This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy
This Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp recipe is ready in 10 minutes! Perfectly seasoned with smoky spices and finished with lemon butter. Easy weeknight dinner and the whole family will love it!
It’s That Lemon Butter Sauce For Me.
We all have those nights when we need dinner to happen fast and that’s usually the night I reach for shrimp.
It’s such an easy protein to cook and it takes practically no time at all.
Our Cajun shrimp recipe is literally ready in 10 minutes and it actually tastes like you tried. <— Love a recipe like that.
Not only does it bring plenty of big, bold, smoky flavors, it also uses ingredients that you probably already have on hand AND it gets finished off with a little lemon butter bath that really makes my world go round.
Smoky and a little spicy with zippy lemon. So good.
Need a little pasta with your seafood? Try our Cajun Shrimp Pasta instead.
♥ 3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe:
- It’s ridiculously quick. From mixing bowl to dinner plate in about 10 minutes. Perfect for crazy nights.
- The flavor packs a punch. That Cajun seasoning brings just enough heat and smokiness to keep dinner interesting.
- Zero cleanup stress. One bowl for mixing, air fryer basket, lemon butter sauce, done. Your future self will thank you when there’s barely anything to wash.
Ingredient Notes:
Shrimp – You’ll start with large raw shrimp that have been peeled and deveined.
Cajun Seasoning – We like Tony Chachere’s or Slap Ya Mama seasoning. You can use any Cajun or Creole seasoning that you like here, but keep in mind that some are saltier than others.
Butter Lemon Sauce – This sauce is just a simple mixture of freshly squeezed lemon juice and melted, unsalted butter! You can use bottled lemon juice if you don’t have any fresh lemons.
Other – You’ll also need some garlic powder for seasoning and parsley for garnish!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Swaps & Tips
No Cajun seasoning? Mix together paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, salt, and a pinch of cayenne. It won’t be exactly the same, but it’ll still be delicious.
Different shrimp sizes? Smaller shrimp will cook faster (3-4 minutes), larger ones might need an extra minute or two. Just watch for that pink, opaque color.
Want it spicier? Add a pinch of cayenne to the seasoning mix.
Make it a meal. This shrimp is perfect over our fettuccine Alfredo, jasmine rice, or even just with some crusty bread. The buttery lemon sauce makes everything better.
Storage & Leftovers:
Store leftover shrimp in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat gently in the microwave or air fryer for 1-2 minutes.
Make extra lemon butter sauce to really make the flavors pop after reheating.
More Favorite Shrimp REcipes:
Cajun Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound large raw shrimp peeled and deveined, thawed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning see notes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 2-3 minutes.
- While the air fryer preheats, add the shrimp, olive oil, Cajun seasoning, and garlic seasoning to a mixing bowl. Toss to coat.
- Arrange the seasoned shrimp in a single layer in an air fryer basket brushed with olive oil or sprayed with cooking spray.
- Air fry the shrimp for 5-6 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. The shrimp should turn pink and opaque when cooked through.
- While the shrimp is cooking, mix the melted butter and lemon juice together in a large bowl.
- Once the shrimp is cooked, transfer them to the bowl with the butter and toss gently to coat.
- Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Leave a Review