Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Shrimp is a quick & easy dinner option that’s light and zesty with refreshing flavors and bright colors that pop!
Shrimp is our go to seafood for the air fryer! It just works. It’s quick, easy, and the end result is every bit as good as something you’d order at your favorite seafood joint.
This time around we’re tossing shrimp in olive oil and lemon juice with our favorite zesty lemon pepper seasoning. Big flavors, minimal work.
It’s a light and refreshing option for lunch or dinner that you can serve in a variety of ways with all kinds of sides or over a salad, pasta, or rice!
If you enjoy air fryer shrimp you’ll probably also love these air fryer scallops! And if you’re just in the mood for lemon pepper flavors our lemon pepper wings are definitely worth checking out.
Ingredient Notes:
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Shrimp – We use large peeled and deveined shrimp. Thaw your shrimp before adding the seasoning for the best flavor.
Lemon Pepper Seasoning – The star of the show! This popular seasoning adds bright, zesty flavor with just a hint of heat.
Smoked Paprika & Garlic Powder – We love the warm smoky flavor that the paprika adds!
Olive Oil & Lemon Juice – Helps the seasoning stick and gives the shrimp that fresh, citrusy bite. We like to use freshly squeezed lemon juice but the bottled kind is okay here too. The lemon juice really brightens things up.
Butter – Melted and mixed with lemon juice to drizzle over the shrimp after cooking.
Parsley – This is optional but it adds a nice pop of color and freshness.
We love how quick & easy this recipe is and the bright, zesty flavors that go with it. It looks fancy without much effort too! The flavors really shine in this recipe with the lemon pepper seasoning and the buttery lemon sauce to go with it.
Step by Step:
While the air fryer preheats add olive oil, juice from ½ the lemon, lemon pepper, paprika, and garlic powder to a mixing bowl. Stir to combine and then toss the shrimp in the seasoning.
Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in an air fryer basket brushed with olive oil or sprayed with cooking spray. Air fry for 4-5 minutes, shaking halfway through cooking.
Once the shrimp is cooked, transfer them to a serving dish and squeeze the remaining half of lemon (as much as you’d like) over the shrimp. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
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Recipe Tips!
I’ve tested this recipe a few different ways and here are my top tips for the best results:
- For extra zesty lemon flavor, grate some fresh lemon zest into store bought lemon pepper seasoning!
- Thawed shrimp will hold the seasoning better. You could use frozen and just add an extra minute or two to the cook time, but it doesn’t hold the seasoning nearly as well.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the basket and to cook in a single layer and in batches if necessary! This lets the shrimp cook evenly.
- Shrimp should turn pink and opaque when it’s fully cooked. It will curl up a bit as it cooks.
Storage & Freezing Instructions:
You can keep the cooked air fryer shrimp stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for about 2 days. We prefer seafood as fresh as possible so we don’t usually store it for long. It can be reheated in the air fryer at 350 degrees for a few minutes or gently warmed in the microwave.
We don’t recommend freezing cooked shrimp as the texture does change a bit. This recipe is so quick to toss together that it’s worth the effort to make it fresh.
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