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Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables

Name: Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound thawed shrimp (about 21-25), peeled, deveined and tails removed; 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch chunks; 1/2 yellow onion, cut into 1 inch chunks; 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (a small pinch!); 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper; optional to serve: rice, quinoa, pad thai noodles, more veggies, teriyaki sauce etc

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By: Danielle3 Comments Posted: 09/25/2019 Updated: 09/23/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables recipe is a quick and simple dinner idea that features shrimp with no breading, along with bell peppers, onions and some simple spices. Serve with rice for a complete weeknight meal!
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I’m slowly converting everyone around me into air fryer lovers and I could not be more thrilled. My friends now make me air fryer chicken wings when I come over. What’s not to love?!

Recently, I wrote about The First 15 Recipes I Made With My Air Fryer. Did you know there are plenty of Trader Joe’s Foods that go perfectly into your air fryer? Neither did I until I tried 🤷‍♀️

Now it’s time for a made from scratch dinner in the air fryer, and how about one that only takes 30 minutes MAX?? Make the rice on the side or just throw more veggies in there. You do you!

What makes this Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables recipe awesome:

super easy to prepare and make
can be modified with whatever veggies you have on hand
great for air fryer newbies
takes less than 30 minutes total

Can you cook raw shrimp in the air fryer?

Based on my research, which consisted of testing this Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables recipe five times, the answer is YES, you can cook raw shrimp in the air fryer. I know because I have done it.

What vegetables can you use in this recipe?

Bell peppers and onions are a favorite combo of mine and I really enjoy how they cook without getting soggy in the air fryer. But if you have more veggies hanging out in the fridge, try tossing them in too. Make sure to cut them to about the same size as the shrimps!

peppers of any color
onions
broccoli
cauliflower
asparagus
zucchini

How do you make the Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables?

Thaw and remove the tails from the shrimp. You can cook them tails on but I like to just get it all over with when they’re raw so I can enjoy my meal tail-free. Place the shrimp in a strainer to remove the excess liquid. If I’m also having rice, I’ll start that now in the rice cooker (stove or Instant Pot will work too).
Prep the veggies. I’ve chosen onions and bell peppers but you do you!
Mix it all together. Add the shrimps, veggies, spices, and oil to a big bowl and mix until everything is covered in oil and spices.
Air fry the mixture. Place the entire contents of the bowl into your air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to about 330F (my air fryer is analog so I can’t exactly tell). Let the shrimp and veggies cook for 10-13 minutes total, giving the basket a shake about halfway through.
Serve with rice, quinoa, pad thai noodles, or any other carb you prefer 🙂

What should you serve this Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables with?

There are lots of possibilities and none of them are wrong. Here are some ideas to get started:

brown rice/white rice
pad thai noodles
on tortillas with greens
quinoa
by itself with more veggies
over cabbage slaw with peanut dressing

This looks too spicy. What other flavor options can I try?

If you don’t want the extra kick, you’re welcome to leave out the extra pinch of cayenne pepper. If you don’t want any spice at all, leave out both the chili pepper and the cayenne pepper and swap with one of these seasoning options:

lemon pepper
cajun seasoning
garlic & herb
old bay seasoning
any basic fish seasoning
leave the seasoning super basic and add a yummy teriyaki sauce to the final dish

What kind of air fryer do you have?

For all my air fryer recipes, I use the Philips 2.75 qt Viva Air Fryer (affiliate link!), and I love it! I can make things crispy, cook things I would normally cook in the oven, or cook things I might normally cook on the stove top, like this Easy Air Fryer Shrimp recipe that we’re all really here for.

However, this is the only air fryer I’ve personally tried, so I have nothing else to compare it to! There’s also a digital version of this air fryer that’s a bit more expensive but would be a good option if you have 4 or more humans to feed.

UPDATE 8/25/21: I have upgraded air fryers and have a new recommendation! I now use and love the Cosori XL 5.8 qt Air Fryer (affiliate link!). I prefer the non-stick coated basket over the metal mesh basket. Please note I have not yet updated these photos, so my old air fryer is still being used!

How long does this Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables recipe last in the fridge?

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 4 days!

Can this Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables be frozen?

I have not experimented with freezing this dish. If anyone gives it a try, please let me know how it turns out in the comments below!

More dinner ideas from Project Meal Plan:

Hope you enjoy this super simple dinner recipe as much as I do! If you make this Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables recipe, be sure to tag me and share your version!!

About Danielle

Hi, I’m Danielle! I'm a PNW gal on a mission to help you reduce food waste, and save both time and money with meal planning and make-ahead recipe ideas! I've got weekly meal plan templates and recipes waiting for you!