Irresistible Air Fryer Shrimp Boil

Summer cookouts are great, but let’s be honest—boiling a huge pot of water and standing over a hot stove when it’s already 85 degrees outside? Not my idea of fun. I love a good shrimp boil, but I don’t love heating up my entire kitchen or dealing with the cleanup afterward.

That’s why I started making shrimp boil in my air fryer. Everything cooks in there—the potatoes, corn, sausage, and shrimp all get tossed with garlic butter and Old Bay. No giant pot to scrub. No water to drain. Just toss everything in, let the air fryer do its thing, and you’ve got all those classic flavors without the fuss.

Want something that tastes like a backyard seafood boil but comes together on a weeknight? This is it. Plus, you can make it any time of year without turning your kitchen into a sauna.

What Kind of Shrimp Should I Use?

For this air fryer shrimp boil, you’ll want to use large or jumbo shrimp since they hold up better to the cooking process and won’t dry out as quickly. You can buy them either fresh or frozen – just make sure frozen shrimp are completely thawed and patted dry before cooking. I recommend getting shrimp that are already peeled and deveined to save yourself some prep time, though leaving the tails on can make for a prettier presentation if you’re serving guests. Whether you go for wild-caught or farm-raised is totally up to your preference and budget, as both will taste great with all that Old Bay seasoning and garlic butter.

Options for Substitutions

This air fryer shrimp boil is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps:

• Potatoes: Any potato works here – red potatoes, Yukon golds, or even sweet potatoes if you want a different flavor. Just cut them into similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
• Andouille sausage: Can’t find andouille? Try smoked sausage, kielbasa, or chorizo instead. Regular smoked sausage will give you a milder flavor, while chorizo adds a nice kick.
• Old Bay seasoning: If you don’t have Old Bay, you can make your own blend with paprika, celery salt, black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne. Cajun seasoning also works in a pinch.
• Shrimp: Fresh or frozen shrimp both work fine. If using frozen, just make sure to thaw them completely and pat dry before cooking.
• Butter: You can use olive oil instead of butter, though you’ll lose some of that rich, classic shrimp boil flavor. A mix of half butter and half olive oil is a good middle ground.
• Corn: Fresh corn is best, but frozen corn on the cob works too. Just add a couple extra minutes to the cooking time if using frozen.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making air fryer shrimp boil is overcooking the shrimp, which turns them rubbery and tough – since shrimp cook quickly, start checking at the 6-minute mark and pull them out as soon as they turn pink and opaque.

Another common error is overcrowding the air fryer basket, which prevents proper air circulation and leads to uneven cooking, so work in batches if needed to give everything enough space.

Don’t skip cutting your potatoes into smaller, bite-sized pieces before boiling, as larger chunks won’t cook through in the air fryer’s short cooking time.

Finally, make sure your shrimp are completely dry before tossing them in the butter mixture – excess moisture creates steam instead of that nice caramelization you’re looking for.

What to Serve With Shrimp Boil?

Since this shrimp boil already has potatoes, corn, and sausage built right in, it’s pretty much a complete meal on its own. That said, I love serving it with some crusty French bread or dinner rolls to soak up all that buttery, garlicky goodness at the bottom of the bowl. A simple coleslaw on the side adds a nice cool, crunchy contrast to the warm, seasoned shrimp and sausage. If you want to go all out, set up a casual spread with extra lemon wedges, hot sauce, and melted butter for dipping – it makes the whole meal feel like a backyard seafood feast.

Storage Instructions

Store: Keep your leftover shrimp boil in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavors actually get even better the next day as everything marinates together. Just note that the shrimp might lose a bit of its texture, but it’ll still taste great!

Reheat: Warm it up in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes, or pop it in the microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through. You can also reheat it in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water to keep everything moist. I don’t recommend freezing this one since seafood and potatoes don’t always hold up well in the freezer.

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2250-2450
• Protein: 105-120 g
• Fat: 110-125 g
• Carbohydrates: 210-230 g

Ingredients

For the shrimp boil:

• 1 lb potatoes (cut into 1-inch chunks so they cook evenly)
• 3 ears corn (cut into 2-inch rounds)
• 3/4 cup butter (I prefer Kerrygold unsalted butter for this)
• 6 garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp old bay seasoning (I always use the classic blue tin)
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 lb shrimp
• 12.8 oz andouille sausage (sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds)

For the garnish:

• 2 tbsp parsley
• 1 lemon

Step 1: Prep Ingredients and Heat Air Fryer

• 1 lb potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 3 ears corn, cut into 2-inch rounds
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 12.8 oz andouille sausage, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

Cut potatoes into 1-inch chunks and corn into 2-inch rounds, then set aside.

Mince the garlic cloves finely.

Cut the andouille sausage into 1/2-inch thick rounds.

Peel and devein the shrimp if needed.

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F while you finish prepping.

This head start on heating ensures your ingredients will cook efficiently when ready.

Step 2: Create the Seasoned Butter Base

• 3/4 cup butter
• minced garlic from Step 1
• 3 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

In a small bowl, melt the butter and stir in the minced garlic, Old Bay seasoning, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper until well combined.

Let this sit while you prepare the air fryer basket to allow the flavors to meld together.

I always use Kerrygold unsalted butter for this recipe because its rich, creamy flavor really elevates the final dish.

Step 3: Parboil Potatoes and Corn

• potatoes from Step 1
• corn from Step 1

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the cut potatoes and corn rounds.

Parboil for 6-8 minutes until they’re just starting to become tender but are still slightly firm—they should be cooked about 60% of the way through.

Drain well and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which ensures they’ll cook properly in the air fryer and absorb the butter mixture better.

Step 4: Assemble and Season in Air Fryer

• parboiled potatoes and corn from Step 3
• andouille sausage from Step 1
• seasoned butter mixture from Step 2

Spray your air fryer basket or tray with oil to prevent sticking.

Add the parboiled potatoes, corn, and sausage rounds to the basket.

Pour the seasoned butter mixture from Step 2 over everything and toss until all components are well coated.

Arrange ingredients in a single layer, leaving a little space between larger pieces for even air circulation.

Step 5: Air Fry the Shrimp Boil

• shrimp from Step 1
• assembled mixture from Step 4

Add the shrimp to the basket and gently toss everything together one more time.

Air fry at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even heat distribution.

The shrimp is done when it turns pink and opaque throughout.

I like to squeeze a little lemon juice into the basket right at the end of cooking to brighten all the flavors.

Step 6: Finish and Serve

• cooked shrimp boil from Step 5
• 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Transfer the air fryer shrimp boil to a serving platter or bowl.

Sprinkle fresh parsley over the top and serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over as desired.

The vibrant colors and aromatic butter sauce make this dish as beautiful to look at as it is delicious to eat.

Irresistible Air Fryer Shrimp Boil

Delicious Irresistible Air Fryer Shrimp Boil recipe with step-by-step instructions.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 32 minutes mins

Servings 4 servings

Calories 2350 kcal

Ingredients

  

For the shrimp boil::

• 1 lb potatoes (cut into 1-inch chunks so they cook evenly)
• 3 ears corn (cut into 2-inch rounds)
• 3/4 cup butter (I prefer Kerrygold unsalted butter for this)
• 6 garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp old bay seasoning (I always use the classic blue tin)
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 lb shrimp
• 12.8 oz andouille sausage (sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds)

For the garnish::

• 2 tbsp parsley
• 1 lemon

Instructions

 

• Cut potatoes into 1-inch chunks and corn into 2-inch rounds, then set aside. Mince the garlic cloves finely. Cut the andouille sausage into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Peel and devein the shrimp if needed. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F while you finish prepping. This head start on heating ensures your ingredients will cook efficiently when ready.
• In a small bowl, melt the butter and stir in the minced garlic, Old Bay seasoning, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper until well combined. Let this sit while you prepare the air fryer basket to allow the flavors to meld together. I always use Kerrygold unsalted butter for this recipe because its rich, creamy flavor really elevates the final dish.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the cut potatoes and corn rounds. Parboil for 6-8 minutes until they're just starting to become tender but are still slightly firm—they should be cooked about 60% of the way through. Drain well and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which ensures they'll cook properly in the air fryer and absorb the butter mixture better.
• Spray your air fryer basket or tray with oil to prevent sticking. Add the parboiled potatoes, corn, and sausage rounds to the basket. Pour the seasoned butter mixture from Step 2 over everything and toss until all components are well coated. Arrange ingredients in a single layer, leaving a little space between larger pieces for even air circulation.
• Add the shrimp to the basket and gently toss everything together one more time. Air fry at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even heat distribution. The shrimp is done when it turns pink and opaque throughout. I like to squeeze a little lemon juice into the basket right at the end of cooking to brighten all the flavors.
• Transfer the air fryer shrimp boil to a serving platter or bowl. Sprinkle fresh parsley over the top and serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over as desired. The vibrant colors and aromatic butter sauce make this dish as beautiful to look at as it is delicious to eat.