Air Fryer Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp

Air fryer Hawaiian garlic shrimp is an easy shrimp recipe inspired by the popular garlic shrimp plate that you find in Hawaii. Large shell-on shrimp are coated in a simple seasoned starch mixture, air fried until crisp, then tossed with buttery garlic sauce. This recipe uses simple ingredients and cooks quickly in the air fryer. The shrimp come out juicy, flavorful, and coated in garlicky butter with a lightly crisp outside.

Ingredients For Air Fryer Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp

• Large Shrimp: Use 1 pound of large shrimp with the shells on. Shell-on shrimp are traditional for Hawaiian garlic shrimp and help keep the shrimp juicy while they cook. You can use deveined shell-on shrimp for easier eating.
• Butter: Butter creates the rich garlic sauce that coats the shrimp after air frying. It adds flavor and helps the garlic cling to the shrimp.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic is important in this recipe. Use chopped or minced garlic for bold flavor. Garlic can burn quickly, so it is cooked with the butter separately instead of being added directly to the shrimp before air frying.
• Arrowroot Starch or Cornstarch: Arrowroot starch or cornstarch gives the shrimp a light coating and helps the outside crisp in the air fryer. It also helps the garlic butter sauce cling to the shrimp.
• Paprika: Paprika adds mild flavor and gives the shrimp a beautiful color. You can use regular paprika or smoked paprika for a slightly smoky flavor.
• Salt: Salt enhances the flavor of the shrimp, garlic, and butter. Adjust to taste depending on whether your shrimp are already salted.
• Black Pepper: Black pepper adds a little bite and balances the richness of the butter.

How To Make Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp In The Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.
2. Clean and devein the shrimp. Pat the shrimp as dry as possible.
3. In a large bowl, combine the arrowroot starch or cornstarch , paprika, salt, and pepper. Add the shrimp and toss gently. Make sure each shrimp is evenly coated in the starch mixture.
4. Line the air fryer with liners or spray with cooking spray.
5. Add shrimp to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not stack shrimp. You may need to cook this in batches depending on how large your air fryer is. Spray the shrimp lightly with cooking spray.
6. Cook for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through. After you flip the shrimp, spray the other side lightly with cooking spray.
7. Add the butter to a small saucepan and melt over low heat. Once melted, add the garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes until the garlic starts to turn a light brown color. Turn off the stove & remove the saucepan from the heat so you don’t burn the garlic .
8. Use tongs to remove shrimp from the air fryer. Pour garlic butter mixture evenly across all the shrimp.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Quick air fryer recipe: Shrimp cook fast, making this great for an easy lunch or dinner.
• Big garlic flavor: Fresh garlic and butter give this recipe bold, savory flavor.
• Inspired by Hawaiian shrimp trucks: This recipe has that buttery garlic shrimp plate-style feel.
• Shell-on shrimp: Cooking shrimp with the shells on helps keep them juicy and flavorful.
• Simple ingredients: You only need shrimp, butter, garlic, starch, paprika, salt, pepper, and cooking spray.
• Naturally gluten-free: Use arrowroot starch or cornstarch for a gluten-free coating.
• Great with rice: Serve with white rice, cauliflower rice, or a simple salad.

FAQs & Tips

What is Hawaiian garlic shrimp?

Hawaiian garlic shrimp is a popular local-style shrimp dish often associated with shrimp trucks on Oahu’s North Shore. The shrimp are usually cooked shell-on with lots of garlic, butter, and seasonings, then served with rice and lemon wedges. This air fryer version keeps the same garlic butter flavor but uses the air fryer instead of a skillet. 

Do you leave the shells on? 

When cooking this garlic shrimp recipe, you leave the shells on. The shells help protect the shrimp while they cook and add extra flavor. 

Do you need to flip the shrimp?

It’s not necessary but I recommend it. This lets the side that doesn’t get as much air movement a chance to crisp up a bit more and can help make sure each tangy, garlicy bite is just as crispy as the last.

Do you eat the shrimp with the shells on?

When eating, peel the shrimp and enjoy the seasoned shrimp inside. Some people eat the shells if they are very crispy, but they are typically removed before eating.

How do you serve this?

Hawaiian garlic shrimp is usually served with rice and lemon wedges. Other suggestions include with plated items like macaroni salad.

How do you store this?

Store leftover air fryer Hawaiian garlic shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

What size air fryer should you use?

I use a large 5.8-quart air fryer for this recipe.  Make sure all your food fits in a single layer in the basket of your air fryer. You may have to cook your Hawaiian garlic shrimp in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

Can you make this using the stove-top?

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can adapt this recipe for Hawaiian garlic shrimp to be made on your stove top. Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Once the ghee melts, add garlic and cook 2-3 minutes until the garlic starts to turn a light brown color. Pour garlic ghee mixture into a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan. Add the shrimp in a layer. You may need to do this in batches. Cook shrimp over medium-high heat until browned, approximately 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Cook the shrimp for about 2 minutes on each side. Pour the garlic butter sauce back into the pan and toss the shrimp to ensure they’re all evenly coated.

Air Fryer Recipes 

• Shrimp

• Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

• Marinated Chicken Wings

• Chicken Tenders

• Potato Skins

Air Fryer Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp

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Air fryer Hawaiian garlic shrimp is an easy shrimp recipe inspired by the popular garlic shrimp plate that you find in Hawaii. Large shell-on shrimp are coated in a simple seasoned starch mixture, air fried until crisp, then tossed with buttery garlic sauce. This recipe uses simple ingredients and cooks quickly in the air fryer. The shrimp come out juicy, flavorful, and coated in garlicky butter with a lightly crisp outside.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 12 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 minutes
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Air Fryer
• Cuisine: American, Hawaiian
• Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Keto, Low-Carb, Paleo, Pescatarian, Whole30

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 pound large shrimp, shells-on
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped or minced
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch or cornstarch
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• cooking spray

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Instructions

Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.
2. Clean and devein the shrimp. Pat the shrimp as dry as possible.
3. In a large bowl, combine the arrowroot starch or cornstarch , paprika, salt, and pepper. Add the shrimp and toss gently. Make sure each shrimp is evenly coated in the starch mixture.
4. Line the air fryer with liners or spray with cooking spray.
5. Add shrimp to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not stack shrimp. You may need to cook this in batches depending on how large your air fryer is. Spray the shrimp lightly with cooking spray.
6. Cook for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through. After you flip the shrimp, spray the other side lightly with cooking spray.
7. Add the butter to a small saucepan and melt over low heat. Once melted, add the garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes until the garlic starts to turn a light brown color. Turn off the stove & remove the saucepan from the heat so you don’t burn the garlic .
8. Use tongs to remove shrimp from the air fryer. Pour garlic butter mixture evenly across all the shrimp.

Nutrition

• Serving Size:
• Calories: 220
• Sugar: 0.1 g
• Sodium: 719 mg
• Fat: 12.2 g
• Saturated Fat: 7.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 5.2 g
• Fiber: 0.6 g
• Protein: 23.3 g
• Cholesterol: 213 mg

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