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Healthy Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp

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This Healthy Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp recipe delivers crispy, flavor-packed shrimp with bold Cajun spices in under 20 minutes. It’s a guilt-free, easy dinner perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or entertaining.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (tail-on or off)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil (or oil spray for lighter coverage)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (sea salt preferred)
  • Fresh chopped parsley or cilantro (optional, for garnish)
  • Lemon wedges (optional, for serving)

Instructions

  1. Pat the peeled and deveined shrimp completely dry with paper towels. If using frozen shrimp, thaw and blot dry.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt.
  3. Add shrimp to a medium mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil or avocado oil and toss to coat.
  4. Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning blend evenly over the shrimp and toss until all shrimp are well coated.
  5. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 2-3 minutes.
  6. Spray the air fryer basket lightly with cooking spray if needed. Arrange shrimp in a single layer without overlapping. Cook in batches if necessary.
  7. Air fry at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until shrimp are opaque, pink, and lightly crisped on the edges. Jumbo shrimp may need 1-2 extra minutes; small shrimp may be done in 5 minutes.
  8. Transfer shrimp to a serving platter. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro and serve with lemon wedges. Enjoy immediately for best texture.

Notes

For best results, pat shrimp very dry before seasoning. Adjust cayenne for desired spice level. Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding. Serve immediately for maximum crispiness. Leftovers can be reheated in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350°F. For a gluten-free version, ensure your Cajun seasoning is gluten-free. Try the seasoning on chicken or tofu for a shellfish-free alternative.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer shrimp, cajun shrimp, healthy shrimp recipe, crispy shrimp, gluten-free, low carb, quick dinner, seafood, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://zorbmeal.com/healthy-air-fryer-cajun-shrimp-recipe-easy-crispy-and-guilt-free-dinner/