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Homemade shrimp has never been so tasty! With this Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp recipe, each crispy coconut bite is delicious, healthy, and made complete with a pineapple tropical sauce.
A quick and simple healthy shrimp recipe
There’s coconut shrimp, and then there’s healthy air fryer coconut shrimp. And let me tell you, there’s a huge difference between the two! As soon as you try these little coconut breaded shrimps dipped in the tangy tropical sauce, there will be no going back.
The shrimp are “breaded” with a flour, seasoning, egg, and honey mixture, and then coated in shredded coconut for a flavor blast in each bite. The tropical sauce is made with yogurt, pineapple, coconut, honey, and salt, and it does not disappoint.
Air fryer coconut shrimp make the perfect appetizer or snack. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Air fryer coconut shrimp ingredients
This recipe is made by coating the shrimp with a 3-part mixture. They’re then air fried to perfection and paired with a tangy sauce made of delicious ingredients like pineapple and more coconut!
Shrimp
- Shrimp: First, you will need 1lb of raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp.
- Flour: For breading, start with 1/2 cup of coconut flour.
- Seasonings: Use 1/2 tsp each of smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. These will add the perfect amount of flavor!
- Eggs: An egg wash will be needed as part of the breading process. Use 2 eggs.
- Honey: Sweeten things up with 1 tbsp of honey.
- Coconut: Finally, use 3/4 cup of shredded coconut to get that rich flavor!
Tropical Sauce
- Yogurt: The sauce begins with a base of 1/3 cup of plain Greek yogurt.
- Pineapple: Next, add 1/4 cup of crushed pineapple for a delicious tropical flavor!
- Coconut: Use 3 tbsp of shredded coconut, because extra coconut is never a bad idea.
- Honey: Add more honey for an extra dash of sweet flavor. Use 1 tbsp.
- Salt: Last but not least, finish off the sauce with 1/4 tsp of salt.
Tools used to make coconut shrimp
To make healthy coconut shrimp, you will simply need three small bowls and your air fryer. For measuring, you will need the following sized cups: 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 3/4 cup.
How to make healthy air fryer coconut shrimp
Your very own homemade healthy coconut shrimp is only a bit of breading and air frying away! Set aside ___ minutes for making this recipe — that includes cook time.
To begin, clean and dry the shrimp.
Add the coconut flour, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to a small bowl and mix to combine.
In a separate bowl, mix the two eggs and honey.
Add the shredded coconut to a third bowl.
Dredge each shrimp in the coconut flour mixture, the egg mixture, and then coat in the shredded coconut. Be sure to coat all sides.
Next, place the shrimp in an air fryer and fry at 375F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
While the shrimp are air frying, mix all of the tropical sauce ingredients together. Adjust the ingredients to taste.
How this shrimp is healthier
To achieve a healthier coconut shrimp recipe, one key tool came into play: the air fryer!
Air fryers are a great cooking method because they eliminate the need for heavy oils, instead frying the food with hot air and achieving a result that’s equally crispy and tasty.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Want to dive into some similar recipes? Here are some delicious cilantro lime shrimp, salmon, and air fryer recipes to check out!
- Cilantro Lime Shrimp with Coconut Cauliflower Rice
- Cajun Parmesan Salmon
- Healthy Teriyaki Salmon
- Healthy Chicken Nuggets (Baked and Air Fried)
Photos by Moriah Sawtelle and recipe by Erin Antoniak.
Healthy Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
Homemade shrimp has never been so tasty! With this Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp recipe, each crispy coconut bite is delicious, healthy, and made complete with a pineapple tropical sauce.
Ingredients
- 1lb raw, peeled and deveined shrimp
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp honey
- 3/4 cup shredded coconut
Tropical Sauce
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup crushed pineapple
- 3 tbsp shredded coconut
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Prepare your shrimp so they are clean and dry.
- Take out three separate small bowls.
- Add coconut flour, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to one bowl. Mix.
- Add two eggs and honey to another bowl. Mix.
- Add shredded coconut to the last bowl.
- Take your dried shrimp and dredge in coconut flour mixture on both sides, then in egg mixture, then coat in shredded coconut. Repeat until all shrimp are coated.
- Place in air fryer at 375F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
- While shrimp are air frying, mix together all tropical sauce ingredients. Taste and adjust based on liking.
- Serve shrimp and sauce together!
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Emily says
Delish! Still crispy without the heavy fried-ness that coconut shrimp usually has. Wanted to double the batch so made it in the oven instead and turned out great still
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Emily, so happy you loved it so much!!
Hannah says
I’ve been eyeing this recipe for a while, but didn’t have an air fryer. Staying in Florida this week and the house we rented has one! So I of course had to try this recipe and it did not disappoint!! And the sauce is SO good! I did cook mine at a higher temperature and for a little longer. Now I think I have to get an air fryer….
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Hannah, so happy you loved them and yes definitely need one now!!
Faith Simon says
These were AMAZING!!! I made a sweet chili sauce with mine and they were perfect
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Faith, so glad you loved them!!
kendra says
I’ve made multiple versions of coconut shrimp (air fried, oven baked, pan fried) these are most definitely the best! Guilt free, easy, delicious and I could just eat spoonfuls of the sauce 🙂
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kendra, so glad you enjoyed it so much!!
Abigail says
I’ve tried a similar recipe that was fine but always love ELW recipes and was excited to make this version. I’m so glad I did because the little variations in this made the difference! So good! I always get a kick out of making food at home better than a restaurant, and this makes my list.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Abigail, so glad you liked them!! 🙂
Meral says
This was so easy and delicious! The air fryer really made these super crispy! And I was so happy that all of the coating stayed on the shrimp!!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Meral, so glad you loved it!!
Charlotte Barry says
Such an awesome recipe!! Coconut shrimp is my all time FAVORITE, but for some reason I never even thought to try it in the air fryer! Serious game changer. Previously, it was such a drag preparing the dish the traditional way! I also love the healthier ingredients this recipe incorporates….makes healthy taste so good! Had so much fun with this one. Thanks, Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Charlotte, so glad you love the shrimp!! 🙂
Amanda says
These coconut shrimp have me feeling so tropical!! So good and easy!! Love them!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Amanda, so glad you loved them!!
Katie says
I made this as chicken tenders and it was delicious! As with anything, the dip is the best part LOL. I added a squeeze of sriracha to the dip and it turned out fab.
★★★★
Erin says
Hi Katie, so glad you made it your own and great addition!!