These Air Fryer Shrimp Kabobs are covered in a delicious marinade for 30 minutes before being cooked in the air fryer. In just a few minutes, you'll have tender, juicy shrimp ready to serve as an appetizer or main dish.
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I love serving these shrimp skewers alongside Traeger smoked steak or pellet grill smoked steak, or with Boursin tomato pasta. There's something about a skewer that takes your meal from boring to amazing.
One of my favorite things about this easy recipe is that it is perfect for a busy weeknight; use the shrimp in shrimp tacos or as a salad topper for an easy meal your whole family will love! They are also delicious dipped in garlic butter sauce!
Why I Love Air Fryer Shrimp Kabobs
- Super Juicy: This air fryer shrimp is tender and juicy. No more overcooked, rubbery shrimp.
- Incredibly Flavorful: The simple marinade adds a ton of flavor. Adding some lemon zest can make it even more delicious.
- Versatile: Serve these shrimp skewers as an appetizer with seafood sauce, on a bed of Instant Pot white rice, on a green salad, or beside a grilled wagyu steak.
Ingredients & Substitutions
You'll need the following simple ingredients to make this easy air fryer shrimp recipe:
- Large shrimp. The shrimp will shrink as they cook, so I like to use large or jumbo shrimp.
- Marinade ingredients: You need olive oil, minced garlic cloves, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and juice from one lemon. You can also use bottled lemon juice if that's all you have. If you don't like spice, you can omit the red pepper flakes.
See the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
How To Make Air Fryer Shrimp Kabobs
Step 1: Marinate the Shrimp
- Combine olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
- Add the shrimp to this marinade and toss them well to ensure each one is evenly coated. Let them soak up the flavors for 15-30 minutes in the refrigerator.
If using bamboo or wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes while the shrimp is marinating.
Step 2: Prepare the Kabobs
- Once marinated, thread the shrimp onto the skewers, spacing them out a bit to ensure they cook evenly.
- Continue until all of the shrimp are neatly skewered.
Step 3: Air Fry the Shrimp Kabobs
- Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees F. Place shrimp kabobs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
- Air fry the shrimp for 3-4 minutes, flipping each skewer halfway through. You'll know they're done when the juicy shrimp turn a lovely pink color. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges. Enjoy!
Tip: Keep an eye on the shrimp as they cook because they can overcook very quickly, especially if they're on the smaller side.
Additions & Variations
- Add vegetables: To the skewers, add bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, or red onion.
- Tropical flavors: Add pineapple chunks and red bell pepper to the skewers.
- Seasoning: For a different flavor, add Cajun, Greek, or Old Bay seasoning to the marinade. You can even add soy sauce, grated ginger, or honey!
- Garlic Butter Shrimp: Brush the shrimp with melted butter and sprinkle with garlic powder before serving.
- Deluxe: Wrap the raw shrimp in bacon before air frying and brush with BBQ sauce when done.
Expert Cooking Tips
- Don't marinate too long: The lemon juice in the marinade will start to cook the shrimp, so don't marinate longer than 30 minutes.
- Avoid overcrowding: Cook the kabobs in a single layer so they cook evenly.
- Double the skewers: If flipping the shrimp with one skewer is tricky, use two skewers per kabob.
Recipe FAQ's
You can grill the shrimp kabobs on the grill or smoker, or bake them in the oven.
Aioli, cocktail sauce, dill dip, spicy Sriracha mayo, and mango habanero salsa are great dipping sauces.
You can thread the shrimp onto the skewers and refrigerate them for a few hours before cooking. Pour the marinade over 30 minutes before air-frying.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator: Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Freezing Instructions: Wrap each skewer individually in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 1 month.
Reheating: Reheat the shrimp in the air fryer on the REHEAT setting for a minute or two until hot.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
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Recipe
Air Fryer Shrimp Kabobs
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds raw jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 medium lemon juiced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- fresh parsley for garnish optional
- lemon wedges for serving optional
Instructions
Marinate the Shrimp
- Combine olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
- Add the shrimp and toss until they are evenly coated with the marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes.
- If using wooden or bamboo skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning.
Make the Shrimp Kabobs
- Preheat your air fryer to 360℉.
- Place the shrimp kabobs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, cooking in batches if necessary. Air fry for 3-4 minutes at 360℉, flipping each skewer over halfway through. When done, the shrimp will be pink and juicy.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges. Enjoy!
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Recipe Notes:
- Don't marinate too long: The lemon juice in the marinade will start to cook the shrimp, so don't marinate longer than 30 minutes.
- Avoid overcrowding: Cook the kabobs in a single layer so they cook evenly.
- Double the skewers: If flipping the shrimp with one skewer is tricky, use two skewers per kabob.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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