Description

Air Fryer Honey Walnut Shrimp offers crisp, golden shrimp tossed in a creamy honey mayonnaise sauce with crunchy caramelized walnuts for contrast. This lighter version uses an air fryer to achieve a perfectly crisp coating while keeping the process quick and approachable for home cooks. The sauce balances sweetness and brightness with honey and rice vinegar while chopped green onion adds a fresh finish.

Ingredients

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon rice vinegar

3 teaspoons honey

1 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup brown sugar

4 tablespoons water

3/4 pound jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined

1 large egg

pinch of salt

pinch of white pepper

2/3 cup cornstarch

2 tablespoons olive oil for brushing or spraying on shrimp

sliced green onion for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Whisk mayonnaise, rice vinegar, and honey together until smooth and set the sauce aside

Heat a small skillet over medium heat and combine water with brown sugar until the sugar dissolves

Add the chopped walnuts and stir continuously until the syrup thickens and coats the walnuts then transfer them to a parchment lined plate to cool and crisp

Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels to help the coating adhere

Beat the egg with a pinch of salt and white pepper in a small bowl

Place cornstarch in a separate shallow bowl for dredging

Coat each shrimp first in cornstarch, shake off excess, then dip in beaten egg and dredge again in cornstarch to form a light double layer

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F ensuring it reaches temperature before cooking

Lightly oil the air fryer basket and arrange the shrimp in a single layer leaving space for airflow

Brush or spray the shrimp lightly with olive oil to promote even browning

Cook the shrimp for about five minutes, flip them gently, then cook an additional three to four minutes until golden and cooked through

Check the shrimp with a digital thermometer to confirm doneness

Toss the hot shrimp with the creamy honey sauce and the cooled caramelized walnuts until everything is evenly coated

Garnish with sliced green onion and serve immediately while the coating is crisp

Notes

Cooking times vary by air fryer model so monitor shrimp closely to avoid overcooking

Allow the caramelized walnuts to cool fully on parchment so they crisp instead of staying sticky

Store walnuts separately from the shrimp when possible to preserve crunch

If the sauce thickens in the refrigerator, let it come to room temperature or stir gently before using

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Air Fryer
Cuisine: American