2024

So easy and yet so complete……I love the idea of crisping up the shrimp with Parmesan cheese. And shrimp goes with everything

Beth Wooten

Tuesday 1st of June 2021

How does the recipe work with an Instant Pot Air Fryer Vortex Plus that has trays instead of a basket?

Nicole Johnson

I'm not sure! I don't have that model and haven't used one. It should be about the same though? Can you use the same temp and time and see how it goes?

Tawnisha

Thursday 1st of April 2021

This was really good. I cooked large shrimp at 390° and I agree I had to lower the cook time for a total of 8 minutes. But I think the question is did you cook raw shrimp or precooked shrimp? I bought precooked shrimp so I think that's why. But I loved it and so did my super picky kids. I'll definitely be making this again.

Thanks for dropping by! We used raw shrimp. I only recommend pre-cooked shrimp generally for dishes where it won't be cooked again like shrimp cocktail or shrimp salad. I'm glad it turned out and was tasty!

Katarina Lovitt

Saturday 27th of February 2021

I’m definitely making this on Monday! But I clicked on the creamy mushroom noodles and it didn’t take me to a recipe.... do you have a good creamy noodle recipe you recommend?

Here's a good one: https://www.orwhateveryoudo.com/2019/06/one-pot-parmesan-noodles-with-asparagus.html

Also this one: https://www.orwhateveryoudo.com/2018/09/one-pot-creamy-noodles.html

Happy cooking!

Wednesday 23rd of December 2020

If there was a skip to recipe button at the top I missed it, but somehow found the actual recipe. But the real reason for my comment... If you are in the market for a new oven, Frigidaire actually has one that the entire oven has an air fry setting! With a few of the wire pizza pans (I found them at WalMart) you can now air fry for a crowd.

There is a button. Right at the top. :D

We are in the market for a new oven, so I'll check that out! Thanks!

Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe

Air Fryer Shrimp with Garlic