These air fryer cajun shrimp skewers are one of my favorite quick dinners. They come out perfectly cooked with a little char on the outside and juicy on the inside.
The cajun seasoning gives them a nice kick without being too spicy. Just enough flavor to make them really satisfying.
What I love most is how fast they are. You go from raw shrimp to a full meal in under 10 minutes of air frying time.
Once they come out of the air fryer, you drizzle them with a simple lemon butter sauce that ties everything together. It’s so good.
Serve these as a main dish with rice, as an appetizer, or even just as a snack. They work for pretty much any occasion.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Perfectly Crispy Outside and Juicy Inside – The air fryer gives each shrimp a lightly charred exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy.
Bold Cajun Flavor in Every Bite – The blend of Cajun seasoning and paprika with garlic powder creates a smoky and savory taste that is hard to resist.
That Lemon Butter Drizzle Is Everything – The melted butter mixed with fresh lemon juice and parsley adds a rich and bright finish that takes these skewers to the next level.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb Large Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 teaspoons Cajun Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 tablespoons Butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley, chopped
- Lemon Wedges for serving
How To Make
Step 1
Pat shrimp dry and toss with olive oil, Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
Step 2
Thread shrimp onto skewers (if using wooden skewers, soak in water for 20 minutes first) or place directly in air fryer basket.
Step 3
Air fry at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until shrimp are pink and slightly charred.
Step 4
Mix melted butter with lemon juice and parsley.
Step 5
Drizzle butter mixture over cooked shrimp and serve immediately with lemon wedges.
Tips
Dry the Shrimp Really Well
This is the single most important step for getting that slightly charred, crispy outside on your shrimp. Use paper towels and press down firmly on both sides of each shrimp.
If there’s moisture left on them, the air fryer will steam the shrimp instead of crisping them up. You’ll end up with rubbery, soft shrimp with zero color on them.
Spend an extra minute here. It makes a huge difference in the final result.
Don’t Crowd the Basket
Lay the skewers in a single layer with a little space between each one. The air fryer works by blowing hot air around the food, and if the shrimp are piled on top of each other, that air can’t reach every piece.
If you have too many skewers, cook them in two batches. Crowding them will give you steamed, pale shrimp instead of the slightly charred ones you’re going for.
Curve the Shrimp When Threading
When you thread the shrimp onto the skewer, push the skewer through twice – once near the tail and once near the top. This keeps the shrimp in a C-shape and locks it in place.
If you only poke through once, the shrimp will spin around on the skewer when you try to flip them. That makes it hard to cook both sides evenly.
This also keeps the shrimp compact so they cook more uniformly from edge to edge.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Shrimp Skewers
- Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
- Air Fryer Cajun Honey Butter Salmon
- Air Fryer Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
- Air Fryer Cajun Chicken
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen shrimp, or do they need to be thawed first?
You’ll want to thaw the shrimp before making this recipe. The Cajun seasoning and olive oil won’t stick properly to frozen shrimp, and the cooking time will be off.
The quickest way to thaw them is to place them in a colander and run cold water over them for about 5-10 minutes. After that, pat them really dry with paper towels before tossing them with the seasoning so everything sticks nicely.
Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp Skewers
- skewers
- air fryer
- 1.5 lb Large Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 teaspoons Cajun Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 tablespoons Butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley, chopped
- Lemon Wedges for serving
- Pat shrimp dry and toss with olive oil, Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Thread shrimp onto skewers (if using wooden skewers, soak in water for 20 minutes first) or place directly in air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until shrimp are pink and slightly charred.
- Mix melted butter with lemon juice and parsley.
- Drizzle butter mixture over cooked shrimp and serve immediately with lemon wedges.