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My air fryer calamari is soaked in buttermilk to keep it tender, coated in crushed seasoned pork rinds for a flavorful crunch, and air fried to golden perfection. It’s a great option when you’re craving the fried seafood from your favorite seaside fish shack but want something low carb or gluten free. With an air fryer, you can enjoy crispy, delicious foods without the need for deep frying.
🦑 Air Fryer Calamari Ingredients
To make air fried calamari, you only need a handful of ingredients:
- 6 ounces thawed and cleaned calamari rings (170g)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup seasoned pork panko
- Sweet chili sauce and lemon wedges (optional, for serving)
Get a printable recipe card at the end of the post!
My local supermarkets carry both large and small squid rings, and I’ve tried air frying both. My family prefers the smaller rings because they come out extra crispy, similar to fried clams, and are perfect with your favorite seafood dipping sauce.
Sometimes the squid rings are packaged with tentacles, which you can prepare the same way as the rings in this recipe.
Calamari can dry out quickly in the air fryer and become tough or rubbery. Using pork panko, or crushed pork rinds, helps keep the squid tender and flavorful. I like using Pork King seasoned pork rind “breadcrumbs” in this recipe.
Since air fryer models and sizes can vary, cooking times may differ. If this is your first time making the recipe, be sure to keep a close eye on the food to prevent overcooking.
➕ How to Air Fry Calamari
Clean and cut the squid into rings if they are in tubes. Soak the raw squid rings in buttermilk for 30 minutes. The buttermilk will tenderize the calamari and keep it from getting tough and overly chewy.
Drain the calamari and pat it dry. Whisk the egg in one bowl and put the seasoned pork panko in a second bowl.
Dip each calamari ring in the egg and then in the pork panko. Coat each ring completely. (I do several at a time to save time.) Place the rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket for even cooking.
Air fry for 5-6 minutes at 400F (200C). Let the squid rings cool for a few minutes to firm up more, then serve with lemon wedges and your favorite dipping sauce.
I don’t recommend trying to reheat air fryer fried calamari. Instead, scale the recipe down as needed to only make what you’ll eat.
Calamari Dipping Sauce
I like to serve calamari with sweet chili sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. You could also serve your calamari with this seafood sauce or one of these other ideas:
• Cocktail sauce
• Lemon garlic aioli
• Tartar sauce
• Marinara sauce
Watch How to Make It!
Air Fryer Calamari with Pork Rinds Recipe
Ingredients
For the calamari:
- 6 ounces calamari rings, thawed and cleaned (170 grams)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup seasoned pork panko
- sweet chili sauce and lemon wedges (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Clean and cut the squid into rings if they are in tubes. Soak the raw squid rings in buttermilk for 30 minutes. The buttermilk will tenderize the calamari.
- Drain the calamari and pat it dry. Whisk the egg in one bowl and put the seasoned pork panko in a second bowl.
- Dip each calamari ring in the egg and then in the pork panko. Coat each ring completely. (I do several at a time to save time.) Place the rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket for even cooking.
- Air fry for 5-6 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Let the squid rings cool for a few minutes to firm up more, then serve with lemon wedges and sweet chili sauce for dipping.
Equipment
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). If you’re looking for an easy way to get your two servings of seafood each week, don’t forget about calamari. Squid rings are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including riboflavin, vitamin B12, phosphorus, and zinc. Thanks to their mild flavor and strong nutritional profile, they’re one of my top seafood picks. Squid are also a protein-rich choice, with 4 ounces of plain calamari providing 13 grams of protein for only 45 calories. The pork rinds in this recipe do add some extra fat and calories, but the result is a satisfying and flavorful appetizer. The nutrition information for this recipe is based on one serving and does not include the buttermilk, which is drained off, or any dipping sauce.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
👨🍳 Other Air Fryer Seafood Recipes
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
I’ve only had a calamari a couple of times and they were always rubbery and hard to eat. Cooking them in an air fryer sounds like a great way to avoid that rubbery texture. I don’t own an air fryer yet, but it’s been something I have been eyeing for a while. There seem to be so many great looking recipes out there using one.
Oh, I completely love my air fryer and so any recommendation I make to get one is completely biased! Haha Seriously, a lot of people seem to love air frying, so I hope you get a chance to join in on the fun! 🙂 Thanks so much for dropping in!
So, Summer, would you believe this? Just two days ago – two days! – I asked a friend if it’d be possible to prepare battered fish in a air fryer. She thought it might be, but she wasn’t really sure. In other words, I was no closer to an answer than when I asked the question.
Then along came your post. A coincidence, or a blogging miracle?
Honestly, I think most reluctance to deep-fry is due to all the oil involved. As luck has it, you show us a way around that particular obstacle. Thanks for the example, and for expanding my culinary universe!
Yes, you can absolutely air fry battered fish! I’d like to try some catfish nuggets soon. Aside from the calamari, I’ve made some really terrific air fried chicken wings- will post soon!
I just got an air fryer and was looking for a way to break it in. Great comprehensive meal idea! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you so much! I am kind of obsessed with my air fryer right now, so there will definitely be more air fryer recipes here in the future 🙂