Bang Bang Shrimp

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If you always order the Bang Bang Shrimp at Bonefish Grill or your favorite seafood restaurant, you will love this homemade bang bang shrimp recipe. Crispy, gluten free fried shrimp are tossed with zesty bang bang sauce for a true flavor explosion.

Want to know the secret to getting extra crispy shrimp? Soak it in buttermilk for thirty minutes, coat it, then quickly fry it in a wok or skillet. And be sure to toss the fried shrimp with the bang bang shrimp sauce just before serving so it doesn’t get soggy.

Making delicious restaurant-quality Bang Bang shrimp at home is surprisingly easy and affordable, just like this Instant Pot Orange Chicken, copycat Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana, and this Benihana copycat 5 Minute Ginger Sauce.

Yep, this spicy shrimp with mayo, sriracha sweet chili sauce is an awesome appetizer to share with friends. Or, pair the shrimp with a few of your favorite sides to make it a complete meal. And you better make plenty, because everyone will be coming back for more!

Why Make This Recipe

• It’s Easy To Make –  Cook the shrimp and minutes and prepare a fresh sauce with the ingredients you have on hand. 
• It’s So Flavorful – The sweet and spicy combination of mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce and sriracha make a sauce for bang bang shrimp sauce that is creamy, sweet and interesting. 
• It’s So Crunchy – Soak the shrimp in buttermilk before coating them and fry it in a hot wok for super crispy shrimp. 

Ingredient Notes

• Shrimp: Select medium to large shrimp that have been peeled, deveined and have the tails off.
• Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar per cup of milk. 
• Oil: Select your favorite light, neutral-flavored vegetable oil for frying
• Cornstarch: Cornstarch creates a crispy coating for the shrimp and keeps this recipe gluten free. 
• Seasonings:  combine garlic powder, onion powder, salt and ground black pepper. 

For the sauce:

• Mayonnaise: Use your favorite brand of mayo, swapping in light mayo or plain Greek yogurt for a lighter sauce. 
• Sriracha: Adjust the amount of sriracha to control the spiciness of the sauce. 
• Sweet Chili Sauce: A little spicy and a little sweet, chili sauce is the secret to flavorful Bang Bang sauce. 
• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice adds a tartness to the sauce and compliments the shrimp.
• Honey: for just a touch more sweetness. You can substitute with pure maple syrup or omit it for a less sweet sauce. 

Ready to make this Bang Bang Shrimp Sauce? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…

How To Make Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Combine the shrimp with the buttermilk in a medium bowl and marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes.
2. Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep skillet or wok over medium heat until it reaches 360 degrees F / 182 degrees C.
3. Drain the buttermilk from the shrimp using a colander. Set the shrimp aside.
4. Whisk the cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Add all of the shrimp and toss until the shrimp is coated on all sides.
5. Working in batches, fry several shrimp for 1-2 minutes or until golden on both sides.
6. Drain them on a cooling rack over a large baking pan or on a plate fitted with a paper towel to catch the extra grease.
7. Mix all the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl.
8. Just before serving, toss the shrimp with one cup of the bang bang sauce. Add additional sauce as needed. 
9. To serve, arrange the shrimp on top of butter lettuce on a platter and drizzle with additional sauce.

Note: Do not overcook the shrimp. They cook quickly and will be firm and opaque. The shrimp may even curl slightly. 

Expert Tips 

• If using frozen shrimp, be sure to defrost them completely.
• Dry the shrimp well before soaking it in buttermilk. 
• Soak the shrimp in buttermilk for no longer than 30 minutes, or it will begin to break down and become mushy. 
• Use one hand for wet ingredients and one for dry ingredients when coating the shrimp.
• Don’t overcrowd the wok. The shrimp will get crispier if they don’t touch.
• Cook the shrimp in batches if necessary. 
• Don’t overcook the shrimp. 
• Let the cooked shrimp rest on a baking rack before tossing it with the sauce. 
• To prevent the shrimp from getting soggy, coat it with the sauce just before serving. 
• Serve with additional sauce on the side and garnish with chopped green onions, if desired.

Delicious Variations

• Make It Extra Spicy – Adjust the sriracha sauce to control the spice level. Add more to make the bang bang shrimp sauce extra spicy. 
• Swap the Protein – Not a fan of shrimp? Use deep fried chicken pieces instead. 

Prep And Storage

• Prep Ahead – If purchasing frozen shrimp, thaw them completely. 
• Store – Store uncoated shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Store the sauce separately if possible. If the shrimp is coated in sauce, it will still keep but will not be as crispy when reheated. 
• Freeze – You can freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months, but the shrimp tend to become soggy when reheated, so it’s not recommended. 
• Reheat – Reheat the shrimp in a 350-degree oven for 5-6 minutes or until crispy, then toss in the sauce and serve.

FAQs

More Recipes You May Like

• Grilled Shrimp Skewers.
• Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Air Fryer.
• Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi.

Serving Suggestions

• Air Fryer Chicken Fried Rice.
• Air Fryer Wontons.
• Instant Pot Teriyaki Salmon.

Thank you for reading my Bang Bang Shrimp Sauce recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog. 

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