Description

This recipe for Best Air Fryer Prawns delivers perfectly cooked, crispy, and flavorful prawns using a quick air frying method. Coated with a blend of garlic powder, smoked paprika, and a hint of chili flakes, these prawns are a healthy and easy main course that cooks in under 20 minutes, making it ideal for a quick weeknight dinner or impressive appetizer.

Ingredients

1 lb large prawns, peeled and deveined (tails on or off)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Chopped parsley for garnish

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Instructions

Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3–5 minutes to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
Season Prawns: In a large bowl, toss the peeled and deveined prawns with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, chili flakes if using, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Mix thoroughly to coat all prawns evenly with the seasoning.
Arrange in Air Fryer Basket: Place the seasoned prawns in a single layer in the air fryer basket, taking care not to overcrowd them to allow hot air to circulate and crisp them properly.
Cook Prawns: Cook the prawns at 400°F for 6–8 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time, until they turn pink, curl up, and develop slightly crispy edges.
Garnish and Serve: Remove the prawns from the air fryer and transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving for a burst of color and freshness.

Notes

These prawns are versatile and delicious on their own, served over rice, tucked into tacos, or tossed into salads.
For enhanced flavor, marinate the prawns for 15–30 minutes before cooking.
Be careful not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
If you prefer extra spicy prawns, increase chili flakes according to taste.