Searching for a tasty and easy-to-make seafood appetizer? Frozen calamari in the air fryer have to be among the favorites!
Ready in minutes and breaded to perfection, air fryer frozen calamari rings are crispy, tender, and perfectly dippable!
Recipe Tips
Before you make frozen calamari rings in the air fryer, have a read through these recipe tips so that you know what to expect:
- Our calamari rings were breaded – if you have unbreaded calamari rings, you total cooking time might vary slightly.
- There’s no need to defrost the frozen calamari rings first. You can simply add them to the preheated air fryer from frozen.
- You don’t need to spray the calamari rings with any extra oil – typically the breading already contains some oil.
- Make sure to fully cook the calamari rings before taking them out of the air fryer. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
We use this air fryer for our recipes and it has been great.
Step by Step Instructions
If you are wondering how to cook frozen calamari in the air fryer, you can follow the recipe process photos in this section.
In case you just want the air fryer recipe for frozen calamari rings without visuals, skip to the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
First, preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the air fryer is hot, add the frozen calamari rings in one even layer.
You don’t want any overlap, so just add however many calamari rings you can fit in one layer.
Cook the frozen calamari rings for 8-10 minutes total until fully cooked through and crispy on the outside.
Flip the rings halfway through the cooking time. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure the calamari is cooked.
Your exact cooking time can vary by brand of frozen calamari and your air fryer.
When done, remove the calamari from the air fryer and serve them with your preferred dipping sauce (e.g. ketchup or chipotle mayo). Enjoy!
Storage Tips
Air-fried frozen calamari rings taste best when they are hot and crispy.
The longer they sit out and cool, the softer they become and the more the breading will lose its crispiness.
If you do end up having leftovers, you can store them in a sealed container in the fridge. Make sure to eat them within 2-3 days.
Don’t expect the calamari rings to be too crispy anymore, but reheating them in the air fryer can help a bit.
Related Recipes
If you are searching for more great air fryer seafood recipes, have a look at these other creations!
- Air Fried Frozen Coconut Shrimp
- Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
- Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp (w/ Simple Spices)
- Frozen Shrimp Tempura in the Air Fryer
- Frozen Popcorn Shrimp in Air Fryer
Air Fryer Frozen Calamari
Ingredients
- 8-12 frozen calamari rings, breaded
- your favorite dipping sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once the air fryer is hot, add the frozen calamari rings into the air fryer tray in one even layer. You don’t want any overlap, so just add however many calamari rings you can fit in one layer.
- Cook the frozen calamari rings for 8-10 minutes total until fully cooked through and crispy on the outside. Flip the rings halfway through the cooking time. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure the calamari is cooked. Your exact cooking time can vary by brand of frozen calamari and your air fryer.
- When done, remove the calamari from the air fryer and serve them with your preferred dipping sauce (e.g. chipotle mayo). Enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe is for breaded calamari rings. The cooking time for unbreaded calamari might vary slightly.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
