Air Fryer Prawns
Air fryer prawns need just a handful of ingredients and 8 minutes in the basket. Raw king prawns are tossed with olive oil, garlic and paprika, then cooked at 200°C and turned once, so they come out pink, juicy and lightly browned at the edges. With the preparation, it is ready in about 15 minutes. The recipe serves two as a main with salad, or four as a starter or tapas dish.
- Total
- 13 min
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 8 min
- Serves
- 2
- Per serving
- 225kcal
Why air fryer prawns work
Prawns are lean and cook in minutes, which suits a basket of fast-moving hot air. The surface dries and browns lightly while the inside stays juicy, and you need only a tablespoon of oil for the whole batch. The trade-off is that there is almost no room for error: an extra 2 minutes turns them from tender to rubbery.
Choose raw prawns rather than cooked ones, and buy the largest ones you can find, as they are more forgiving. A 400g batch fits in one layer in a standard 4–5 litre basket, but not in a small one. If the prawns overlap, cook them in two rounds of the same length.
The method for air fryer prawns
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Dry the prawns If they are frozen, thaw them overnight in the fridge. Tip them onto kitchen paper and pat them very dry, as any water on the surface will steam them instead of browning them.
- Season Put the prawns in a bowl with the oil, garlic, paprika, salt, pepper and chilli flakes if using. Toss until every prawn is evenly coated.
- Air fry Spread the prawns in a single layer in the basket. Cook at 200°C for , shaking the basket or turning the prawns with tongs after . Small prawns need only in total.
- Check and serve The prawns are done when they are pink and opaque all the way through and curled into a loose C. Tip them out at once so they do not carry on cooking in the hot basket, and serve with the lemon wedges.
Oven alternative and serving ideas
For the oven, spread the seasoned prawns on a baking tray and roast at 220°C (200°C fan), gas 7, for 6–8 minutes until pink and opaque.
Serve them hot with lemon, crusty bread and a garlic mayonnaise, or let them cool and add them to a summer salad with prawns. If you want a crunchy coating instead, air fryer battered prawns are the next step up.
Common problems and fixes for Air Fryer Prawns
- The prawns are rubbery.
- They have cooked for too long. Start checking after 6 minutes, and take them out as soon as they are opaque and form a loose C. Tightly curled, small O-shapes are overcooked.
- The garlic tastes bitter.
- Small pieces of garlic burn at 200°C. Toss the prawns well so the garlic sits in the oil, or use ½ tsp garlic powder instead of the fresh cloves.
- The prawns are pale and watery.
- They were wet or the basket was crowded. Dry them thoroughly and keep them in one layer, cooking in two batches if they do not fit.
Frequently asked questions about Air Fryer Prawns
How long do you cook prawns in an air fryer?
8 minutes at 200°C for raw king prawns, turned after 4 minutes. Small raw prawns take 5–6 minutes. They are done when pink and opaque all the way through.
Can you cook frozen prawns in the air fryer?
Thaw them first in the fridge overnight, then pat them dry. Cooking them straight from frozen releases water and makes the seasoning slide off.
Can I use pre-cooked prawns?
You can, but they only need warming through for 2–3 minutes and will turn rubbery if you cook them for the full time. Raw prawns give a much better texture here.
How long do leftovers keep?
Up to 2 days in the fridge in a covered container. They are best eaten cold in a salad. If you reheat them, do it once and make sure they are steaming hot all the way through.
How did you like the recipe?
4.7 / 5 · 77 ratings
