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Air Fryer Hooter’s Buffalo Shrimp

Air Fryer Buffalo Shrimp (Hooters Copycat)

4.38 from 8 votes
Author: Laurie Fleming
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
10 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings

Description

Crispy air fryer buffalo shrimp tossed in a buttery, tangy Hooters-style buffalo sauce. An easy copycat appetizer ready in under 20 minutes — no deep fryer needed.

Ingredients 

For the shrimp:

  • 1 lb shrimp, raw, peeled, deveined, tails removed (large or jumbo)
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour, or 1:1 gluten-free blend
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • Cooking spray

For the buffalo sauce:

  • ¼ cup Frank's RedHot sauce
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter

Instructions

  • Coat the shrimp. In a small bowl, mix the flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Toss the shrimp until coated, then cover and refrigerate 10–15 minutes to help the coating stick.
  • Make the sauce. In a small saucepan, combine the butter and Frank's RedHot. Simmer over medium heat 3–5 minutes, then remove from heat.
  • Air fry. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray (or line with parchment). Arrange the shrimp in a single layer and air fry at 390°F for 5–9 minutes, until golden and opaque. Work in batches so they don't overlap.
  • Toss and serve. Toss the cooked shrimp in the buffalo sauce until coated. Serve immediately with blue cheese dressing, celery, and carrot sticks.

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Cooking Spray
  • Parchment Paper, optional

Notes

  • Crispy tip: Pat the shrimp dry before coating and don't crowd the basket — a single layer crisps best. Sauce them right before serving so the coating stays crunchy.
  • Doneness: Shrimp are done when pink, opaque, and curled into a loose "C." A tight "O" means overcooked.
  • Extra crunch (optional): Dip floured shrimp in beaten egg, then panko, before air frying for a thicker crust. (Flour-only is the authentic Hooters-style coating.)
  • Spice level: Medium. Add cayenne or more hot sauce for hotter; add extra butter to mellow.
  • Gluten-free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
  • No air fryer: Bake at 400°F for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway.
  • Serve with: A cool buffalo ranch or blue cheese dressing to balance the heat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 25gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 213mgSodium: 743mgPotassium: 337mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 375IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 81mgIron: 2mg