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Bang Bang Shrimp is a spicy dish made with medium shrimp tossed in cornstarch and fried, then combined with sweet chili sauce. This trendy meal can be served in tacos or on pasta topped with sliced green onions.

Bang Bang Shrimp

This bang bang shrimp recipe is incredibly easy to make from scratch without the need to buy anything special. The ingredients are simple but the dish is far from simple in taste. The cooked shrimp taste excellent served in a crunchy iceberg lettuce wrap or warm flour tortilla.

Gather ingredients.

Make the sauce by adding the mayonnaise, old bay seasoning, Thai sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha to a small bowl.

Mix and set aside.

Add the shrimp and buttermilk into a medium-sized bowl and mix until the shrimp is fully coated.

In a large bowl add the cornstarch.

Place the shrimp into the cornstarch until fully coated.

In a Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet (deep pan with a heavy bottom) add the avocado oil.

Heat to 375 degrees on medium heat.

Use tongs by placing one shrimp in the oil to test for bubbles.

Place the shrimp in one at a time and fry for 1-2 minutes on each side.

Take the fried shrimp out of the pan and place them on a drying rack.

Once all the shrimp is cooked immediately add the shrimp to a bowl with ¾ of the sauce.

Mix until fully incorporated.

Use the remainder of the sauce to drizzle over the shrimp before serving.

Top with the green onion.

Serve immediately.

 

Tips and Variations for bang bang shrimp 

 This tasty shrimp recipe is easy to change to fit your tastes and preferences. Here are some delicious options that will make this the best bang bang shrimp you’ve ever tasted. 

• This shrimp is great paired with pasta, tacos, on skewers, with rice and vegetables, or as an appetizer.
• Use Greek yogurt for a healthier version in place of mayonnaise to make the bang bang sauce. 
• Add more Sriracha if you want the sauce to be spicier. 
• Canola oil is best for frying, but you can use avocado oil for a healthier version. Avocado oil also has the added benefit of a higher smoke point that can go up to 520 degrees Fahrenheit. 
• Add salt and pepper to the cornstarch for additional seasoning above and beyond the sweet chili sauce.
• Cornstarch makes the shrimp crispy, but you can use flour or panko breadcrumbs if you’d like instead. 

Did you know you can also prepare shrimp in an Air Fryer? Air Fryer Shrimp is one of the fastest and most delicious meals I’ve made in such a long time! From the fridge to the plate in about 30 minutes.

How to Serve 

Serve bang bang shrimp as an appetizer with other yummy dishes like ham and cheese crescent rolls, cajun bacon wrapped sausages, chicken pot pie crescent rolls, or spinach artichoke crescent rolls.  

How to Store  

If you have leftover shrimp, you can keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. 

If you served the shrimp in tacos, be sure to store the ingredients separately so they don’t become mushy while sitting in the fridge. 

To reheat the shrimp, gently microwave them until they are just heated through. It’s easy to continue cooking shrimp and they would become rubbery and inedible. 

Another option is to reheat them in the air fryer which will get the outside crispy once more as well. 

FAQs 

What is bang bang sauce made of? 

Bang bang sauce is made with mayonnaise, sweet Thai chili sauce, and Sriracha sauce. This spicy dressing is then tossed with the shrimp to make a delicious dish. 

What’s the difference between boom boom shrimp and bang bang shrimp? 

Boom boom sauce is tangy with a vinegar base while bang bang sauce is creamy and sweet. 

Is bang bang shrimp fried or baked? 

This shrimp is soaked in buttermilk, coated in cornstarch, and then fried in oil until just cooked through. However, you could bake or saute them if you prefer.