Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp (With Stovetop Option)

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Last Updated on September 30, 2023 by Toya

This easy air fryer cajun shrimp recipe requires just 3 ingredients. Find out how to make these deliciously spicy cajun shrimp in an air fryer in just 6 minutes!

Air fried cajun shrimp

If you enjoy quick and easy meals then these air fried cajun shrimp will become one of your favorites. They’re ready in under 10 minutes and require minimal cookware.

I love using my air fryer to make dinner on nights when I’m feeling tired. Most nights I make air fryer wings or air fryer chicken thighs, but, these cajun shrimp made in the air fryer are also a hit in my household too.

In fact, this is my go-to shrimp recipe for making spicy shrimp tacos! I even love using this recipe when I want a spicy filling for my keto breakfast wraps.

Ingredients to make cajun air fried shrimp

  • 1 lb shrimp
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp cajun seasoning

Where to find the best Cajun seasoning

You can always purchase some cajun seasoning to make your cajun recipes at your favorite local stores or online. I like Slap Ya Mama All Natural Cajun Seasoning, Frontier Cajun Seasoning, or McCormick Cajun Seasoning when I don’t want to make my own homemade cajun seasoning recipe. 

However, if you want to make your own homemade cajun seasoning mix, you can learn how to do so below.

How to make cajun seasoning

If you want to make a larger batch of cajun seasoning for other cajun recipes you can find a simple homemade cajun seasoning recipe here. However, if you want to make a small amount of cajun seasoning that makes just enough for this cajun air fryer shrimp recipe, simply mix the ingredients listed below into a small bowl:

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (increase or decrease based on the level of spiciness you prefer)
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp ground white pepper
  • 1/4 tsp oregano
  • 1/8 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme

At what temperature do you air fry shrimp?

Air fryer shrimp that has been thawed should be cooked at 400°F or 205°C for 6 – 8 minutes. On the other hand, air fryer shrimp that is frozen should be cooked at 400°F or 205°C for 11 – 12 minutes. 

How to make air fryer cajun shrimp

Gather all the ingredients in one place. If your shrimp are frozen, go ahead and thaw them out. Also, make sure they’re peeled and deveined. I like my shrimp tails off for this recipe, but, you can also leave the tails on if you like. 

Then add the olive oil and cajun seasoning mixture to the bowl of shrimp and mix well until all the shrimp are coated.

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 1 minute, then add the shrimp to the basket and air fry for 6 minutes.

Once cooked they should look like this:

Remove from the air fryer basket and serve with some garlic butter seafood sauce or a spicy creamy cajun sauce

air fried cajun shrimp

Tips for cooking shrimp in the air fryer

  • Shrimp cooks rather quickly so there is no need to flip the shrimp as you would normally do with chicken in the air fryer. 
  • Cook the shrimp in a single layer for the best results. Do not overcrowd the air fryer as this will make it so that the shrimp aren’t cooked evenly. 
  • You can use both thawed or frozen shrimp for this recipe. If the shrimp are frozen, increase the cooking time by an additional 3 minutes or let them thaw out until the shrimp are no longer frozen.

This easy air fryer cajun shrimp recipe requires just 3 ingredients. Find out how to make these deliciously spicy cajun shrimp in an air fryer in just 6 minutes!

Air fried cajun shrimp

If you enjoy quick and easy meals then these air fried cajun shrimp will become one of your favorites. They’re ready in under 10 minutes and require minimal cookware.

I love using my air fryer to make dinner on nights when I’m feeling tired. Most nights I make air fryer wings or air fryer chicken thighs, but, these cajun shrimp made in the air fryer are also a hit in my household too.

In fact, this is my go-to shrimp recipe for making spicy shrimp tacos! I even love using this recipe when I want a spicy filling for my keto breakfast wraps.

Ingredients to make cajun air fried shrimp

  • 1 lb shrimp
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp cajun seasoning

Where to find the best Cajun seasoning

You can always purchase some cajun seasoning to make your cajun recipes at your favorite local stores or online. I like Slap Ya Mama All Natural Cajun Seasoning, Frontier Cajun Seasoning, or McCormick Cajun Seasoning when I don’t want to make my own homemade cajun seasoning recipe.

However, if you want to make your own homemade cajun seasoning mix, you can learn how to do so below.

How to make cajun seasoning

If you want to make a larger batch of cajun seasoning for other cajun recipes you can find a simple homemade cajun seasoning recipe here. However, if you want to make a small amount of cajun seasoning that makes just enough for this cajun air fryer shrimp recipe, simply mix the ingredients listed below into a small bowl:

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (increase or decrease based on the level of spiciness you prefer)
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp ground white pepper
  • 1/4 tsp oregano
  • 1/8 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme

At what temperature do you air fry shrimp?

Air fryer shrimp that has been thawed should be cooked at 400°F or 205°C for 6 – 8 minutes. On the other hand, air fryer shrimp that is frozen should be cooked at 400°F or 205°C for 11 – 12 minutes.

How to make air fryer cajun shrimp

Gather all the ingredients in one place. If your shrimp are frozen, go ahead and thaw them out. Also, make sure they’re peeled and deveined. I like my shrimp tails off for this recipe, but, you can also leave the tails on if you like.

Then add the olive oil and cajun seasoning mixture to the bowl of shrimp and mix well until all the shrimp are coated.

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 1 minute, then add the shrimp to the basket and air fry for 6 minutes.

Once cooked they should look like this:

Remove from the air fryer basket and serve with some garlic butter seafood sauce or a spicy creamy cajun sauce.

air fried cajun shrimp

Tips for cooking shrimp in the air fryer

  • Shrimp cooks rather quickly so there is no need to flip the shrimp as you would normally do with chicken in the air fryer.
  • Cook the shrimp in a single layer for the best results. Do not overcrowd the air fryer as this will make it so that the shrimp aren’t cooked evenly.
  • You can use both thawed or frozen shrimp for this recipe. If the shrimp are frozen, increase the cooking time by an additional 3 minutes or let them thaw out until the shrimp are no longer frozen.

How to cook cajun shrimp on the stovetop

  1. Prep the Shrimp: Start by patting the shrimp dry with paper towels. This helps them cook evenly and develop a nice sear.
  2. Season the Shrimp: In a bowl, toss the shrimp with the Cajun seasoning. Make sure they are well coated. You can adjust the amount of seasoning to your preferred level of spiciness.
  3. Heat the Pan: Place a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Allow it to heat up for a minute or two.
  4. Cook the Shrimp: Carefully add the seasoned shrimp to the pan in a single layer. Cook them for 2-3 minutes on one side until they start to turn pink and slightly curl.
  5. Flip and Cook: Flip the shrimp over with tongs or a spatula to cook the other side. This should take another 2–3 minutes. Shrimp cook quickly, so be attentive to avoid overcooking, which can make them tough.

What to serve with air fried cajun shrimp

These can be served with sides like white rice or a rice substitute like cilantro lime cauliflower rice, or with cauliflower mash, keto green beans, zucchini noodles, creamy cucumber onion salad, zucchini fries, or roasted asparagus.

Pasta – You can’t go wrong serving these spicy air fryer shrimp over some creamy pasta. A few of my favorite recipes include this mouthwatering creamy pasta made with milk, my cream cheese pasta, and my creamy half-and-half pasta.

Storing, freezing, and reheating cajun air fried shrimp

To store place any leftovers in an air-tight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, place the shrimp in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 2 minutes or heat up on the stovetop in a nonstick pan for 3 minutes.

Final thoughts

My family really loves seafood and seafood recipes. In any given month, I’ll make a seafood boil, cajun shrimp, shrimp fajitas, shrimp boil, or this cajun air fryer shrimp a few times. And, while my family loves these meals because they taste great, I love making them because they fit comfortably into my keto lifestyle!

This cajun air fryer shrimp is easy, quick, delicious, and ready in just minutes and can be used in so many incredible ways! I sometimes make it with a side of fresh salad or roasted veggies and have dinner ready in under 30 minutes. Or sometimes I get a bit fancy and make this to serve over noodles or to toss in a stir fry.

These air fryer shrimp with cajun seasoning are so easy to make, everyone absolutely needs to learn how to make this recipe! They’re that good! So, try it out and let me know how you like it below!

More easy air fryer recipes

Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp

Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 11 minutes

This easy air fryer cajun shrimp recipe requires just 3 ingredients. Find out how to make these deliciously spicy cajun shrimp in an air fryer in just 6 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb shrimp
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp cajun seasoning

Instructions

    1. Gather all the ingredients in one place. If your shrimp are frozen, then go ahead and thaw them out. Also, make sure they’re peeled and devined. I like my shrimp tails off for this recipe, but, you can also leave the tails on if you like. 
    2. Then add the olive oil, and cajun seasoning mixture to the bowl of shrimp and mix well until all the shrimp is coated.
    3. Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees for 1 minute, then add the shrimp to the basket and air fry for 6 minutes.
    4. Remove from the air fryer basket and serve. 
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 226Total Fat: 9.2gSaturated Fat: 1.5gCholesterol: 286mgSodium: 2917mgCarbohydrates: 3.3gFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.1gProtein: 31g

What to serve with air fried cajun shrimp

These can be served with sides like white rice or a rice substitute like cilantro lime cauliflower rice, or with cauliflower mash, keto green beans, zucchini noodles, creamy cucumber onion salad, zucchini fries, or roasted asparagus. 

Pasta – You can’t go wrong serving these spicy air fryer shrimp over some creamy pasta. A few of my favorite recipes include this mouthwatering creamy pasta made with milk, my cream cheese pasta, and my creamy half-and-half pasta.

Storing, freezing, and reheating cajun air fried shrimp

To store place any leftovers in an air-tight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, place the shrimp in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 2 minutes or heat up on the stovetop in a nonstick pan for 3 minutes.

Final thoughts

My family really loves seafood and seafood recipes. In any given month, I’ll make a seafood boil, cajun shrimp, shrimp fajitas, shrimp boil, or this cajun air fryer shrimp a few times. And, while my family loves these meals because they taste great, I love making them because they fit comfortably into my keto lifestyle!

This cajun air fryer shrimp is easy, quick, delicious, and ready in just minutes and can be used in so many incredible ways! I sometimes make it with a side of fresh salad or roasted veggies and have dinner ready in under 30 minutes. Or sometimes I get a bit fancy and make this to serve over noodles or to toss in a stir fry.

These air fryer shrimp with cajun seasoning are so easy to make, everyone absolutely needs to learn how to make this recipe! They’re that good! So, try it out and let me know how you like it below!

More easy air fryer recipes

Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp

Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 11 minutes

This easy air fryer cajun shrimp recipe requires just 3 ingredients. Find out how to make these deliciously spicy cajun shrimp in an air fryer in just 6 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb shrimp
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp cajun seasoning

Instructions

    1. Gather all the ingredients in one place. If your shrimp are frozen, then go ahead and thaw them out. Also, make sure they’re peeled and devined. I like my shrimp tails off for this recipe, but, you can also leave the tails on if you like. 
    2. Then add the olive oil, and cajun seasoning mixture to the bowl of shrimp and mix well until all the shrimp is coated.
    3. Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees for 1 minute, then add the shrimp to the basket and air fry for 6 minutes.
    4. Remove from the air fryer basket and serve. 
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 226Total Fat: 9.2gSaturated Fat: 1.5gCholesterol: 286mgSodium: 2917mgCarbohydrates: 3.3gFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.1gProtein: 31g

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