When I first started air frying in 2016, this bang bang shrimp was one of the recipes that made people finally take the gadget seriously. It’s quick, crunchy, and covered in that sauce everyone goes crazy for. I’ve been testing and sharing air fryer recipes for nearly a decade now, so when I say this one works, trust me, it does.
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This post was originally published in September 2017 and has since been updated.
This air fryer bang bang shrimp is every bit as crispy and flavorful as the restaurant version, just lightened up and way easier to make at home I’ve spent years testing air fryer recipes so you don’t have to guess or settle for bland. I know how to get that perfect crunch, and this one delivers every time.
What People Love About the Recipe
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I made this recipe tonight…the first one in my new air fryer. Can I just say YUM!!!!! Super easy and very tasty, especially with the spicy sauce! I’ll definitely be making this again! Thanks for the delicious recipe!
~Donna
What is Air Fried Bang Bang Shrimp?
Bang Bang Shrimp is a crispy, creamy, and slightly spicy shrimp dish made famous by Bonefish Grill. It features lightly breaded and fried shrimp tossed in a rich, tangy, and slightly sweet Bang Bang Sauce, which is typically a blend of mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha.
This dish is known for its perfect balance of crunch and creaminess, with just the right amount of heat. It’s often served as an appetizer, in tacos, or over rice for a quick and flavorful meal.
With an air fryer version, you get all the crispy goodness without deep frying, making it a lighter but equally delicious alternative!
Ingredients for Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
- Shrimp: When you’re buying shrimp, you’ll see all kinds: raw, pre-cooked, frozen, deveined, tails on, tails off, and different sizes. I always go for large, raw shrimp since this recipe is meant to be handheld, not tucked into a soup or salad. Skip the pre-cooked kind. Trust me, it’s just not the same. Pre-cooked shrimp gets cooked, frozen, and then you end up cooking it again, which usually makes it rubbery and overdone. Raw shrimp takes just a few minutes, and the flavor is way better.
- Seafood Seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning
- Paprika
- Egg
- Flour
- Breadcrumbs
- Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream
- Sriracha
- Sweet Chili Sauce
How to Make Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Season the Shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Toss them with seafood seasoning and paprika until evenly coated.
- Set Up the Breading Station: Place flour in one shallow bowl, the beaten egg in another, and breadcrumbs in a third.
- Bread the Shrimp: Dredge each shrimp in the flour, dip into the egg, then coat in breadcrumbs. Press lightly so the coating sticks.
- Air Fry Until Crispy: Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Place the shrimp in a single layer and air fry, flipping halfway, until golden brown and crisp.
- Make the Bang Bang Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt or sour cream, sriracha, and sweet chili sauce until smooth.
- Toss and Serve: Once the shrimp are done, toss them lightly in the bang bang sauce or drizzle it over the top. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.
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Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1-2 teaspoons seafood seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika I used smoked paprika.
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 egg Beaten
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- cooking oil
Bang Bang Sauce
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha
- ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer to 400 degrees.
- Season the shrimp with the spices.1 pound raw shrimp, 1-2 teaspoons seafood seasoning, 1 teaspoon paprika, salt and pepper to taste
- Place the flour, beaten egg, and panko bread crumbs in three separate bowls.1 egg, ½ cup all purpose flour, ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- Create a cooking station. Dip the shrimp in the flour, then the egg, and the panko breadcrumbs last.
- Spray the shrimp with cooking oil.cooking oil
- Add the shrimp to the Air Fryer basket. Cook for 4 minutes. Open the basket and flip the shrimp to the other side. Cook for an additional 4 minutes or until crisp.
Bang Bang Sauce
- Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly to combine.⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream, 2 tablespoons Sriracha, ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
Notes
- Find the biggest shrimp/prawns that you can! Big shrimp is a major win for this recipe.
- Bang bang shrimp is a recipe that includes crispy fried shrimp that is usually tossed in a spicy, sweet chili sauce. Instead of tossing the shrimp in the sauce, I decided to create a separate dipping sauce. This will ensure the shrimp remains crunchy for as long as possible.
- I also added plain, non-fat Greek yogurt to the dipping sauce to substitute. Greek yogurt also provides an additional boost of protein.
- If you don't have panko breadcrumbs on hand, standard breadcrumbs will work just fine.
- Use your judgment for cook time. I like for my shrimp to be extra crispy, so 8-10 minutes works for me.
Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Frequently Asked Questions
Prep the Shrimp:
Season the shrimp and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to bread.
Prep the Coating:
In one bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, and any seasonings.
In another bowl, whisk eggs or buttermilk for dredging.
In a third bowl, prep the panko breadcrumbs.
Store each separately in airtight containers or zip-top bags at room temp.
Make the Bang Bang Sauce
Whisk together mayo, sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha.
Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
When Ready to Cook
Dredge the shrimp in the coating right before air frying (don’t bread them too early, or they’ll get soggy).
Air fry and toss in sauce as usual!
Raw shrimp start gray and translucent. Fully cooked shrimp turn opaque white with a pink or orange hue. Perfectly cooked shrimp curl into a "C" shape. Overcooked shrimp tighten into an "O" shape and become rubbery. Shrimp should feel firm but springy when pressed.
You can use frozen shrimp, but thaw them first. Place shrimp in a colander under cold running water for 5-7 minutes, tossing occasionally or, thaw in the fridge overnight. Pat them completely dry with paper towels before breading to ensure they get crispy.
For raw, frozen shrimp, cook the shrimp for 10 minutes on 360 degrees. And then another 5 minutes on 400 degrees or until crisp. Add seasoning once the shrimp is no longer frozen, but before it becomes crisp.
Simply omit the panko breadcrumbs in this recipe. The cook time will remain the same.
Leftovers can be stored tightly covered and sealed for 3-4 days.
Air Fryer (Best for Crispiness): Reheat at 375 degrees for 3-4 minutes or until crisp.
Oven or Toaster Oven: Reheat at 375 degrees on a baking sheet with a wire rack (this helps keep them crispy) for 5-7 minutes or until heated through.
Stovetop (Quick & Easy): Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add shrimp and cook for 2–3 minutes, flipping once. Avoid overcrowding the pan to keep them crisp.
Microwave (Not Recommended): The shrimp will lose crispiness and turn soggy.
If you must use a microwave, reheat in 15-second intervals, but expect a softer texture.
Recipe Tips
- Find the biggest shrimp/prawns that you can! Big shrimp is a major win for this recipe.
- Bang bang shrimp is a recipe that includes crispy fried shrimp that is usually tossed in a spicy, sweet chili sauce. Instead of tossing the shrimp in the sauce, I decided to create a separate dipping sauce. This will ensure the shrimp remains crunchy for as long as possible.
- I also added plain, non-fat Greek yogurt to the dipping sauce to substitute sour cream, but sour cream works just fine in equal parts. Greek yogurt also provides an additional boost of protein.
- If you don't have panko breadcrumbs on hand, standard breadcrumbs are great.
How to Serve
Serve this as an appetizer with shredded cabbage or lettuce, over rice, in tacos, on a salad, or in a bowl.
Pair this shrimp with Air Fryer French Fries, Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes, Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken, or Air Fryer Asparagus.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Fish Sandwich
Shrimp Egg Rolls
Air Fryer Crispy Sweet Potato Fries
Shrimp Parmesan (Parmigiana)
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