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This easy Bang Bang Shrimp is out of this world delicious! Lightly breaded and fried shrimp are served with a sweet, spicy Asian-inspired sauce with a flavorful kick. You’ll love these crispy shrimp as an appetizer or simple dinner idea.
If you enjoy takeout restaurant-style shrimp recipes as much as we do, check out my firecracker shrimp, which packs a sweet and spicy punch, or camarones al ajillo, a garlicky and savory Spanish classic.
This Bang Bang Shrimp recipe makes perfect crispy fried shrimp tossed in a creamy, sweet, and spicy sauce. Inspired by the popular restaurant dish, it’s easy to make at home and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re serving it as an appetizer or main course, these shrimp will have everyone coming back for more!
Why I Love My Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe
- Flavorful. Certain dishes are just, well, special. The Bonefish Grill’s bang bang shrimp is one of them. Think of them as the buffalo wings of seafood: lightly crispy, deliciously spicy, and super-snackable.
- Flexible. Bang Bang Shrimp make a great appetizer! But I also like to make a double batch, paired with fresh fruit and coconut rice, for a special lunch or festive dinner.
What Is Bang Bang Shrimp?
Bang Bang Shrimp is an Asian-fusion dish that is similar to buffalo chicken. Shrimp are lightly breaded, fried, and then topped with a creamy, sweet, and spicy sauce. The sauce is the “secret ingredient” that makes these shrimp in demand.
But Bang Bang Shrimp is really simple to make at home, using easy-to-find ingredients! My version also uses cornstarch, rather than flour or breadcrumbs, for the breading mixture. This gives a light tempura-style texture to the shrimp, which pairs perfectly with the spicy sauce!
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need, with notes and substitutions, to make Bang Bang Shrimp. For a printable list, please scroll down to the recipe card.
- Canola Oil: I like to use this oil for frying, but you can substitute other high-heat oils like coconut oil. Be sure to check the packaging for temperature recommendations, as some oils scorch or degrade at high temps!
- Fresh Raw Shrimp: These should be peeled and de-veined.
- Kefir or Buttermilk: Rather than egg, Bang Bang Shrimp are coated in buttermilk before frying. I also like to use kefir, a tangy yogurt-like dairy product.
- Cornstarch: For breading the shrimp. You can also use coconut flour to cut down on the carbs.
- Cayenne Pepper and Garlic Powder: These add a little oomph to the shrimp batter! You can leave out the cayenne if you’d prefer a milder dish.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Simple seasoning to enhance all the flavors.
- Mayonnaise: Needed for the creamy base of the sauce.
- Sweet Chili Sauce: This tasty condiment can usually be found in the ethnic/imported food aisle of your grocery store.
- Sriracha Sauce: Spicy and deeply flavorful, this versatile hot sauce is a key ingredient and is usually stocked near the tabasco sauces OR the stir-fry sauces in your grocery store.
- Lime Juice: Fresh is good, but bottled will work just fine as well.
How To Make Bang Bang Shrimp
- Heat the Oil: Add about 2 inches of oil (you can use vegetable oil or peanut oil) into a large, heavy skillet or saucepan. Heat the oil to about 375˚F. Use an Instant Read Thermometer to check the temperature.
- Batter the Shrimp: Combine the shrimp with the kefir or buttermilk to coat. Mix the cornstarch, cayenne, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a dish or on a plate. Shake off any excess buttermilk from the shrimp, and coat with the cornstarch mixture one by one.
- Fry the Shrimp: As you batter each shrimp, lower gently into the heated oil with a slotted spoon or spider strainer. Fry for about 1 minute on each side, until golden brown. Don’t crowd the pan, or the shrimp will not get crispy. Drain shrimp on a cookie sheet or platter lined with paper towels.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a separate bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha sauce, and lime juice. Stir well.
- Combine Shrimp and Sauce: Place shrimp on a clean platter or in a serving bowl. Top with sauce. If desired, toss gently to coat.
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 385˚F.
- Working in batches, place some of the breaded shrimp in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Lightly spray with cooking spray and cook for 10 minutes, flipping the shrimp halfway through cooking. Do not crowd the basket – cook the shrimp in a couple of batches.
Recipe Tips
- Use a wide pan rather than a deep one. While it’s definitely possible (and sometimes better) to deep-fry food in a large, deep fryer or stockpot, for this dish, I prefer to use a wide skillet or saucepan so that I can add and remove shrimp from the hot oil more easily. The sides of the pan should still be fairly high, however. The pan must comfortably hold two inches of hot oil, with extra room for adding and removing shrimp without spilling the oil.
- Remember safety. Any time you fry food, be aware that oil spills can quickly catch fire on a hot stovetop, and cannot be put out with water. An oil-based fire should always be put out safely, either by smothering it with a metal item like a cookie sheet or pot lid, or by using a fire extinguisher. If the fire is very small, it may be possible to smother it with baking soda or salt.
- Size ‘Em Up. Shrimp are sold in various sizes, from very small salad shrimp to large, juicy “king prawns” or jumbo shrimp. Smaller shrimp will cook much faster, so be aware of that as you fry.
- Skip the Prep. If peeling and deveining shrimp doesn’t sound like something you want to do, check in with your grocery store fishmonger. They often prep seafood for free or for a very minimal charge per pound.
What Goes With Bang Bang Shrimp
Bang Bang Shrimp are super tasty on their own, but if you’d like to make it more of a meal, consider whipping up some coconut lime cauliflower rice and adding a side of sesame snap peas and a fresh watermelon or citrus salad. My mango spinach salad is perfect for these shrimp.
You can also go all-out and create a triple-threat appetizer selection! Complement your Bang Bang Shrimp with a plate of prosciutto wrapped salmon skewers, mango guacamole, and some delicious Maryland-style crab cakes!
How To Store Leftovers
- Store in the fridge: Place in a plastic food storage bag, pushing out as much air as possible before sealing. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Freeze it: Put cooled leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 months.
- To reheat: First thaw shrimp in the refrigerator just until defrosted (if reheating from frozen). Then place on a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated, 375°F oven until just heated through, about 10 minutes or so.
More Shrimp Recipes
- Garlic Basil Grilled Shrimp Skewers
- Skillet Barbecue Shrimp
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
- Garlic Butter Baked Shrimp Scampi
- Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Shrimp
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Bang Bang Shrimp
Ingredients
For the Shrimp:
- vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil, for frying
- 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and de-veined, tails ON or OFF
- ½ cup kefir or buttermilk
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Bang Bang Sauce:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon lime juice, or to taste
- chopped fresh parsley, for garnish, optional
- sesame seeds, for garnish, optional
- sliced green onions, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a large frying pan or deep skillet, add the oil, coming up about 2 inches on the sides. Heat oil to 375˚F.
- In the meantime, place the shrimp in kefir or buttermilk to coat.
- Combine cornstarch, cayenne, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl or plate.
- Remove the shrimp from the liquid, shake off any excess, and coat the shrimp in the cornstarch mixture.
- Add the coated shrimp to the hot oil and fry for about 1 to 2 minutes per side or until golden brown.
- Remove shrimp to a paper towel-lined plate.
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and lime juice.
- Transfer the cooked shrimp to a serving bowl and garnish with parsley and sesame seeds.
- Serve with the sauce. You can also drizzle the sauce over the shrimp.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Simpleโฆ Easyโฆ and Deliciousโฆ. I followed the recipe. I did not have any buttermilk so I used sour cream diluted with 2% milk. I also use vegetable oil as it is what I had on hand. The shrimp batter came out as a golden color, but the taste was perfect. I seasoned the shrimp and the batter. Had to make more sauce as the sauce was so delicious. I had to dip with every bite. My children said the sauce is better than the Yum Yum sauce.
Delicious Delicious as are all the recipes I have tried from your website
Thank you so much! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! ๐
I would love to make this recipe but I canโt have dairy. Can I use almond milk instead of the buttermilk?