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Quick and easy air fryer shrimp tossed in creamy Thai sweet chili sauce. Ready in 15 minutes and perfect for dinner, meal prep, or appetizers!
Craving a quick, flavorful dinner? This Air Fryer Shrimp with Sweet Chili Sauce is ready in just 15 minutes and packed with so much flavor! Juicy shrimp are seasoned with smoky paprika, Tajín or chili powder, and fresh garlic then cooked to perfection in the air fryer. No breading needed! Tossed in a creamy Thai sweet chili and lime sauce, this easy shrimp recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or serving as an appetizer.
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Pin It Now15-Minute Air Fryer Shrimp with the best Sweet Chili Mayo Sauce!
Let me tell you the story of this easy-to-make air fryer shrimp recipe that’s saucy, sweet, slightly spicy, and ready in just minutes. The best part? There’s no breading, which means less prep, fewer calories, and even faster cooking.
It all starts with juicy raw shrimp, perfectly seasoned and cooked in the air fryer until tender and flavorful. Just a few minutes is all it takes.
But the real magic? The creamy, tangy Thai sweet chili sauce you’ll whisk together while the shrimp cook. It’s the kind of sauce you’ll want to drizzle on everything.
Why you’ll love this:
- quick and fuss-free – ready in under 15 minutes!
- no breading – clean, faster, lighter than breaded shrimp
- flavor-packed – so much flavor with that spicy sweet chili sauce!
Let’s go make quick and easy air fried shrimp!
❤️ Ashley
pro tips for perfect shrimp without breading
Here are a few of my tips and tricks for perfect shrimp every time:
- Preheat your air fryer – starting with a hot air fryer helps lock in the crispness and cooks the shrimp evenly.
- Don’t overcrowd – give shrimp room to air-fry evenly and stay crisp. Air fry in batches if needed.
- Dry shrimp – before cooking, use a clean kitchen towel or. paper towels to absorb extra moisture from the shrimp.
how to make shrimp in the air fryer
Making shrimp without breading in the air fryer couldn’t be easier. Here’s what you’ll do.
- Prepare shrimp – absorb extra moisture with a kitchen towel or paper towels.
- Season – I use salt, black pepper, tajín (substitute with chili powder or chili lime seasoning if you have it), and smoked paprika along with 2 cloves of fresh minced garlic.
- Toss with oil – only 2 teaspoons of oil are needed
- Air fry – 7-8 minutes and the shrimp are done!
- Make the sauce and serve
chili sauce for shrimp
While the shrimp cook, you’ll prepare the sweet chili sauce. To make sweet chili sauce for shrimp you will need:
- Thai sweet chili sauce – this can be found in the international foods aisle of your grocery store
- mayo
- squeeze of fresh lime juice
- sriracha – optional, if you want a little spice!
If you’re familiar with my Bang Bang Shrimp or Bang Bang Chicken, the sauce is very similar.
When you remove the shrimp from the air fryer you have two options with the sauce:
1. Add the shrimp to the bowl of sauce and toss to coat. Or…
2. Drizzle the sauce over the top of the shrimp before serving.
Air Fryer Temp
Allow the air fryer to preheat at 400 degrees, then arrange the seasoned shrimp evenly in the air fryer and cook for 7-8 minutes. You do not need to flip the shrimp.
Thawing shrimp
For frozen shrimp, allow them to thaw before making the recipe. You can thaw in the refrigerator overnight, or, for faster thawing you can take the shrimp out of the package and place them in a bowl of cold water. It’ll only take about 15-20 minutes for the shrimp to thaw using this method.
Once the shrimp are thawed, drain the water and pat the shrimp dry with paper towels.
What to serve with Air Fryer Shrimp with Sweet Chili Sauce
My favorite way to serve these shrimp is to make Shrimp Bowls with them! Start with a base of rice (here’s How to Make Perfect Rice), add sautéed veggies, then top with shrimp. Drizzle the Sweet Chili Sauce over top (or toss all of the shrimp in the sauce first), garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and serve.
I like to make sautéed peppers and onions to go along with the shrimp, but I’ve also used snap peas as well.
Make this Garlic bread as another delicious option to go along with it.
More delicious shrimp recipes
Looking for more shrimp recipes? This recipe for Crunchy Fried Shrimp is always a favorite!
Shrimp Scamp Pasta is delicious as well. Tender shrimp and pasta are tossed together in a scampi sauce with garlic and parmesan.
We hope you enjoy this easy shrimp recipe made right in the air fryer. Air Fryer Shrimp with Sweet Chili sauce requires less than 10 minutes of prep time and less than 10 minutes of cook time, dinner is ready in under 20 minutes!
Enjoy!
Air Fryer Shrimp with Sweet Chili Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound raw jumbo shrimp – peeled deveined
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon each of salt and black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Tajín OR chili powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- ¼ cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice juice from about 1/2 of a lime
- Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Season the shrimp – In a large bowl, add 1 pound peeled and deveined jumbo shrimp, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon Tajín (or chili powder), ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, and 2 cloves minced garlic.
- Add oil – Drizzle with 2 teaspoons olive oil and toss to coat evenly.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (205°C).
- Air fry – Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the basket, leaving space between each one. Cook for 7–8 minutes. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
- Make the sauce – In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce, ¼ cup mayonnaise, and 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice until smooth.
- Serve – Toss the cooked shrimp in the sauce or drizzle the sauce over the top. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.
Notes
- For extra heat, add a pinch of crushed red pepper to the sauce.
- This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
- If using frozen shrimp, thaw completely and pat dry before seasoning for best crispiness.
