This Easy Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Shrimp delivers crispy, juicy shrimp coated in a tangy and slightly sweet sauce. Ready in minutes, it’s a quick, flavorful meal perfect for weeknights or a simple dinner that feels special.
Bring a burst of flavor to weeknight dinners with this Easy Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Shrimp.
Juicy, perfectly crispy shrimp get coated in a tangy, slightly sweet sauce that tastes like it came straight from a restaurant, but without the takeout price or wait.
Quick to make and packed with bold flavor, this dish is perfect served over rice, noodles, or even tossed in a fresh salad for a lighter option.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Crispy & Juicy Shrimp: Air fryer gives a perfect crunch without deep frying.
- Quick & Easy: Ready in under 20 minutes, ideal for busy weeknights.
- Bold Flavor: Tangy, sweet, and slightly savory sauce that hits every note.
- Versatile Serving Options: Serve over rice, noodles, or a fresh salad.
- Healthier Takeout Alternative: All the flavor of restaurant-style shrimp without extra oil or guilt.
Once you make this Air Fryer Shrimp Dish, some other great Air Fryer Shrimp Recipes to try are AIR FRYER COCONUT SHRIMP, AIR FRYER OLD BAY SHRIMP, AIR FRYER BAKED SHRIMP SCAMPI, and GARLIC PARMESAN AIR-FRIED SHRIMP RECIPE.
Ingredients Needed
- Shrimp: Fresh peeled shrimp, deveined, ready for cooking perfectly.
- Honey: Natural honey for sweetness and rich golden flavor.
- Rice Vinegar: Mild rice vinegar adding tangy, slightly acidic notes.
- Soy Sauce: Savory soy sauce to deepen and enhance flavor.
- Tomato Paste: Concentrated tomato paste for rich, robust sauce.
- Pineapple Juice: Sweet pineapple juice for tropical, fruity tang.
How To Make Easy Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Shrimp
Step One: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce, tomato paste, and pineapple juice until smooth. Add peeled and deveined shrimp to the sauce, coating each piece evenly.
Step Two: Set the air fryer temperature to 400 degrees F (200°C) and lightly spray the basket with cooking spray.
Step Three: Place the coated shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Set cook time for 6-8 minutes, shaking halfway through for even cooking, until shrimp are pink and slightly crispy. Transfer the shrimp to a serving dish, drizzle with extra sauce if desired, and serve over rice, noodles, or a fresh salad.
Easy Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Shrimp Recipe Tips
- Use Fresh or Thawed Shrimp: For best texture, use fresh or fully thawed shrimp.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer: Cook shrimp in a single layer to ensure even crisping.
- Adjust Sauce Sweetness: Taste the sauce before tossing and adjust honey or vinegar to your preference.
- Serve Immediately: Shrimp is best served hot for maximum crispiness.
- Optional Garnish: Sprinkle with chopped green onions or sesame seeds for extra flavor and presentation.
Storing Instructions
- Refrigeration: Store cooked shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheating: Gently reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes to maintain crispiness.
- Do Not Freeze: Cooked shrimp may become rubbery if frozen and reheated.
Other Cooking Instructions
- Oven-Baked: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the shrimp on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, tossing halfway, until cooked and slightly crispy.
- Stovetop: Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the coated shrimp for 3–4 minutes per side until pink and cooked through. Add the sauce toward the end of cooking to coat evenly.
Easy Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Shrimp Recipe Faqs
Can I use frozen shrimp? Yes! Make sure they are fully thawed and patted dry before coating in sauce for best results.
How long does this shrimp last? Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer for best crispiness.
Can I make the sauce spicier? Absolutely! Add a pinch of red pepper flakes, sriracha, or chili paste to the sauce before tossing the shrimp.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time? You can prep the sauce and shrimp separately in advance, but cook and toss right before serving for maximum crispiness.
Can I serve this over something besides rice? Yes! It works beautifully over noodles, cauliflower rice, or even a fresh salad for a lighter option.
More Easy Air Fryer Shrimp Recipes
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Easy Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Shrimp
Description
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 tablespoons pineapple juice
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deviened
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup honey 1/3 cup rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons tomato paste and 4 tablespoons pineapple juice until smooth.
- Add peeled and deveined 1 pound shrimp to the sauce, coating each piece evenly.
- Set the air fryer temperature to 400 degrees F (200°C) and lightly spray the basket with cooking spray.
- Place the coated shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Set cook time for 6-8 minutes, shaking halfway through for even cooking, until shrimp are pink and slightly crispy.
- Transfer the shrimp to a serving dish, drizzle with extra sauce if desired, and serve over rice, noodles, or a fresh salad.
Equipment
- Cooking Spray, or Parchment Paper
Nutrition
Share this recipe
We can’t wait to see what you’ve made! Mention @forktospoon or tag #forktospoon!
Rhonda
At the beginning, you mentioned that a great bottled version of the sweet and sour sauce was provided but I didn’t see that information. Did I miss it?
Laurie
https://forktospoon.com/copycat-mcdonalds-sweet-n-sour-sauce/
Rhonda
Thank you. I thought it was bottled sauce you bought in a store but this recipe sounds really good! I’ll try it.