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Home ยป Air Fryer ยป Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

Published: May 9, 2019 ยท Modified: May 13, 2022 by Justin Coit

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You wonโ€™t believe how easy it is to make this Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp at home with a few simple ingredients. These coconut shrimps are crispy, lightweight, and restaurant-quality without using a deep fryer! Itโ€™s the perfect party appetizer, and you can make it in a few short minutes!

A plate of air fryer coconut shrimp with a dip on the side.
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Pinterest graphic of a plate of air fryer coconut shrimp with a small bowl of sweet chili sauce on the side.
Pinterest graphic of a close view of air fryer coconut shrimp.
Pinterest graphic of an air fryer coconut shrimp dipped into sweet chili sauce.

Healthier and lighter than traditional coconut shrimp, this air fryer version is golden, crispy, and delightfully delicious without needing a ton of oil. All you need are a handful of ingredients to make these crispy shrimps at home. 

I love how these coconut shrimps are so tender and juicy inside with a satisfying crunch on the outside. While theyโ€™re amazing appetizers, theyโ€™re also perfect for a light lunch. Regardless of how you serve these coconut shrimps, theyโ€™re always a crowd-pleaser and disappear quickly. Got extra shrimp and need another recipe? Try my shrimp lettuce wrap recipe or sweet and sour shrimp recipe! 

Key Ingredients You Need

Ingredients needed to make air fryer coconut shrimp.
  • Shrimp โ€” Save yourself the time and effort of peeling and deveining shrimp by buying them peeled and deveined. Keep the tails on so theyโ€™re easier to pick up and dip.
  • Flour โ€” You can use any type of flour but if you want to make this recipe gluten-free, opt for gluten-free flour or coconut flour for an additional layer of coconut flavor.
  • Shredded Coconut โ€” Make sure you use unsweetened shredded coconut. 
  • Breadcrumbs โ€” I use regular breadcrumbs, but you can use traditional or gluten-free bread crumbs.

How to Make Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

Set of two photos showing shrimp seasoned and coated in flour.

Step 1: Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.

Step 2: Prepare the dredging stations: add the flour to a shallow plate, the eggs to another, and mix the breadcrumbs and coconut to the 3rd shallow plate. One at a time, dredge the shrimp in the flour. 

Set of two photo showing shrimp dipped in egg and bread crumbs.

Step 3: Then, dip the flour-coated shrimp into the eggs. 

Step 4: Finally, coat the shrimp in the breadcrumb and coconut mixture, gently pressing it into the shrimp.

Set of two photos showing shrimp sprayed with oil and air fried.

Step 5: Place the breaded shrimp onto a plate or baking sheet and spray with a light coat of cooking spray on both sides.

Step 6: Spray the air fryer basket with a light coat of cooking spray. Place the shrimp into the basket on a single layer. Cook for 7 minutes at 400 F, flipping halfway through the cooking time until the shrimp are golden. Serve with the sweet chili dipping sauce.

Close up of air fryer coconut shrimp on a plate.

Tips For This Recipe

  • Pat the shrimp dry to remove any excess water before you coat it. Doing so helps the seasoning and coating stick better to the shrimp. Removing the moisture helps ensure the coconut shrimp crisp up and not steam when air-fried.
  • Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Keeping the shrimp in a single layer ensures the hot air can reach all of the shrimp and stay crispy.
  • Make sure to flip the coconut shrimp halfway through to make sure they are crispy on both sides.
  • Make sure you press the shredded coconut into the shrimp. You donโ€™t want them to fall off as you transfer the coconut shrimp to the air fryer basket. 
  • If youโ€™re doubling or tripling the recipe, you can keep the first few batches of shrimp warm in the oven at 200F. 
An air fryer coconut shrimp dipped in a sweet chili sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What shrimp should I use?

I always try to use jumbo or large to give more leeway and decrease the chances of overcooking. You could always use smaller shrimp but check on them often to avoid overcooking.ย 

Can I use frozen shrimp?

You can use fresh or frozen shrimp to make coconut shrimp. If using frozen shrimp, make sure you thaw the shrimp fully and pat them dry so they do not steam when cooked. You can quickly thaw frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water for 10 to 20 minutes.

Can I make it ahead of time?

You can make coconut shrimp in the air fryer 2 to 3 days ahead of time. Allow them to cool before storing them in an airtight container in the fridge. You can reheat them in the air fryer until warmed throughout.ย  Alternatively, you can freeze air-fried coconut shrimp once theyโ€™ve cooled. Reheat them straight from frozen.

Why air fry instead of deep-fry?

I love air frying coconut shrimp instead of deep-frying as you use a fraction of the oil, but you still get golden and crispy shrimp. Itโ€™s a healthier alternative to the deep-fried versions you find at restaurants, as the hot air circulating around the shrimp mimics the results of deep-frying.ย 

How long does it take for shrimp to cook in an air fryer?

Every air fryer is different, and the size of your shrimp will affect the cooking time. It takes me 7 minutes to cook through my shrimp, but it may take you a minute more or less. You can always use an instant-read thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 120F.

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If youโ€™ve tried this Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp Recipe, then donโ€™t forget to leave me a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!

Overhead view of a plate of air fryer coconut shrimp with a side of sweet chili sauce dip.
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

You wonโ€™t believe how easy it is to make this Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp at home with a few simple ingredients. These coconut shrimps are crispy, lightweight, and restaurant-quality without using a deep fryer! Itโ€™s the perfect party appetizer, and you can make it in a few short minutes!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time7 minutes mins
Total Time17 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 347kcal
Author: Justin Coit

Ingredients

  • 1 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined, tails still attached
  • ยฝ cup flour
  • ยฝ tsp salt
  • ยผ tsp pepper
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • ยพ cup shredded coconut
  • ยฝ cup breadcrumbs I use panko
  • cooking spray

To Serve:

  • sweet chili sauce

Instructions

  • Spray the air fryer basket with a light coat of cooking spray.
  • Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
  • Prepare the dredging stations- add the flour to a shallow plate, the eggs to another, and mix together the breadcrumbs and coconut and add it to the 3rd shallow plate.
  • One at a time, dredge the shrimp in the flour, then eggs, then the breadcrumb and coconut mixture, gently pressing it into the shrimp.
  • Place the breaded shrimp onto a plate or baking sheet and spray with a light coat of cooking spray, on both sides.
  • Place the shrimp into the Air Fryer basket, on a single layer. Cook for 7 minutes at 400 F, flipping halway through the cooking time until the shrimp are golden.
  • Serve with the sweet chili dipping sauce.

Video

Notes

  • Pat the shrimp dry to remove any excess water before you coat it. Doing so helps the seasoning and coating stick better to the shrimp. Removing the moisture helps ensure the coconut shrimp crisp up and not steam when air-fried.
  • Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Keeping the shrimp in a single layer ensures the hot air can reach all of the shrimp and stay crispy.
  • Make sure to flip the coconut shrimp halfway through to make sure they are crispy on both sides.
  • Make sure you press the shredded coconut into the shrimp. You donโ€™t want them to fall off as you transfer the coconut shrimp to the air fryer basket.ย 
  • If youโ€™re doubling or tripling the recipe, you can keep the first few batches of shrimp warm in the oven at 200F.ย 

Nutrition

Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 236mg | Sodium: 1281mg | Potassium: 264mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 340IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 2mg
*Nutrition Disclaimer
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. darryl says

    May 29, 2022 at 2:03 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks I'm new and enjoy your video and recipies for Air Frying

    Reply
    • Justin Coit says

      July 11, 2022 at 10:12 am

      Thank you Darryl!

      Reply
5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Hi, Iโ€™m Justin. By day I'm a commercial director and photographer but in my free time, I make deliciously clean comfort food for my family and friends.

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