These air fryer coconut shrimp are so irresistibly good, no one will believe they take less than 30 minutes to make! Succulent shrimp in a crunchy coconut breading is downright craveworthy.
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Craving something that packs in flavor and crunch but won’t take forever to make? This air fryer coconut shrimp is absolutely craveworthy and ready in under 30 minutes!
Succulent, juicy shrimp inside a crunchy coconut-and-breadcrumb coating is the kind of dish dreams are made of.
And thanks to the air fryer, you can skip the deep-frying and get amazing results every time!
Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:
- The simple way to make crispy and delicious air fryer coconut shrimp
- How long to cook coconut shrimp in the air fryer
- What to do if you’d rather use one of the pre-made frozen coconut shrimp brands
- Tips and tricks for this easy recipe
- What to serve with coconut shrimp
Whether you’re throwing together a tantalizing appetizer or whipping up a yummy dish for the whole family to enjoy, coconut shrimp is sure to impress.
And once you see how easy it is, you’ll want to make this recipe all the time!
How to Make Coconut Shrimp in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: In a shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, pepper, and salt until well combined. In a second bowl, lightly beat the eggs. In a third bowl, stir together the coconut and bread crumbs.
STEP TWO: Working one at a time, dredge each shrimp in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Dip the floured shrimp in the egg, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, press the shrimp into the coconut-bread crumb mixture, coating them well.
STEP THREE: Set the breaded shrimp aside and repeat until all shrimp are breaded.
STEP FOUR: Spray the inner basket of the air fryer, then preheat to 400 degrees F.
STEP FIVE: Place the shrimp in the air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Lightly spray the tops with oil.
STEP SIX: Air fry for 4 minutes, then flip the shrimp and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes until golden and fully cooked.
STEP SEVEN: Repeat with any remaining coated shrimp.
STEP EIGHT: Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired, and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
How Long to Cook Coconut Shrimp in the Air Fryer
This is going to depend on the size of your shrimp as well as the size and model of your air fryer.
For jumbo shrimp, I find that 7-8 minutes total, flipping halfway, is the perfect amount of time to get the breading crispy and cook the shrimp all the way through.
You want the breading to be a deep golden color and for the shrimp to be light pink all the way through.
You can also use an Instant Read Thermometer to ensure the shrimp have reached an internal temperature of 120 degrees F.
How to Make Store-Bought Frozen Coconut Shrimp in the Air Fryer
Want to skip the prep and use one of the premade frozen coconut shrimp brands? No problem!
When I’m craving this dish but short on time, I love making Trader Joe’s coconut shrimp in the air fryer.
Since we’re using premade coconut shrimp, you get to skip out on all the prep steps!
Also, because the breading already includes oil, you don’t need to spray the air fryer basket or the shrimp.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Place the shrimp in the air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
- Air fry for 4 minutes, then flip the shrimp and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes until golden and fully cooked.
- Repeat with any remaining shrimp.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired, and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Feel free to use this method to make any other brands like Seapak or Costco frozen coconut shrimp in the air fryer. They’ll turn out crispy and delicious every time!
Tips for Making the Best Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
- When dredging the shrimp, make sure to let any excess flour and egg drip off. Otherwise, the breading won’t stick as well and you can lose sections in the air fryer.
- Really press the shrimp into the coconut and bread crumb mixture to get as much to stick as possible. The more breading, the crispier the shrimp will be.
- Lay the shrimp in the air fryer basket single layer with space between each one for the hot air to circulate. If you overcrowd the basket, the breading won’t be able to crisp up properly.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
- Air Fryer Bok Choy
- Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
- Cocktail Sauce without Horseradish
- Honey Sriracha Sauce
- Ninja Foodi Rice
How to Reheat Coconut Shrimp
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Lay the leftover coconut shrimp in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes until crispy and heated all the way through.
Other Air Fryer Shrimp Recipes You’ll Love:
- Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp in the Air Fryer
- Crispy Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Shrimp
- Frozen Shrimp in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Shrimp Tempura
- Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
- Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
- Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Shrimp
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Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
Ingredients
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup unsweetened flaked coconut
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 12 ounces uncooked jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined, tails on
- Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together flour, pepper, and salt until well combined. In a second bowl, lightly beat eggs. Stir together coconut and bread crumbs in a third bowl.
- Working one at a time, dredge each shrimp in flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Dip the floured shrimp in the egg, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, press the shrimp into the coconut-bread crumb mixture, coating them well. Set the shrimp aside on a plate.Â
- Spray the inner basket of an air fryer with cooking spray, then preheat it to 400 degrees F. Place shrimp in a single layer in the basket, spray lightly with cooking oil, and air fry for 4 minutes. Turn shrimp over and continue cooking until golden and fully cooked, 3-4 minutes. Repeat with remaining coated shrimp.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired, and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
How to reheat coconut shrimp:
1. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees. 2. Add shrimp to basket and cook for 3-4 minutes or until heated all the way through and crispy.Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
Hi Samantha, I am enjoying your air fryer recipes and, in fact, ALL your recipes. Thank you for helping to make cooking a pleasure instead of a chore. This recipe for COCONUT SHRIMP caught my eye because I have some raw jumbo shrimp in the freezer. I thought, from the photos of your shrimp, that the recipe used shredded coconut….but the actual recipe calls for flaked coconut. Would shredded work? It’s all I have and I need to use some of it up, and while I’m thinking it would be fine, I don’t want to ruin those expensive shrimp, so I’d appreciate your input. Thanks!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying my recipes! For the Coconut Shrimp recipe, I recommend using flaked coconut as specified. While shredded coconut could work, flaked coconut provides a better texture and coating. If you’re worried about the outcome, it’s safer to use flaked coconut for the best results.
I made these shrimp and they turned out very nice.
I used a pair of narrow kitchen tongs to handle the shrimp.
We made a sauce for dipping by combining orange marmalade and chili sauce. Delicious!
So glad you liked it, Debbie! 🙂