Air Fryer Honey Walnut Shrimp

This air fryer honey walnut shrimp is one of my favorite recipes to make at home. It tastes just like the popular restaurant version, but it’s so much easier to pull together in your own kitchen.

The shrimp comes out perfectly crispy from the air fryer without all the oil you’d normally need for deep frying. It’s lighter but still has that satisfying crunch you want.

Then you toss it all in a creamy, sweet sauce and top it with candied walnuts. The combination of textures and flavors is honestly so good.

If you’ve ever ordered honey walnut shrimp at a Chinese restaurant and wished you could make it at home, this is the recipe for you. It comes together in about 20 minutes and tastes amazing every single time.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Restaurant-Quality Shrimp at Home – Honey walnut shrimp is one of those dishes people usually only order at Chinese restaurants. Now you can make it yourself in your air fryer for a fraction of the price.

Crispy Without Deep Frying – The air fryer gives the shrimp an amazing golden crunch using just cooking spray instead of a whole pot of oil. You get that satisfying crispy coating without the greasy mess or extra calories.

The Sauce Is Ridiculously Good – The creamy honey sauce made with mayo, honey, condensed milk and a squeeze of lemon is sweet, tangy and totally addictive. It clings to every piece of shrimp perfectly.

Candied Walnuts Add the Perfect Crunch – The sweet candied walnuts on top give every bite a buttery, nutty contrast that pairs so well with the creamy sauce and crispy shrimp. It really makes this dish special.

Ingredients

For the Shrimp

• 1 lb Large Shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 cup Cornstarch
• 2 Egg Whites, beaten
• Cooking Spray

For the Sauce

• 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp Honey
• 1 tbsp Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice

For Topping

• 1/2 cup Candied Walnuts

How to Make

Step 1

Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Dip each shrimp into beaten egg whites, then coat evenly in cornstarch, shaking off the excess.

Step 2

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the coated shrimp in a single layer and spray generously with cooking spray.

Step 3

Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying again, until the shrimp are golden and crispy.

Step 4

While the shrimp cook, whisk together the mayonnaise, honey, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon juice in a large bowl.

Step 5

Add the hot crispy shrimp to the bowl and toss gently until fully coated in the creamy honey sauce. Top with candied walnuts and serve immediately.

Tips

Dry the Shrimp Really Well

Before you do anything else, lay the shrimp out on a few layers of paper towels and press down firmly with more paper towels on top. You want to get as much moisture off the surface as possible.

If the shrimp are still wet when you dip them in the egg whites, the cornstarch won’t stick properly. You’ll end up with patchy spots that don’t crisp up, and the coating might slide right off in the air fryer.

Spend a solid minute on this step. It makes a big difference in how crispy the final shrimp turn out.

Shake Off the Extra Cornstarch

After you coat each shrimp in cornstarch, give it a couple of gentle taps or shakes to let the loose excess fall off. You want a thin, even layer – not clumps of powder sitting on the surface.

Too much cornstarch leaves you with a dusty, powdery taste and white patches that never really crisp up. A light, even coat is what gives you that perfectly golden and crunchy shell once it hits the hot air in the fryer.

Don’t Crowd the Basket

Lay the shrimp in a single layer with a little space between each one. If they overlap or touch too much, the hot air can’t circulate around them and you’ll get soft, soggy spots instead of an even crunch.

Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook these in two batches. It takes a few extra minutes, but it’s worth it because every single shrimp will come out crispy all the way around.

If you have a larger air fryer basket, you can usually fit the full pound in one go without any issues.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
• Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
• Air Fryer Crispy Sesame Chicken
• Air Fryer Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
• Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

Frequently Asked Questions

What size shrimp works best for this air fryer honey walnut shrimp?

Large or jumbo shrimp (about 21-25 count per pound) work best because they hold up well in the air fryer and give you a nice crispy coating without overcooking the inside.

If you use smaller shrimp, they can dry out quickly in the air fryer, so try to stick with large or bigger for the best results.