This easy Argentine Red Shrimp is juicy, tender, and cooked to perfection in the air fryer. Enjoy as a light appetizer or with your favorite side dishes. Ready to serve in less than 15 minutes!
What is the difference between Argentinian shrimp and regular shrimp?
Argentine red shrimp are wild shrimp found in the Southern Atlantic, off the coast of Argentina. Gulf shrimp are found in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of the United States. Red Argentine shrimp are larger than regular shrimp, yet light tasting, tender and quick to cook. Argentine shrimp are known for their sweet flavor which makes them a great addition to any recipe.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Super simple. All you need is a few staple ingredients and less than 15 minutes to prepare this Argentine red shrimp recipe.
- Versatile. Pair this healthy, fresh protein with your favorite salad or side dishes for the perfect light and delicious meal. It also goes well with a number of my cocktails like the Skinny Spicy Cucumber Margarita and 3-Ingredient Vodka Sour Recipe. You can also serve this alongside my Pan-Seared Tuna Cakes recipe for a great holiday appetizer spread.
- No breading. This air fryer shrimp recipe is made without breading, making it gluten-free and healthier than battered shrimp.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Shrimp. If you can't find Argentine red shrimp in your grocery store, they are also called wild red shrimp or wild Patagonian red shrimp. I always recommend purchasing wild-caught shrimp which can be found at most grocery stores and fish markets. If you are a fan of shrimp, check out my Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos and Argentine Shrimp Scampi.
- Spices. For the simple marinade, you will need salt, pepper, garlic powder and smoked paprika. For a more mild marinade, you can substitute regular paprika in place of smoked paprika.
- Olive oil. This is used to coat the red shrimp in the spices and help it stick.
See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.
Variations
Use your favorite spices. I kept the marinade on these air fryer shrimp super simple to allow them to be paired with several different dishes. However, if you have a favorite spice rub such as old bay seasoning or shrimp marinade you like to make, feel free to do so!
Instructions
Step 1: In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, fresh parsley, salt, pepper, garlic powder and smoked paprika.
Step 2: Toss the shrimp in the marinade.
Step 3: Place the shrimp in an even layer in the air fryer and cook for 8 minutes at 400 degrees F or until the shrimp is pink and the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F.
Step 4: Serve while hot with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Sarah's Top Tips
- Look for red shrimp that are fresh and have a mild scent and a firm meaty texture.
- Use the cook time as a guide. 8 minutes was perfect in my air fryer, but depending on your appliance you may need to adjust the cook time. The best, most accurate way to know if your air fryer shrimp are cooked through is to use a thermometer and ensure it is at least 145 degrees F.
- Shrimp cook very quickly so be sure to keep an eye on them. Overcooking can cause them to become dry and rubbery.
- If you are doubling the recipe or have a smaller air fryer, you may need to work in batches. Avoid overcrowding as this prevents the air from circulating enough to crisp up the shrimp.
- Any type of shrimp should work in this recipe if you can't find red shrimp! I recommend purchasing large or jumbo-sized.
Serving
Air fryer shrimp is a great dish to serve with light summer salads, grains, angel hair shrimp scampi, or dipped into a flavorful garlic butter sauce. You could even add them to a buttery toasted bun for a new twist on the lobster roll.
Storage & Reheating
Although shrimp tastes the best fresh, leftovers can be reheated. I recommend avoiding reheating shrimp in the microwave. This can cause it to taste rubbery. For best results, reheat the red shrimp in you air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-5 minutes, or until warm.
I recommend only storing for about 2 days for best results.
More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Like
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Air Fryer Argentine Red Shrimp
KITCHEN TOOLS NEEDED
Ingredients
- 1 pound Argentine Red Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Defrost the shrimp, pat dry and peel and devein if necessary.
- Mix all of the ingredients (aside from the shrimp) together in a small bowl.
- Pour the marinade over the shrimp and coat using a pastry brush or mix with a spoon to combine.
- Air fry the shrimp at 400 degrees F for 8 minutes. Serve immediately with more fresh parsley and lemon slices.
Sarah's Tips
- Look for red shrimp that are fresh and have a mild scent and a firm meaty texture.
- Use the cook time as a guide. 8 minutes was perfect in my air fryer, but depending on your appliance you may need to adjust the cook time. The best, most accurate way to know if your air fryer shrimp are cooked through is to use a thermometer and ensure it is at least 145 degrees F.
- Shrimp cook very quickly so be sure to keep an eye on them. Overcooking can cause them to become dry and rubbery.
- If you are doubling the recipe or have a smaller air fryer, you may need to work in batches. Avoid overcrowding as this prevents the air from circulating enough to crisp up the shrimp.
- Any type of shrimp should work in this recipe if you can't find red shrimp! I recommend purchasing large or jumbo-sized.
- For best results, reheat the red shrimp in you air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-5 minutes, or until warm.
- I recommend only storing for about 2 days for best results.
The cookbook is packed with easy-to-follow recipes that require only 6 ingredients to help you simplify your weeknights. Includes kitchen tips, ingredient swaps & grocery lists!
Denise says
No worries! I get it. I used really good sized Red Argentinian shrimp. They were pretty big. i just think that I prefer cooking shrimp using a different method. The flavor was great! Thank you for checking back!!!
Sarah Hill says
Of course, I always want to try to help! You can definitely use the same spices and cook the shrimp on the stove, grill or oven.
Denise says
The seasoning was tasty, but following the suggested cooking time so overcooked the shrimp. The fish in the lake ate well tonight.
Sarah Hill says
Hi Denise, I'm sorry the shrimp turned out overcooked for you. As mentioned in the recipe card notes, air fryer models differ and some may cook the shrimp faster than others. It is best to keep an eye on them and check them to see if they are done before the 8 minutes. Would you mind sharing what size shrimp you used?
Emily says
Delicious! This was the PERFECT recipe for a busy weeknight - going to be a regular weekday staple can’t wait to make again 🙂
Sarah Holt says
Hi Emily, so happy you enjoyed the shrimp! It's the perfect weeknight recipe 🙂