Festive and full-flavored, this easy Air Fryer Shrimp “Boil” is a fast, satisfying weeknight dinner. Tender new potatoes, sweet corn rounds, smoky sausage, and delicate shrimp combine into a complete, one-pan-style meal that’s perfect for family dinners or casual entertaining.
Real Low-Country Shrimp Boil, in the Air Fryer!
A classic seafood boil is lively and social—large pots of seasoned water cook potatoes, corn, sausage, and seafood, usually served right on the table for everyone to dig in. This air-fryer adaptation keeps those beloved flavors but removes the need for a giant outdoor pot and lots of steam. It’s ideal when you want boil-style food without heating up the kitchen.
The technique is simple: minimal prep, a buttery, garlicky Old Bay sauce, and a staged cooking method so everything finishes perfectly. The result is bright, spicy, and homey—a quick way to bring low-country flavors to your weeknight table.
Ingredients
This recipe shines because it’s straightforward—fresh seafood and simple pantry seasonings do the work. Gather the following:
- Shrimp: 1 pound raw jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on or off as preferred). Jumbo shrimp stay juicy; if using smaller shrimp, reduce cooking time.
- Corn: 2 ears, husked and cut into 4–6 rounds each.
- New potatoes: 8 ounces, scrubbed and quartered.
- Sausage: 6 ounces andouille or any smoked sausage, sliced into 1-inch rounds.
- Butter: 4 tablespoons, melted.
- Garlic: 4 cloves, minced (or garlic powder if preferred).
- Old Bay seasoning: 3 teaspoons for that classic seafood-boil flavor.
- Cayenne pepper: 1/2 teaspoon, optional and adjustable for heat.
- Lemon wedges: For serving.
Let’s Make Air Fryer Shrimp Boil!
Follow these steps for a perfectly timed air-fryer shrimp boil. Staging the ingredients ensures everything is cooked through without overcooking the shrimp.
- Prep the air fryer: Lightly grease the basket with cooking oil and preheat to 370°F (188°C).
- Prep ingredients: Pat shrimp dry and place in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, combine corn rounds, quartered potatoes, and sliced sausage.
- Make the butter sauce: Melt the butter, then stir in minced garlic, Old Bay, and cayenne. Mix until well combined.
- Season: Pour about one-quarter of the butter sauce over the shrimp and toss gently. Pour the remaining sauce over the potato-corn-sausage mixture and toss to coat.
- Cook potatoes, corn, and sausage: Transfer that mixture to the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to promote even browning and cooking.
- Add shrimp: Add the shrimp to the basket and continue cooking for about 4 minutes, until the shrimp turn opaque and pink but remain tender.
- Serve: Transfer everything to a serving platter and offer lemon wedges. Serve immediately.
Can You Put Aluminum Foil in an Air Fryer?
Yes—you can line the bottom of the air fryer basket with foil or parchment to simplify cleanup, but be sure to poke holes so hot air can circulate freely around the food.
Tips for Success
Small adjustments will help you get the best results:
- Mind the timing: Air fryers vary. Check for doneness slightly earlier the first time you make this to prevent overcooking the shrimp.
- Scale up if needed: The recipe serves four; you can double it and cook in batches for a larger group.
- Seasoning swap: If you don’t have Old Bay, use a similar seafood seasoning or a custom blend of paprika, celery salt, and black pepper.
- Add crab: If you’d like crab legs, they air-fry in 5–7 minutes—toss them in the same butter sauce and cook until heated through.
What Goes with Shrimp Boil?
This dish is hearty enough on its own, but these sides pair beautifully if you want extras:
- Macaroni salad: A cool, creamy macaroni salad provides a refreshing contrast to the warm, spicy boil.
- Fresh salsa or avocado salsa: Bright, tangy salsas add freshness and a different texture.
- Sautéed green beans: Garlic butter green beans add color and a crisp bite.
Storing and Reheating
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Reheat gently in the air fryer, warming the potatoes and corn first and adding shrimp last for a short time to avoid toughness.
Can I Freeze the Leftovers?
- Freezing is not recommended. Potatoes can become grainy after freezing and reheating, and shrimp texture often suffers. This recipe is best enjoyed fresh.
Air Fryer Shrimp Boil
Ingredients
- 1 pound raw jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on or off
- 2 ears corn, husked and each ear cut into rounds
- 8 ounces new potatoes, quartered
- 6 ounces andouille sausage, cut into 1-inch rounds
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray and preheat to 370°F.
- Pat dry the cleaned shrimp and place them in a small bowl; set aside.
- In a separate bowl combine the corn rounds, potatoes, and sausage; set aside.
- Melt the butter, then stir in garlic, Old Bay seasoning, and cayenne.
- Pour about one-quarter of the butter mixture over the shrimp.
- Add the remaining butter to the potato mixture and toss to coat.
- Transfer the potato mixture to the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- When 10 minutes are up, add the shrimp to the basket and cook for 4 more minutes.
- Transfer to a serving plate and serve with lemon wedges.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Values may vary according to ingredients and tools used.
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