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These Air Fryer Shrimp Skewers are brushed with smoky, garlicky Roasted Jalapeño Cowboy Butter for bold flavor in every bite. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners or impressing guests without the stress.
Okay, so we’ve been putting our Roasted Jalapeño Cowboy Butter on pretty much everything lately – steaks, veggies, bread – but these shrimp skewers? They might be our favorite way to use it.
The whole thing comes together crazy fast. You season the shrimp with simple spices, air fry them, then brush them with that incredible smoky, garlicky, herb-packed cowboy butter while they’re still hot. The butter melts into every crevice and makes this flavor that tastes way fancier than the 20 minutes of effort it actually takes.
Why You’ll Love These Shrimp Skewers
- Ready in under 25 minutes. From start to finish, including prep, you’re looking at 23 minutes. That’s faster than most takeout.
- The roasted jalapeno cowboy butter makes them incredible. That smoky, garlicky, herb-packed butter takes simple shrimp and makes them taste like something from a high-end restaurant.
- No grill needed. The air fryer gives you perfectly cooked shrimp with slightly charred edges, no outdoor grilling required. Perfect for any season.
- Minimal cleanup. One bowl for seasoning, the air fryer basket, and you’re done. No grill grates to scrub.
- So versatile. Serve them as-is, over rice, with pasta, in tacos, on salads – they work with everything.
- Perfect for entertaining. These look and taste impressive but require almost no effort.
You’ll Need
How to Make Air Fryer Cowboy Butter Shrimp Skewers
- Prep shrimp: Pat shrimp completely dry, season, and thread 4–5 onto each skewer, laying them flat.
- Air fry: Cook skewers in a single layer for 5-6 minutes, flipping halfway, until pink and lightly charred.
- Finish: Brush hot shrimp with melted Roasted Jalapeño Cowboy Butter.
Helpful Tips
- Dry those shrimp really well. This is the secret to getting them golden and slightly charred instead of steamed and grey. Use paper towels and really pat them down.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Air fryers work by circulating hot air. If the shrimp are piled on top of each other, they won’t cook evenly. Cook in batches if you need to.
- Skip the skewers if you want. If your air fryer basket is small or you just don’t feel like dealing with skewers, cook the shrimp loose in a single layer. They’ll cook exactly the same, just flip them halfway through.
- Use large shrimp. The 16-20 count size is perfect. Smaller shrimp cook too fast and can easily overcook. Jumbo shrimp might need an extra minute or two.
- Melt the butter while shrimp cook. Put your cowboy butter in a small bowl and microwave it for 20-30 seconds while the shrimp are in the air fryer. You want it melted and ready to brush on immediately.
- Don’t skip the lime. That squeeze of fresh lime juice at the end brightens up all the rich, buttery flavors and makes everything taste fresher.
Recipe Variations
- Spicier version. Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix, or use extra cowboy butter with the seeds left in the jalapeños.
- Lemon herb shrimp. Swap the lime for lemon wedges and add extra fresh herbs like dill or basil to the garnish.
- Garlic butter shrimp. If you don’t have jalapeño cowboy butter, use homemade garlic herb butter.
- Cajun-style. Replace the paprika and garlic powder with 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning for a different flavor profile.
- Add vegetables. Thread bell peppers, onions, or cherry tomatoes onto the skewers with the shrimp.
What to Serve with Shrimp Skewers
Serve over rice or quinoa, tossed with pasta or orzo, stuffed into tacos or lettuce wraps, or paired with a simple salad, veggies, or grilled corn. They also work great as an appetizer with lime wedges and a dipping sauce.
Other Cooking Methods
- Grilling: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Grill the seasoned shrimp skewers for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and slightly charred. Brush with cowboy butter immediately after removing from the grill.
- Stovetop: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove from heat and toss with melted cowboy butter.
- Oven: Preheat oven to 425°F. Place seasoned shrimp skewers on a baking sheet and roast for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Brush with cowboy butter when done.
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerate: Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep any extra cowboy butter separate.
- Reheat: We don’t recommend microwaving as it makes shrimp rubbery. Instead, reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes, adding a little extra cowboy butter. Or eat them cold – they’re great on salads!
- Freezing: We don’t recommend freezing cooked shrimp as the texture changes and they can become rubbery.
- Make ahead: You can prep and season the shrimp up to 4 hours ahead. Thread them onto skewers, cover, and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature for 10 minutes before air frying.
FAQs
Yes! Just make sure to thaw them completely first. Put them in a colander under cold running water for about 5 minutes, then pat them very dry before seasoning.
Yes, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using. This prevents them from burning in the air fryer. Metal skewers don’t need soaking.
They’re overcooked. Shrimp cook really fast – usually 5-6 minutes in the air fryer. They’re done when pink and opaque. Pull them out immediately.
Cook the shrimp in batches. Don’t overcrowd the basket or they’ll steam instead of getting that nice golden color.
Cowboy Butter Recipes To Try!
Cowboy Butter
Roasted Garlic Cowboy Butter
Cowboy Butter
Cowboy Butter
Cowboy Butter
Cowboy Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans Skillet
If you make these Air Fryer Jalapeño Cowboy Butter Shrimp Skewers, come back and rate the recipe – we’d love to hear what you think! And don’t forget to check out our Roasted Jalapeño Cowboy Butter recipe if you haven’t made it yet.
Air Fryer Jalapeno Cowboy Butter Shrimp Skewers
Equipment
- Wooden or metal skewers if using wooden skewers, soak for 30 minutes
Ingredients
For the shrimp:
- 1½ pounds large shrimp, 16–20 count, peeled and deveined, tails on or off
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For finishing:
- 4-6 tablespoons roasted jalapeño cowboy butter, melted
- Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped, for garnish
- Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Prep the shrimp. Pat the shrimp completely dry with paper towels. Place them in a large bowl, add the olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper, and toss until evenly coated. Thread 4–5 seasoned shrimp onto each skewer, laying them flat so they air fry evenly.
- Preheat the air fryer. Set your air fryer to 400°F and let it preheat for 3-4 minutes.
- Air fry the shrimp. Place the shrimp skewers in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don't overcrowd – cook in batches if needed. Air fry for 5-6 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the shrimp are pink, opaque, and slightly charred on the edges.
- Add the cowboy butter. As soon as the shrimp come out of the air fryer, brush them generously with melted Roasted Jalapeño Cowboy Butter on both sides.
- Transfer to a serving platter, drizzle with any remaining cowboy butter, and garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve immediately with mango coleslaw and lime wedges for squeezing.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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These were insanely good. The shrimp were juicy and that jalapeño cowboy butter is addictive. I brushed extra on top and it disappeared in minutes.
Jason, extra butter is always the right choice! 😄 I’m so glad you loved the flavor — thank you!
Made these for a quick dinner and they were amazing. The shrimp cooked perfectly in the air fryer and that butter sauce is something I’ll be making again for sure.
Brian, that’s wonderful to hear! 🤍 The air fryer really makes them so easy. I’m glad you loved the butter sauce!
I made these for a quick weeknight dinner and they were packed with flavor. The jalapeño butter is so good I wanted to put it on everything.
Eric, that’s the right reaction! 😄 That butter really does make everything better. Thanks so much for trying it!