How To Grill Prawns In An Air Fryer | Crisp Juicy Bites

If you love the flavour of grilled seafood but hate babysitting skewers over a hot grate, an air fryer can feel like a small win every single weeknight. You still get that lightly charred surface and tender centre, but with far less mess and a lot more control.

If you’re wondering how to grill prawns in an air fryer, you’re not alone. Many home cooks start with slightly rubbery or dry results and then write the air fryer off for seafood. The good news is that prawns cook fast, respond nicely to high heat, and need only a few small tweaks to come out juicy every time.

This guide walks you through picking the right prawns, seasoning them, setting time and temperature, checking doneness, and fixing the most common problems. By the end, you’ll have a repeatable method you can use for quick dinners, party platters, and everything in between.

Why Grilling Prawns In An Air Fryer Works So Well

An air fryer is basically a compact fan oven. Hot air blasts around the prawns from all sides, which helps the outside brown while the centre stays moist. Because the space is small, it heats quickly and loses less heat when you open the basket.

Prawns are thin and delicate. They overcook easily when the heat source is uneven or when there are hot spots on a grill pan. In an air fryer, the flow of air reduces those hot spots. You can cook a full basket of prawns in minutes with only a light spray of oil.

Another bonus is consistency. Once you dial in your preferred time and temperature for a certain size of prawn, you can repeat it with confidence whenever you buy the same size again.

Prawn Size And Prep	Basket Temperature	Approximate Cook Time
Small (51–60 count), peeled, tail on	190°C / 375°F	4–5 minutes
Medium (41–50 count), peeled, tail on	190–200°C / 375–400°F	5–6 minutes
Large (31–40 count), peeled, tail on	200°C / 400°F	6–7 minutes
Jumbo (16–25 count), peeled, tail on	200°C / 400°F	7–8 minutes
Butterflied jumbo, shell on	200°C / 400°F	8–9 minutes
Prawns on skewers, medium–large	200°C / 400°F	6–8 minutes
Frozen raw prawns, small–medium	200°C / 400°F	8–10 minutes

Use this table as a starting point. Basket style, brand, and how crowded the prawns are will nudge the timing shorter or longer. The best habit is to set a timer for the lower end of the range, open the basket, and check one prawn.

How To Grill Prawns In An Air Fryer Step By Step

Once you have a base method for how to grill prawns in an air fryer, you can swap spices and side dishes without worrying about dry seafood. Follow these steps the first few times, then tweak them to suit your own taste and equipment.

Step 1: Choose And Prep The Prawns

Peeling And Deveining

Pick raw prawns that are firm, glossy, and smell clean, not fishy or sour. Fresh or thawed raw prawns both work; just make sure they are fully thawed before cooking.

Peel the shells, leaving the tail on if you like a built-in handle. Run a small sharp knife along the back of each prawn and lift out the dark vein. This helps with both taste and presentation.

Drying For Better Browning

Spread the cleaned prawns on a plate lined with paper towel. Pat them dry on all sides. Surface moisture turns to steam, which stops the prawns from picking up colour. A dry surface plus a light coating of oil makes a huge difference to that grilled look.

Step 2: Season Or Marinate

At the simplest level, you only need oil, salt, and pepper. Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as sunflower or avocado oil, not delicate oils that burn easily.

Toss the prawns in a bowl with oil, salt, pepper, and any extras you like: minced garlic, chili flakes, smoked paprika, lemon zest, or a squeeze of citrus. If you want a fuller marinade with acid (like lemon juice or vinegar), keep the marinating time short, around 15–20 minutes, so the prawns do not turn mushy.

Step 3: Preheat The Air Fryer

Heat the air fryer to 190–200°C (375–400°F) for 3–5 minutes before adding the prawns. Preheating helps the surface sear quickly so the prawns brown nicely instead of steaming.

Some models have a built-in preheat setting or light. If yours does not, just set the temperature you plan to cook at and let it run empty for a few minutes.

Step 4: Load The Basket

Lightly oil the basket or rack to reduce sticking. Arrange the prawns in a single layer with a small gap between each one. If the basket is too full, hot air cannot move freely, and you end up with uneven colour and texture.

If you need to cook a lot, plan to work in batches. Keep the first batch warm on a plate covered with foil while the second batch cooks.

Step 5: Grill The Prawns

Cook the prawns at 190–200°C (375–400°F). Medium prawns usually need about 5–6 minutes, while large prawns need closer to 6–7 minutes. Halfway through the cook, shake the basket or flip the prawns so both sides brown evenly.

From a safety angle, seafood should reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you have a thin probe thermometer, slide it into the thickest part of a larger prawn to confirm.

You can also use visual cues. Food safety guidance from FoodSafety.gov notes that properly cooked shrimp and prawns turn opaque, firm, and pearly. As soon as the prawns curl into loose “C” shapes and look just opaque, they are done. Tight “O” shapes usually mean they have stayed in a little too long.

Step 6: Rest And Serve

Transfer the prawns to a warm plate as soon as they are ready. Squeeze over fresh lemon or lime, scatter chopped herbs such as parsley or coriander, and drizzle a touch of olive oil if you like a richer finish.

Prawns keep cooking for a minute off the heat, so it is better to pull them when they look barely done rather than waiting for deep browning on every side.

Time And Temperature For Air Fryer Prawn Grilling

Time and temperature are the two knobs that decide whether your air fryer prawns turn out silky or rubbery. High heat is your friend here because prawns cook so fast. A lower temperature gives you more leeway but tends to dry them out before the surface colours.

For most air fryers, 200°C (400°F) is a sweet spot for grilling style prawns. Medium prawns cook in about 5 minutes, large prawns in about 6–7 minutes, and jumbo prawns in roughly 7–8 minutes. If you cook from frozen, expect the timing to stretch by 2–3 minutes.

Basket design, wattage, and even how long you preheat will shift those numbers slightly. The safest approach is to rely on a mix of a timer, a thermometer when you have one, and your eyes. When the prawns are opaque all the way through and springy to the touch, you are there.

If you prefer a more grilled look with deeper colour, give them an extra 30–60 seconds at the end instead of bumping up the temperature. That keeps the prawn meat soft while the edges take on more char.

Fresh Versus Frozen Prawns

Fresh, never-frozen prawns feel like a treat, but many “fresh” prawns at the counter were frozen at sea and thawed by the store. Quality frozen prawns thawed gently in the fridge can taste just as good and often cost less.

For air fryer grilling, thaw frozen prawns overnight in the fridge or under cold running water, then dry them well. Cooking from frozen works in a pinch, but you get a better sear and more even texture once the prawns are thawed.

Seasoning Ideas For Air Fryer Prawns

Once you trust your basic method, seasoning is where you can have some fun. Prawns take on flavour quickly, so short marinades or simple oil-and-spice mixes are enough. You do not need heavy sauces that drown out the natural sweetness.

Use the table below as a flavour menu when you plan your next batch.

Seasoning Style	Key Ingredients	Best Serving Ideas
Garlic Lemon	Olive oil, minced garlic, lemon zest, black pepper, salt	Serve with rice, steamed greens, or crusty bread
Chili Lime	Neutral oil, chili flakes, lime juice, cumin, salt	Fill tacos, pile over shredded cabbage, add avocado
Herb Butter	Melted butter, parsley, chives, garlic, pepper	Spoon over pasta, roasted potatoes, or grilled corn
Smoky Paprika	Olive oil, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt	Pair with roasted peppers, quinoa, or couscous
Ginger Soy	Soy sauce, grated ginger, garlic, a touch of honey, oil	Serve with rice bowls, stir-fried vegetables, or noodles
Curry Style	Oil, mild curry powder, garlic, lemon juice, salt	Serve over basmati rice with cucumber salad
Cajun Spice	Neutral oil, Cajun seasoning blend, garlic powder	Stuff into sandwiches, pile over grits, or serve with slaw

With any of these mixes, coat the prawns just before cooking or marinate briefly. Sauces with sugar or honey brown faster, so watch the basket near the end to prevent dark spots.

Fixing Common Air Fryer Prawn Mistakes

Even with a good method, small missteps can creep in. Here are the most common issues and simple fixes so you can correct them next time.

Prawns Turn Out Rubbery

Rubbery prawns almost always point to overcooking. Shorten the cook time by 1–2 minutes and aim for just-opaque flesh rather than waiting for deep browning. Also check that your air fryer temperature is not set higher than 200°C (400°F), since extra heat shrinks the cooking window.

Another tip is to pull one test prawn early, cut it in half, and look at the centre. Once you know how it should look inside for your exact model, the rest of the batch becomes easier.

Prawns Look Pale Instead Of Lightly Charred

If the prawns are cooked through but still pale, they probably went into a basket that was either damp or not hot enough. Dry the prawns thoroughly before seasoning, preheat the air fryer, and avoid crowding.

A light spray of oil right before cooking also helps colour develop. Just avoid drenching the basket, which can smoke.

Prawns Stick To The Basket

Sticking usually comes from a bare metal basket and very lean marinades. Lightly oil the basket, especially if it is mesh, and give the prawns a thin coating of oil as well.

Let the prawns cook for a couple of minutes before moving them. If you try to flip too soon, the surface has not set yet and tears more easily.

Prawns Taste Bland

Because prawns cook so fast, they benefit from bold seasoning. Use enough salt, add at least one aromatic ingredient (garlic, ginger, onion powder), and add acidity with lemon or lime at the end.

If you are pairing the prawns with plain sides such as rice or vegetables, finish with a drizzle of flavoured oil or a quick sauce so each bite has contrast.

Serving Ideas And Leftover Tips

Air fryer grilled prawns fit into many meals. Serve them over a simple salad, tuck them into soft tortillas with crunchy slaw, or spoon them over buttered pasta. A bowl of prawns beside a dipping sauce and a basket of fries also makes an easy sharing plate.

For leftovers, cool the prawns quickly, then chill them in a shallow container. Eat them within two to three days. They taste great cold in salads and rice bowls, or you can reheat them gently in the air fryer at a lower temperature, around 160°C (320°F), for 2–3 minutes.

When friends ask you how to grill prawns in an air fryer, you can share a simple formula: dry prawns, bold seasoning, hot basket, short cook, and quick serving. Once those habits stick, your air fryer becomes a reliable way to put grilled prawns on the table any night you like.