Air Fryer Keto Coconut Shrimp

If you love shrimp and you are on a keto diet, you need to try this air fryer coconut shrimp recipe.

Instead of the usual breadcrumb coating, these use almond flour and unsweetened shredded coconut. So you get all that crunch without the extra carbs.

The air fryer does an amazing job here. It gets the coconut coating crispy and golden brown in about 10 minutes, no oil bath needed.

I also included a quick dipping sauce that takes about one minute to whisk together. It adds the perfect finishing touch.

This is one of those recipes that looks fancy but is actually really simple to pull off. Let’s get into it.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Incredibly Crispy Without Deep Frying – The air fryer gives these shrimp a perfectly golden and crunchy coconut crust without all the oil of traditional deep frying.

Tastes Like Restaurant-Quality – The toasted coconut coating with a hint of paprika makes these taste like something you would order at a nice seafood restaurant.

Keto-Friendly Comfort Food – You get all the flavor and crunch of classic coconut shrimp while staying low-carb thanks to almond flour and unsweetened coconut.

Ingredients

For the Shrimp

• 1 lb Large Shrimp (21-25 count), peeled and deveined with tails on
• 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
• 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder

For the Coating

• 1/3 cup Almond Flour
• 1 cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
• 1/2 tsp Paprika
• 2 Large Eggs
• Coconut Oil Spray

For the Dipping Sauce

• 2 tbsp Sugar-Free Sweet Chili Sauce
• 1 tbsp Lime Juice
• 1 tsp Sesame Oil

How To Make

Step 1

Pat the shrimp thoroughly dry with paper towels. Season them with the salt, black pepper, and garlic powder and toss to coat evenly.

Step 2

Set up a breading station. Place the almond flour in one shallow dish. Beat the eggs in a second dish. In a third dish, combine the shredded coconut and paprika and mix well.

Step 3

Dredge each shrimp lightly in the almond flour, then dip into the beaten egg, and finally press firmly into the coconut mixture, coating all sides generously. Set the coated shrimp on a plate or sheet pan.

Step 4

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 3 minutes. Spray the basket lightly with coconut oil spray.

Step 5

Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure none are touching. Spray the tops with a light mist of coconut oil spray. Work in batches if needed.

Step 6

Air fry at 400 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes, gently flipping the shrimp halfway through, until the coconut coating is golden brown and the shrimp are pink and cooked through.

Step 7

While the shrimp cook, whisk together the sugar-free sweet chili sauce, lime juice, and sesame oil in a small bowl. Serve the hot coconut shrimp immediately with the dipping sauce on the side.

Tips

Get the Shrimp Really Dry

This is the single most important step for getting a crispy coating. If the shrimp are even a little wet, the almond flour won’t stick properly and the whole coating will slide off during cooking.

After patting them dry with paper towels, let them sit on a clean paper towel for a couple of minutes. You want the surface to feel completely dry to the touch before you season them.

Press the Coconut On Firmly

When you get to the coconut step, don’t just lightly dip the shrimp. Take each one and really press it down into the coconut mixture, then flip it and press the other side. Use your fingers to push coconut onto the sides too.

Shredded coconut doesn’t stick as easily as regular breadcrumbs, so you need to be a little more intentional about it. The egg layer underneath is your glue, so make sure you have a good coat of egg before pressing into the coconut.

Don’t Skip the Coconut Oil Spray

The coconut oil spray on top of the shrimp before air frying is what makes the shredded coconut actually turn golden brown and crispy. Without it, the coconut tends to stay dry and pale even after 10 minutes of cooking.

Give them a nice even mist on top, and another quick spray after you flip them halfway through. It makes a huge difference in color and crunch.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
• Air Fryer Crispy Coconut Shrimp Tacos
• Air Fryer Crispy Coconut Chicken Tenders
• Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
• Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular shredded coconut instead of unsweetened?

You can, but sweetened shredded coconut has added sugar which means it is no longer keto-friendly. It also tends to brown faster in the air fryer, so you would need to watch it closely to keep it from getting too dark.

If staying low-carb matters to you, stick with unsweetened shredded coconut. It crisps up beautifully and gives you that perfect golden coconut crunch without the extra carbs.