Air Fryer Frozen Tempura Shrimp

Name: Air Fryer Frozen Tempura Shrimp
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 10 tempura shrimp; dipping sauce

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Air fryer frozen tempura shrimp is quick and easy to make using your favorite breaded shrimp from the freezer section! Place them right in the fry basket, and in only 10 minutes you are ready to serve perfectly crunchy and delicious tempura fried shrimp with any number of dipping sauces and dishes.

Frozen foods are a handy kitchen staple that are typically quick to cook and consistently tasty. There are a few different ways to prepare breaded frozen seafood, like baking in an oven or toaster.

But for the most efficient and foolproof method we prefer to skip the oven and make the best frozen tempura fried shrimp in the air fryer! Dino buddies in air fryer is another great recipe for a quick snack and great for kids.

This effortless recipe does not need oil or any other ingredients... Simply toss in and air fry for 10 minutes. That is basically half the required cook time of baking, which can take up to 20 minutes.

Another reason I prefer air frying over baking: Any excess oil that might come off of the food gets drained into the fry basket, instead of pooling on a baking sheet. So you get a perfectly crispy outside and tender shrimp inside, every time!

Serve crunchy tempura shrimp as a fun and tasty appetizer, snack, side or main dish with your favorite dipping sauces. They pair well with traditional Asian dishes, American comfort foods, and so much more!

What goes good with tempura shrimp

The crisp and light-flavored tempura batter is delicious with any number of dipping sauces. Traditionally it is served with Japanese tentsuyu or mentsuyu sauce made with a umami-licious combo of soy sauce, mirin, and dashi.

Here are a few more of our favorite sauces for dipping:

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Cocktail
Honey mustard
Yum yum
Tartar
Sweet chili
Spicy sriracha

Serve air fryer tempura shrimp as an appetizer or side dish for hibachi dinners and with chilled hand rolled sushi! They are also perfect alongside hearty dishes like Japanese fried rice and okonomiyaki (fried cabbage pancakes).

Can't get enough seafood? I don't blame you! Pair shrimp with mains like crab legs, roasted salmon or other mild fish, or squid.

As a main dish themselves I love keeping things simple and enjoying with steamed, sautéed, or roasted veggies. Fresh and tender vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and baby carrots are a delish balance to the air fried tempura shrimp! And you can't go wrong with a serving of fluffy white rice on the side.

Frequently asked questions

Where did shrimp tempura originate?

The simple battering and frying method originated in Portugal, and was brought to Japan by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century. The Japanese evolved the recipe to have a light, wet batter for a tempura that is crunchy but not heavy.

Why is tempura better than fried?

Tempura batter is made with just a few simple ingredients like egg, all-purpose flour, and water. It is thin and dairy-free, whereas a typical batter for deep frying also includes breadcrumbs and milk. So it's thicker and heavier, and harder to get crispy.

Why is my shrimp tempura not crispy?

For the crispiest shrimp be sure to cook the frozen shrimp at the recommended high heat for up to 10 minutes. It's also important that you do not overcrowd the basket... The shrimp should not be touching, and there needs to be enough room that you can shake the basket and still give each pieces its own space.

Do you need to preheat air fryer?

I usually do, so that I know the shrimp are cooking at the exact right temperature for the set time. But it is not necessary to do so. The frozen tempura shrimp will still cook nice and crispy without preheating the air fryer.

Do you thaw frozen shrimp before air frying?

No, there is no need to thaw the tempura shrimp first. Air frying from frozen gets the inside of the tempura shrimp perfectly heated, and without getting burned on the outside. So frozen is definitely better!

More air fryer recipes:

Gochujang salmon air fryer
Air fryer bay scallops
Chicken adobo in air fryer (from our sister site!)
Any'tizers popcorn chicken air fryer

Hope you will like this air fryer tempura shrimp recipe as much as I do. Rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.