Air Fryer Shrimp and Fried Rice: An Easy Weeknight Dinner

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There are some meals that just hit the spot after a long day, and this Air Fryer Shrimp with Fried Rice is one of my favorites. It's crispy, flavorful, packed with vegetables, and comes together with simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

A few of the kitchen tools that make this recipe extra easy are a good air fryer, a reliable rice cooker, and a quality non-stick skillet. I use my air fryer constantly for recipes like this because it gives the shrimp that crispy, golden coating without the hassle of deep frying. (Here is the Air Fryer I personally use).  Also, if you don't already have a rice cooker, it's one of those appliances that makes perfectly cooked rice almost effortless every single time. (This is the Rice Cooker I personally use)

Now let's get cooking!

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Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Crispy, golden shrimp without deep frying
• Easy homemade fried rice loaded with vegetables
• Great way to use up veggies you already have on hand
• Family-friendly and customizable
• Ready with simple pantry ingredients

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Ingredients

For the Shrimp

• Shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 egg, beaten
• Seasoned breadcrumbs
• Olive oil spray

For the Fried Rice

• 4 cups White rice, cooked 
• Olive oil
• 1 Onion, diced
• 3 Garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup Peas
• 1 Zucchini, diced
• 2 tbsp Butter
• 2 Eggs
• Soy sauce
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Parsley

Feel free to swap in whatever vegetables you have available. Carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, mushrooms, and corn all work wonderfully in this recipe.

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How to Make Air Fryer Shrimp

1. Start by coating your shrimp in beaten egg and then covering them with seasoned breadcrumbs.
2. Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in your air fryer basket and give them a light spray with olive oil. This helps them get beautifully golden and crispy.
3. Cook at 425°F for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through if desired.

When they're done, the shrimp should be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

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How to Make the Fried Rice

1. While your rice is cooking in the rice cooker, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the onion, garlic, peas, and zucchini. Sauté until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
3. Once the vegetables are cooked, push them to one side of the skillet. Add a pad of butter to the empty side and crack in your eggs. Scramble them until cooked through.
4. Mix the eggs and vegetables together.
5. Next, add your cooked white rice to the skillet. Drizzle a little olive oil over the rice along with a splash of soy sauce.
6. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parsley to your taste.
7. Mix everything together well and spread it out evenly across the pan.

Here's my favorite part: let the rice sit for a few minutes so it develops those delicious crispy, toasted bits on the bottom. Then stir and repeat until the rice reaches your preferred level of crispiness.

I've found that a good non-stick skillet works best for this step because the rice gets beautifully toasted without sticking. (This is the pan I use)

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Serving Suggestions

Serve the crispy air fryer shrimp right alongside the fried rice for a complete meal. Sometimes I'll add a little extra parsley on top before serving.

If you're looking to add even more flavor, a drizzle of sweet chili sauce or a squeeze of fresh lemon over the shrimp is delicious.

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Tips for Success

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. The shrimp will crisp up better with space between them.
• Day-old rice works especially well for fried rice, but freshly cooked rice works too.
• Let the rice sit undisturbed occasionally while cooking to create those crispy toasted pieces.
• Use whatever vegetables you have on hand to make this recipe your own.
• Taste and adjust seasonings as you go.

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Final Thoughts

This Air Fryer Shrimp with Fried Rice is one of those simple meals that feels like takeout but is made right at home with ingredients you can customize to your family's tastes. The crispy shrimp paired with the savory fried rice creates the perfect combination of textures and flavors.

If you try this recipe, I'd love to hear what vegetables you added and how crispy you toasted your rice. Those little personal touches are what make homemade cooking so much fun!