Make a great, easy meal with this Air Fryer Sesame Shrimp!
Air Fryer Sesame Shrimp is quick to prepare and packed with flavor. It’s perfect served over rice with vegetables or enjoyed on its own for a fast weeknight dinner.
If you enjoy Air Fryer Sesame Chicken, you’ll love this shrimp version. The sticky, savory sesame sauce complements shrimp beautifully and makes for a satisfying, restaurant-style meal at home.
Can you make this gluten-free?
Yes — this recipe is easily adapted to be gluten-free. Swap regular soy sauce for a gluten-free soy sauce and use gluten-free hoisin sauce. All other ingredients are naturally gluten-free, so with those simple substitutions you’ll have a safe and flavorful dish.
These minor swaps keep the same great taste while accommodating dietary needs.
What is the best shrimp to use in the air fryer?
For convenience I usually use small or medium frozen shrimp that are peeled, deveined, tail-off, and already cooked. This recipe is designed for cooked shrimp, so the air fryer only reheats and glazes them — raw shrimp would require different timing.
You can use larger shrimp if you prefer; just note that portion sizes and cook times may vary. If using raw shrimp, reduce overlap in the basket and adjust cooking time until shrimp are opaque and reach safe temperature.
Tips for Making Air Fryer Sesame Shrimp:
The sesame sauce is prepared on the stovetop, thickened, then tossed with the shrimp before finishing in the air fryer. If using frozen shrimp, rinse them briefly under cold water to remove ice and separate the pieces.
After the sauce is heated and thickened, coat the shrimp evenly and place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. If you’re using an oven with an air fry function, arrange the shrimp on a baking sheet.
Air fry at 360°F for about 10–12 minutes. Air fryer models vary, so check for even heating and adjust time as needed. Because this recipe uses cooked shrimp, you’re mainly reheating and glazing them — keep an eye so they don’t overcook and become rubbery.
Serve immediately over rice, alongside steamed vegetables, or enjoy as a protein-packed main on its own. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Sesame Shrimp
Pin Recipe
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Ingredients
- 16 oz Frozen Shrimp (peeled, tail-off, deveined — small or medium)
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/4 Cup Soy Sauce or Gluten-Free Soy Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Orange Juice
- 5 Tsp Hoisin Sauce or Gluten-Free Hoisin Sauce
- 1/2 Tsp Ground Ginger
- 1 Clove Garlic, crushed
- 2 Tsp Sesame Seeds
- 1 Tbsp Cold Water
- 1 Tbsp Cornstarch
Instructions
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Rinse the frozen shrimp under cold water to loosen and remove any ice.
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In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, orange juice, hoisin sauce, ground ginger, crushed garlic, and sesame seeds.
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Whisk water and cornstarch in a small cup until smooth and set aside.
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Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then whisk in the cornstarch mixture until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat.
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Place the shrimp in a bowl and pour the sauce over them, tossing to coat evenly.
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Arrange the coated shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
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Air fry at 360°F for 10–12 minutes, checking for even heating. Because the shrimp are pre-cooked, you’re reheating and glazing rather than fully cooking.
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Carefully remove and serve immediately over rice or with your favorite sides.
Notes
Using larger shrimp will change portion sizes and may require slight adjustments to cooking time.
Nutrition
Calories: 167kcal
Carbohydrates: 13g
Protein: 25g
Fat: 2g
