Quick & Easy Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp tossed with its beloved creamy, sweet, and spicy chili sauce is easy to make even on the busiest of weeknights. This crispy, breaded shrimp will arrive on your dinner table quicker than you can order takeout.
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe
Over the years, my favorite method of cooking seafood has been a fool-proof way of making seafood in the air fryer. Whether it’s air fryer salmon, air fryer fish nuggets, or maple-glazed salmon—delicious, and the air frying method has truly made a tasty mark in getting dinner on the table. That includes my recipe for air fryer salmon bites. Weeknight dinner ideas may be in short supply, but this recipe is still a favorite.
This Bang Bang Shrimp is one of my favorite fast and easy dinners to date. With this cucumber mint, you could easily serve it over spaghetti noodles or rice with this cucumber mint on the side.
This recipe serves two as a dinner portion, but Bang Bang Shrimp can be served as an appetizer for four if desired.
If you enjoy using shrimp in unusual ways, try my ceviche or shrimp taco salad. Both are super tasty creations and hugely popular recipes!
Why Do They Call It Bang Bang Shrimp?
Bang Bang Shrimp is also Thai—once fried, the shrimp is coated in Thai sweet chili sauce. The dose of Sriracha to the same sauce is what brings the “bang.
Here in the U.S., bang bang shrimp gained fame as a signature appetizer on the menu at Bone fish Grill restaurants. Crispy shrimp tossed in their signature creamy, spicy sauce had patrons swooning.
If you’re at all a fan of that appetizer, you’re going to love this version you can make at home in the air fryer (no need to deep fry).
Bang Bang Shrimp Ingredients
None of these ingredients are difficult to find, which is always a bonus!
- Medium-sized raw shrimp (this is the right size for bite-sized) Devein and remove tails from shrimp.
- Cornstarch—for a crispier coating that stands up to the bang bang sauce way better than flour would
- Egg white—butter for frying
- Panko—gets this shrimp that awesome texture
- Cooking spray
- Mayonnaise—full fat or low fat will do
- Sriracha—this is what makes your sauce the “bang”—more or less on the amount
- Thai sweet chili sauce—this is the only thing that gives the sauce the sweetness.
- For garnish: chopped green onions—optional
4-Ingredient Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe
With all the ingredients in place, now it’s time to get cooking. To make them in the air fryer, just follow these easy steps:
1. Prepare the Shrimp
- The first step is to dry the shrimp with paper towels. That is the crucial step for them to crisp up well in the air fryer. Once dry, place the shrimp into a bowl and pour buttermilk. Let the shrimp marinate for 10 to 15 minutes. This soaking procedure allows the coating to adhere to the seafood better and accomplishes a juicier shrimp.
2. Make the Breading
- In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Whisk everything together into a seasoned flour mixture. The cornstarch makes the crust more crisp while the paprika and garlic powder add some flavor.
3. Coat the Shrimp
- After the shrimp have soaked in the buttermilk, lift them one at a time, allowing any excess buttermilk to drip off. Dredge each shrimp in the flour mixture; be sure it’s fully coated. Press the shrimp lightly into the flour mixture for an even coating. Tap off excess flour before going to the next shrimp.
4. Preheat the air fryer.
- How to get started? Preheating ensures even cooking and crisping of the shrimp. Once the air fryer is preheating, lightly spray the golden brown and crispy, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time for air frying evenness. The shrimps should fully cook to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
5. Prepare the Bang Bang Sauce
- While the shrimp cook, prepare the sauce. In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha sauce, and honey (if using). The sweet chili sauce flavors the dish, and the sriracha gives it a nice heat. Adjust the amount of sriracha, if you like, to taste.
6. Coat the Shrimp in Sauce
- Remove the crispy golden shrimp from the air fryer and put them into a big mixing bowl. Drizzle the Bang Bang sauce and toss to coat each piece of shrimp with the creamy, spicy sauce.
7. Serve and Enjoy
- Enjoy the Bang Bang Shrimp immediately, topped with chopped green onions or cilantro, if preferred. This dish pairs gorgeously with rice, fresh salad, or enjoyed simply as a starter. The crispy shrimp combined with the creamy, spicy sauce will wow them all.
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp: Tips for the Best Bang Bang Shrimp
Here are some tips to help your homemade version of Bang Bang Shrimp come out great:
Use Fresh Shrimp
- Fresh shrimp will provide the most satisfying texture and taste. If you’re using frozen shrimp, be sure to thaw them well and pat them dry before cooking.
Don’t Overcrowd the Basket
- To ensure the shrimp get as crispy as possible, make sure they’re arranged in a single layer in the air fryer. Things can get stuck, your shrimp will not be as crispy, and the cooking will not be as even.
Spray for Extra Crispiness
- A couple of spritzes of olive oil or cooking spray on the shrimp before they go into the air fryer helps them crisp up nicely. Don’t skip this step!
Adjust the Spice Level
- The milder version of If you’d like to make a mild version of Bang Bang Shrimp, use less sriracha in the sauce. For more heat, of course, feel free to add more.
Serve Immediately
- Air fryer shrimp are best served fresh and hot. If you have to hold them, stick them on a baking sheet in a low oven (about 200 degrees Fahrenheit or 93 degrees Celsius) before serving.
Lighter Bang Bang Shrimp
Air fryer Bang Bang Shrimp is already a healthier, not deep-fried version of Bang Bang Shrimp. But if you want to lighten it up even more, here are a few things you can change:
- Replace mayonnaise with Greek yogurt: This will provide a creamy texture without all the calories and will add protein.
- Skip the breading: For a less car. by version, you can skip the coating of flour and cornstarch altogether and simply season the shrimp lightly before air frying. This still lets the shrimp get crispy but with a lighter texture.
Recipe Tips
- The air fryer used was 4.1 liters. A wide air frying basket will prevent you from getting crowding and blocking the air from circulating.
- Buy pre-deveined and tail-less shrimp to save a little bit of time. These are sold that way for a higher price.
- Leftovers with this recipe are not truly advisable. It’s not that they don’t taste good, but shrimp will be overcooked then and no longer crispy. It’s best served fresh.
- Another version of the sauce is to omit the sweet chili sauce and the Sriracha and instead use chili-garlic sauce combined with the mayonnaise, which has the heat of Sriracha and the flavor of sweet chili sauce built right in.
- I’ve used these shrimp to layer in soft flour tortillas with lettuce and tomatoes—they are amazing. Try it out for a different take on Taco Tuesday.
What is Bang Bang Shrimp & Why You Should Use an Air Fryer for It?
The air fryer is ideal for creating crispy dishes like Bang Bang Shrimp without the need for deep-frying. This technique uses less oil than traditional methods and entails cooking the shrimp quickly, keeping them tender while still getting that satisfying crunch. The air fryer also encourages even cooking, a vital element of getting a consistently textured dish.
What is Bang Bang Shrimp?
The Bang Bang Shrimp was invented by a popular restaurant chain, Bone fish Grill. You have inexcusable numbers on the children, even as a starter, crispy fried shrimp in no ill smooth, spicy sauce. Afterward, many restaurants, including the Cheesecake Factory, attempted to copycat it and add it to their menu. And, it’s also a super trending recipe on social media these days!
Although we’ll never know exactly how Bone fish prepares their bang bang shrimp, you’ll see that virtually every recipe floating around online includes some version of a homemade bang bang sauce that consists of just 3 simple ingredients: mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, and sriracha (if you like it hotter). And while some recipes deep fry the shrimp, this one is air-fried for a lighter, healthier option! Might not be the authentic stuff, but it’s tasty.
Can I make these gluten-free?
These Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are already dairy-free and very easily made gluten-free with a few swaps. First of all, you’re going to want gluten-free panko breadcrumbs, which, thankfully, are pretty ubiquitous these days—the man brand I used even has a gluten-free one! Second, you want to use your favorite gluten-free tortillas, not regular flour tortillas
How Do I Store Leftover Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos Made in the Air Fryer?
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are best eaten fresh. If you are meal prepping them, I would advise against putting on the bang bang sauce until you’re ready to eat. This will keep the shrimp from becoming soggy as it sits in the fridge. Similarly, I want to store the slaw in a separate container.
When it’s time to assemble your tacos and eat, you can reheat the shrimp in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes and then toss in the bang bang sauce…. or just enjoy them cold!
Find the full recipe below. Feel free to comment below or tag me to let me know if you gave it a try as always!
What is bang bang sauce?
Bang Bang Sauce is a creamy, tangy, and vaguely spicy sauce that has become popular in the foodie world. It’s made up of mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and a splash of sriracha, striking the perfect balance of sweetness, heat, and creaminess. This versatile sauce is known as Bang Bang because of the “bang” of flavors it brings to any dish. Whether you’re drizzling it on crispy shrimp and chicken tenders or using it as a dip, fries will be delighted how Bang Bang Sauce by taking each bite with its delicious taste. It’s wildly easy to make at home, and you need only a few pantry staples. This sauce has become ubiquitous in Asian-inspired dishes and found its way into American-style cooking, enhancing burgers, wraps, and even salads. Get Inspired With Bang Bang Sauce With such a bold flavor profile, anyone looking to liven up their meals needs to try Bang Bang Sauce.
✅Quick Tips: Read the recipe in its entirety before you start cooking. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand.
10 Minute Quick & Easy Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Bang Bang Shrimp cooked in the air fryer, then tossed in its beloved creamy, sweet, and spicy chili sauce, is quick enough for even the busiest of weeknights. This crispy, breaded shrimp will hit your dinner table before you’d be able to order takeout.
INGREDIENTS
Equipment
For the Shrimp:
For the Bang Bang Sauce:
To Serve:
INSTRUCTIONS
-
Prepare the shrimp.
The first step is to dry the shrimp with paper towels. That is the crucial step for them to crisp up well in the air fryer. Once dry, place the shrimp into a bowl and pour buttermilk. Let the shrimp marinate for 10 to 15 minutes. This soaking procedure allows the coating to adhere to the seafood better and accomplishes a juicier shrimp.
-
Make the Breading
In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Whisk everything together into a seasoned flour mixture. The cornstarch makes the crust more crisp while the paprika and garlic powder add some flavor.
-
Coat the Shrimp
After the shrimp have soaked in the buttermilk, lift them one at a time, allowing any excess buttermilk to drip off. Dredge each shrimp in the flour mixture; be sure it’s fully coated. Press the shrimp lightly into the flour mixture for an even coating. Tap off excess flour before going to the next shrimp.
-
Preheat the air fryer.
How to get started? Preheating ensures even cooking and crisping of the shrimp. Once the air fryer is preheating, lightly spray the golden brown and crispy, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time for air frying evenness. The shrimps should fully cook to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
-
Prepare the Bang Bang Sauce
While the shrimp is cooked, prepare the sauce. In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha sauce, and honey (if using). The sweet chili sauce flavors the dish, and the sriracha gives it a nice heat. Adjust the amount of sriracha, if you like, to taste.
-
Coat the Shrimp in Sauce
Remove the crispy golden shrimp from the air fryer and put them into a big mixing bowl. Drizzle the Bang Bang sauce and toss to coat each piece of shrimp with the creamy, spicy sauce.
-
Serve and Enjoy
Enjoy the Bang Bang Shrimp immediately, topped with chopped green onions or cilantro, if preferred. This dish pairs gorgeously with rice, fresh salad, or enjoyed simply as a starter. The crispy shrimp combined with the creamy, spicy sauce will wow them all.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 356kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 23g36%
- Saturated Fat 4g20%
- Trans Fat 0.1g
- Cholesterol 18mg6%
- Sodium 1011mg43%
- Potassium 226mg7%
- Total Carbohydrate 34g12%
- Dietary Fiber 1g4%
- Sugars 11g
- Protein 3g6%
- Vitamin A 159 IU
- Vitamin C 5 mg
- Calcium 76 mg
- Iron 0.3 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
- Lightly spritz the air fryer basket with neutral oil.
- After dredging the shrimp in cornstarch, place the coated shrimp in a single layer, not letting one piece touch. Do not overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches.
- A neutral oil lightly sprays each piece.
- Cook air at 400 F for 7-8 minutes, flipping the shrimp halfway through.
