Looking for easy seafood appetizers? These 10 Fork To Spoon favorites cover hot crab dip, bacon wrapped scallops, coconut shrimp, bang bang shrimp, crab rangoons, crispy calamari, lemon crab cakes, and more. Most cook in the air fryer in under 20 minutes, so they’re perfect for holiday parties, game day, and Christmas Eve. Save this pin for your next gathering!
Air Fryer Cheesy Hot Crab Dip
Start with something scoopable. The air fryer cheesy hot crab dip folds lump crab into cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and Old Bay, then bakes in the air fryer until bubbly in about 20 minutes. Fold the crab in gently so the chunks stay whole, and serve with toasted baguette slices or sturdy crackers.
2. Air Fryer Shrimp Cocktail
A classic with almost no prep. The air fryer shrimp cocktail tosses shrimp with olive oil, salt, and pepper, air fries them in minutes, then chills them for serving with cocktail sauce. It is naturally low-carb and easy to make the morning of a party.
3. Red Lobster Bacon Wrapped Scallops
These Red Lobster bacon wrapped scallops wrap sea scallops in thin-cut bacon, pin them with toothpicks, and air fry about 5 minutes per side until the bacon crisps and the scallops turn opaque. Brush them with garlic butter or a little maple syrup before cooking if you want to dress them up for a holiday table.
4. Copycat Red Lobster Coconut Shrimp
For a sweet-and-crunchy bite, the copycat Red Lobster coconut shrimp presses a coconut-panko coating onto shrimp and air fries them at 375°F, with a piña colada dipping sauce on the side. Press the coating on firmly and leave space between the shrimp in the basket so every piece gets crisp.
5. P.F. Chang’s Crab Rangoons
The P.F. Chang’s crab rangoons copycat fills wonton wrappers with crab, cream cheese, green onion, and garlic, then air fries them golden and crackly. Canned, lump, or imitation crab all work in the filling, and sweet chili sauce is the natural dip.
6. Copycat Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp
Crispy and saucy, the copycat Bonefish Grill bang bang shrimp air fries breaded shrimp at 400°F and tosses them in a creamy, spicy-sweet bang bang sauce. Serve them the minute they come out of the basket; the recipe also covers a deep-fried version if you want the full restaurant treatment.
7. Olive Garden Calamari Copycat
The Olive Garden calamari copycat dips squid rings in buttermilk and seasoned flour, then air fries them 8 to 10 minutes at 400°F with a shake halfway through. Serve with marinara and lemon wedges, and cook in batches so the rings crisp instead of steaming.
8. Air Fryer Lemon Crab Cakes
Six ingredients and under 20 minutes: the air fryer lemon crab cakes combine lump crab, mayonnaise, breadcrumbs, green onion, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Shape them small for a passed appetizer or larger for a light lunch, and serve with tartar sauce or a squeeze of lemon.
9. Easy Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Shrimp
The easy air fryer garlic parmesan shrimp tosses shrimp with butter, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, parsley, and lemon juice, then cooks them 5 to 7 minutes at 350°F. Leave the tails on so guests can grab them by hand, and it works straight from frozen if you shake the basket a few times.
10. Easy Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon Bites
For something beyond shellfish, the easy air fryer teriyaki salmon bites coat cubed salmon in a sticky sweet-savory glaze and air fry them until the edges caramelize. Toss the cooked bites in the leftover glaze, spear them with toothpicks, and scatter sesame seeds and green onion on top.
Want more? Fork To Spoon also has a crispy air fryer salt and pepper calamari, viral air fryer crab bites, and a full roundup of Blackstone seafood recipes for griddle cooks
