Air fryer Coconut shrimp
Crispy on the outside and tender inside, these air fryer coconut shrimp make an easy appetizer or snack. Serve them with creamy sriracha mayo or alongside my baked potatoes with dill sour cream for a more filling bite.
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Reasons to Love This Recipe
- It is chock-full of flavor.
- Ready in less than 20 minutes
- It's a great way to enjoy healthy protein
- You get a nice crunch, thanks to the bacon bits enveloped in the coconut
- Perfect snack idea for seafood lovers
- Skip the oil needed to fry shrimp by making it in the air fryer.
Ingredients Breakdown
- Shrimp: If you can't find fresh shrimp, frozen works just fine. I use jumbo shrimp, but feel free to use whatever size you have on hand.
- All-purpose flour: Helps the breading stick to the shrimp. I've made this recipe with only breadcrumbs, and it came out practically unbreaded (if that's a word).
- Breadcrumbs: Add extra crunch to the coating. I like Italian-style breadcrumbs for a little extra flavor.
- Coconut flakes: Unsweetened shredded coconut works best since we're already adding brown sugar to the soy sauce.
- Cajun seasoning: Adds extra flavor to the breading. I use Slap Ya Mama, but any Cajun seasoning that isn't too salty will work. You can also make your own.
- Lemon: I use lemon zest to add a little fresh citrus flavor.
- Eggs: Act as a binder and help the flour and breadcrumb mixture stick to the shrimp.
- Soy sauce: Adds a savory, umami flavor to the shrimp.
Please refer to the recipe card for the exact measurements.
📝Step-by-Step Instructions
To make this coconut-breaded air fryer shrimp, you'll need four wide bowls or two bowls with a large sheet pan to keep things moving quickly.
Prep the breading station
- Step 1: Dip each shrimp into the soy sauce mixture, letting the excess drip off.
- Step 2: Coat the shrimp with the flour.
- Step 3: Coat in the flour, then dip into the beaten eggs. Then toss in the coconut mixture.
- Step 4: Arrange the shrimp in a single layer without overcrowding the basket. Lightly spray with cooking spray. Air fry at 400°F until the coating is golden and the shrimp are cooked through.
How to Make Coconut Bacon Shrimp in the Oven
If you don't have an air fryer, bake or broil the shrimp instead.
- To bake: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil and place a cooling rack on top. Spray the rack with cooking spray and arrange the breaded shrimp in a single layer. Bake for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through and lightly spraying with cooking spray.
- To broil: Set the broiler to high. Line a sheet pan with foil and lightly spray with cooking spray. Arrange the shrimp in a single layer and broil for 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Love air fryer recipes? Try my baked lemon pepper chicken wings, air fryer hot honey chicken tenders, whole tilapia in the air fryer, or my air fryer pork tenderloin recipes next.
What to pair with Coconut bacon Air fryer shrimp?
These crispy shrimp work as an appetizer, snack, or part of a meal. Here are a few easy pairings:
- Dips and sauces: Serve with sriracha mayo, chili garlic sauce, ranch, hot honey sriracha sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce.
- Rice: Keep it simple with steamed rice, or make it a full meal with my shrimp and chicken fried rice.
- Noodles: Serve alongside or over your favorite noodles.
- Coleslaw: A fresh cabbage slaw balances the crispy coating nicely.
- French fries: For when we're fully committing to the crispy situation.
✅Recipe FAQS
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer to bring back some of that crispy coating.
To freeze, arrange the cooked shrimp in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer until hot and crispy.
Yes, but for this coconut shrimp recipe, thaw them first. Frozen shrimp release extra moisture, which can keep the flour, egg, and coconut coating from sticking and getting crispy. Thaw the shrimp, drain well, and pat completely dry before breading
Easy Air Fryer Recipes to Try Next
Have you given this recipe or any other from my website a try? Please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and sharing your experience in the 📝 comments section. Your feedback means the world to me, and I'm excited to hear from you!
PEACE & LOVE
Maureen
Tools Used in this Recipe
📖 Recipe
Air fryer Coconut shrimp
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the air fryer at 400℉ for a few minutes. Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel and set aside.1 lb jumbo shrimp
- Place the all-purpose flour in a shallow bowl or on a baking sheet.Combine the breadcrumbs, coconut flakes, bacon, Cajun seasoning, black pepper, and lemon zest in a separate wide bowl or baking sheet.Whisk the egg in another shallow bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together the soy sauce and brown sugar.½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup panko bread crumbs, ½ cup unsweetened desiccated coconut , 2 cooked bacon strips, chopped to bits, ½ tablespoon cajun seasoning , Ground black pepper , Zest of 1 lemon, 2 large eggs, ⅓ cup soy sauce, 1½ tablespoons brown sugar
- Dip the shrimp into the soy sauce mixture, letting the excess drip off. Coat in the all-purpose flour, dip into the egg mixture, then toss in the coconut mixture until completely coated.Set aside on a cooling rack, or transfer directly to the air fryer basket once you've coated about six shrimp.
- Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil. Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
