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Crispy Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp Recipe Easy Homemade with Sweet Chili Sauce

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This crispy air fryer coconut shrimp recipe delivers golden, crunchy shrimp paired with a tangy sweet chili sauce. It’s quick, easy, and perfect for weeknights or entertaining without the guilt of deep frying.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (16–20 count per pound)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • ¾ cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Cooking spray (avocado or olive oil preferred)
  • For the sweet chili sauce:
  • ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse and pat dry 1 pound of large shrimp, peeled and deveined. Season lightly with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
  2. Set up dredging stations: place ½ cup flour in the first bowl, beaten eggs in the second, and combine ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs, ¾ cup shredded coconut, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon smoked paprika in the third.
  3. Dredge each shrimp in flour, shaking off excess, then dip into beaten eggs, allowing excess to drip off. Coat thoroughly in the coconut-panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes.
  5. Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t touch. Lightly spray with cooking spray.
  6. Air fry shrimp for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
  7. If making homemade sweet chili sauce, combine ¼ cup sweet chili sauce, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 1 teaspoon fish sauce in a small bowl and stir well.
  8. Serve shrimp immediately with sweet chili sauce for dipping. Garnish with chopped cilantro or sliced green onions if desired.

Notes

Pat shrimp completely dry before coating to ensure crispiness. Press coating firmly to adhere. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to keep shrimp crispy. Flip shrimp halfway through cooking. Let shrimp rest 1-2 minutes after cooking to set crust. Reheat leftovers in air fryer at 375°F for 3-4 minutes to restore crispiness. For gluten-free, substitute panko with gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond flour. Homemade sweet chili sauce can be made with rice vinegar, sugar, garlic, and red chili flakes.

Nutrition

Keywords: coconut shrimp, air fryer shrimp, crispy shrimp, sweet chili sauce, easy appetizer, quick shrimp recipe, gluten-free shrimp option

Find it online: https://forkifyfun.com/crispy-air-fryer-coconut-shrimp-recipe-easy-homemade-with-sweet-chili-sauce/