Crispy air fryer coconut shrimp are absolutely irresistible, especially with homemade sweet chili sauce for dipping! This easy, healthy air fryer recipe is sure to become a fast favorite.
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Pin RecipeCoconut shrimp are always a treat, but with an air fryer, they’re also unbelievably simple to make! All you need are some large shrimp, coconut flakes, and a few extra ingredients to create the perfect crispy coating. Plus, with the air fryer, there’s no need for deep frying in a big pot of oil, which means you’ll get crispy restaurant-style coconut shrimp that are actually healthy, too!
Sounds too good to be true, right? I promise it’s not!
You can serve up this air fryer shrimp recipe as a party starter, but my family loves to have it for dinner, too. You can whip up a quick stir fry and some Instant Pot rice and lay the crispy coconut shrimp right on top. If you’re looking for healthy dinner ideas, it doesn’t get much better.
(Love a good air fryer recipe? Try my Air Fryer Crab Cakes, too!)
Crispy Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp Recipe
The air fryer is the key to making coconut shrimp that are lightly fried, but still nice and crunchy. In fact, it far surpasses an oven in terms of crispiness. While it’s not quite as crispy as deep frying, the ease and healthiness of air frying definitely win out.
Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food, so it’s important to make sure your shrimp is coated in a thin layer of oil before cooking. This will help the coconut flakes and panko crisp up and ensure that the shrimp’s insides cook properly.
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Click on the products below to see my favorite tools for making this recipe!
Ingredients For Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
For the air fryer coconut shrimp:
- Raw shrimp – You can leave the tail on if you wish, but make sure to peel and devein the shrimp.
- All-purpose flour – Substitute 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour if needed.
- Garlic powder
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Eggs – Here’s the best way to crack an egg!
- Panko breadcrumbs – Panko breadcrumbs are key to a crispy coating. To keep this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs instead.
- Sweetened finely shredded coconut – You’ll want finely shredded coconut flakes because they will stick to the shrimp better than thicker shreds.
- Cooking spray
For the optional sweet chili sauce:
- Rice vinegar – Purchase the unseasoned version.
- Water
- Granulated sugar (white sugar)
- Garlic
- Sambal chili paste – Use more or less, according to your preference for heat.
- Soy sauce or tamari
- Cornstarch
- Cilantro
Variations
Feel free to mix up the ingredients you use for your crispy coating. Try adding sesame seeds for a unique twist on the classic coconut shrimp recipe, or add a pinch of cayenne with the flour to spice things up. You can also take a shortcut and use store-bought sweet chili sauce instead of making your own.
How to Make Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
- Prepare: Preheat your air fryer to 375ºF, and pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel.
- Set out the dredging stations: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with a splash of water. Then, in a third shallow bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs and coconut.
- Dredge the shrimp: Holding the tails, dredge each shrimp one at a time in the flour mixture, followed by the egg mixture, and finally the coconut. Spray the shrimp with cooking spray, and set it on a plate. Repeat until all the shrimp are coated.
- Air fry: Arrange the shrimp in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space in between to keep them from sticking together. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown, turning halfway through.
- Start the sauce: In a small pan over medium heat, stir together the rice vinegar, water, sugar, garlic, sambal, and soy sauce. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Thicken: In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and water to form a slurry. Add this to the sauce mixture. Then, return the sauce to a simmer, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken. Stir in the cilantro, and cool slightly before serving with the air fryer coconut shrimp.
Quick Tip
Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the shrimp in batches. It’s better to cook in batches than to overcrowd them, which will result in improper cooking!
How to Store Leftover Coconut Shrimp
Leftover shrimp can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to eat, reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350ºF for 5-10 minutes or until your desired temperature is reached.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
This air fryer coconut shrimp is delicious on its own, but it’s even better served with a side of jasmine rice or fried rice and stir-fried vegetables! You can also serve it up as an appetizer alongside another Asian-inspired favorite, crab rangoon dip with wonton chips!
FAQs
To cook coconut shrimp in the air fryer, you’ll prepare them just as you would for baking or frying. Then, you’ll coat them in cooking spray and place them in the air fryer basket to cook.
Yes, you can cook frozen coconut shrimp in the air fryer. To do so, preheat the air fryer to 375ºF, and cook the shrimp for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown, flipping halfway through. If they are not cooked through after 10 minutes, add a few more minutes of cooking time. Although homemade air fryer coconut shrimp are my favorite, if you have a package of frozen coconut shrimp, they definitely taste best when made in the air fryer!
Coconut shrimp can be a healthy option, as it is a good source of protein. The air fryer method of cooking reduces the amount of oil needed for frying and helps keep this dish lower in fat and calories than traditional recipes.
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Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Equipment
- Measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Mixing bowls
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 ½ cups sweetened finely shredded coconut
- 1 pound raw shrimp deveined, peeled, tail on
- Cooking Spray
Sweet Chili Sauce
- ½ cup rice vinegar
- ½ cup water
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Tablespoons sambal chili paste
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce or tamari
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro minced
Instructions
- Preheat an air fryer to 375ºF.
- In a small bowl, mix together the flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper with a fork. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs with a splash of water to thin out slightly.⅓ cup all purpose flour, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 2 large eggs
- In another bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs and coconut until evenly distributed.½ cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 ½ cups sweetened
- Using a paper towel, gently pat dry the shrimp to remove any excess moisture from the surface. This will allow the coating to adhere better.1 pound raw shrimp
- Holding by the tail, dredge each shrimp in the flour mixture, followed by the egg, then the coconut mixture.
- Spray the outside of each shrimp with cooking spray and set aside on a plate.Cooking Spray
Sweet Chili Sauce
- In a small saucepot, combine the rice vinegar, water, sugar, garlic, sambal and soy sauce. Cook over medium heat until it starts to simmer.½ cup rice vinegar, ½ cup water, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 2 cloves garlic, 2 Tablespoons sambal, 2 teaspoons soy sauce or tamari
- In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and water with a fork, forming a slurry. Add to the sauce mixture and return to a simmer. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken, scraping the sides throughout.1 Tablespoon cornstarch, 2 Tablespoons water
- Stir in the cilantro. Set aside to let cool slightly before serving.2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro
