This easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables recipe is a fast, flavorful weeknight dinner featuring unbreaded shrimp tossed with bell peppers, onions and simple spices. Serve with rice, noodles, quinoa or a salad for a complete meal.
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I’ve been slowly convincing everyone around me to love the air fryer — and now friends make me air-fried wings when I visit. It’s an appliance that makes weeknight dinners easier and quicker.
If you’re just getting started with an air fryer, this recipe is a great place to begin. It’s made from scratch, easy to adapt to the vegetables you have on hand, and ready in 30 minutes or less. Make rice or another grain on the side, or add more vegetables and serve it as a one-pan meal.
What makes this Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables recipe awesome:
- Super easy to prepare and cook
- Flexible — swap in whatever veggies you have
- Perfect for air fryer newcomers
- Ready in under 30 minutes
Can you cook raw shrimp in the air fryer?
Yes. I tested this recipe several times and the air fryer handles raw shrimp well. The shrimp cooks quickly and pairs nicely with crisp-tender vegetables.
What vegetables can you use in this recipe?
Bell peppers and onions are my go-to because they roast nicely without becoming soggy. You can also use other vegetables — just cut them to a similar size as the shrimp so everything cooks evenly.
- Bell peppers (any color)
- Onions
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Asparagus
- Zucchini
How do you make the Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables?
- Thaw and remove tails: Thaw the shrimp and peel and devein if needed. I remove tails before cooking for easier eating. Drain excess liquid in a strainer. If serving with rice, start it now.
- Prep the vegetables: Cut peppers, onions or any other vegetables into roughly 1-inch pieces so they cook evenly with the shrimp.
- Toss with seasonings: Combine shrimp, vegetables, oil and spices in a large bowl and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Air fry: Transfer the mixture to the air fryer basket and cook at about 330°F (temperature may vary by model) for 10–13 minutes, shaking or stirring once halfway through.
- Serve: Plate with rice, quinoa, noodles, tortillas or enjoy as-is with extra veggies.
What should you serve this Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables with?
Pick your favorite side — all of these work well:
- White or brown rice
- Pad Thai or other Asian-style noodles
- Warm tortillas with greens
- Quinoa
- Simply with extra roasted or raw vegetables
- Over cabbage slaw with a peanut dressing
This looks too spicy. What other flavor options can I try?
If you prefer milder flavors, omit the cayenne (or both cayenne and chili powder) and use one of these seasonings instead:
- Lemon pepper
- Cajun seasoning (milder if reduced)
- Garlic & herb
- Old Bay
- Any basic fish seasoning
- Keep it simple and finish with a teriyaki or soy-based sauce
What kind of air fryer do you have?
I use an XL Cosori air fryer and like its nonstick basket for easy cleaning. Previously I used a Philips Viva. This recipe works well in most basket-style air fryers; adjust time or temperature to suit your model and capacity.
How long does this Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables recipe last in the fridge?
Store leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy within 4 days.
Can this Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables be frozen?
I haven’t tested freezing this dish. If you try freezing and reheating, store in a freezer-safe container and thaw thoroughly before reheating.
More dinner ideas from Project Meal Plan:
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Potato Bake
- Simple Whole Roast Chicken
- Quick BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
4 from 2 reviews
Easy Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables
Recipe by Danielle
A quick and simple dinner with unbreaded shrimp, peppers, onions and a few spices. Serve with rice or your favorite side.
- Total Time30 minutes
- Yield3 hefty portions
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 or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (small pinch — optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- Optional to serve: rice, quinoa, pad Thai noodles, extra veggies or teriyaki sauce
Instructions
- Prep: Thaw the shrimp and remove tails if desired. Drain excess liquid. Begin cooking rice if using, and prep the vegetables.
- Mix: In a medium bowl, combine shrimp, bell pepper, onion, oil, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne (optional), salt and black pepper. Toss to coat.
- Cook: Transfer the seasoned shrimp and vegetables to the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to around 330°F (adjust as needed for your model) and air fry for 10–13 minutes total, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Serve: Plate with rice, quinoa, noodles or tortillas. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Equipment
OXO 9-Inch Silicone Head Tongs
Cosori XL 5.8 qt Air Fryer (recommended)
Notes
Nutrition information was estimated using MyFitnessPal and assumes 1 cup cooked brown rice per serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/3 of recipe
- Calories: 362
- Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 43g
Hope you enjoy this simple, flavorful dinner. If you try this Air Fryer Shrimp & Vegetables recipe, tag the creator and share your version!
