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)
Tina says
Loved this recipe and the air fryer is one of my favorite gadgets.
Deanna says
YUM!!! I just got an air fryer and I am on the hunt for recipes!! This is the only way I will make my shrimp.
Ginny says
You've got it all going on here. Don't you just love the air fryer?
Emily says
I love breaded shrimp! Air frying is the way to go. And this sauce was divine.
Julia says
I love shrimp! This was so crispy.
Rose says
This recipe was delicious and the dipping sauce too.
Pat says
love shrimps! but what i like most is the sauce! i like anything spicy.
corinne & kirsty says
OMG! This looks so good! I love shrimps and I love fried food so it's like this was made for me! My bf would love this too! Defo going to try this recipe out!
Michael says
I love panko crumbs never thought to try w/shrimp. It gives them a nice crunch.
Kourtney says
Wow, YUM!!
Aishwarya Shenolikar says
This was so great! Will be making it again.
Louise says
So much better than getting takeout.
Ashley says
So much better than Bonefish Bang Bang shrimp which are delicious!
Lois says
I love shrimp, and didn't realize making them is so easy.
Reesa Lewandowski says
So good!
Alecia says
I love crispy shrimp and getting it without the stomach ache I get from deep fried food is be a huge win for me.
David Elliott says
I will be making this again and again.
Angela Milnes says
Air frying is such a great tool. I can't believe how fast my shrimp cooked.
Rosey says
I certainly love the way it turned out. It's just perfect.
Nina says
I loved the detailed instructions. Made it so easy.
Sơn Nguyen says
I will be making this every weekend.
Nicole Aguilar says
Wow! I love the bang bang shrimp at bonefish grill and this hit the spot.
Rebecca Swenor says
My family loved it No leftovers.
Tee says
I was hesitant to try, but so glad I did.
Bryan says
@Tee, Do not be afraid to try new things in your air fryer! There are so many fantastic recipes online now! Of course, not everything will be to your liking, but definitely try variations. I've had ours since Christmas and what a life changer it is.
Kitty says
So good I couldn't stop eating it!
Amila says
The air fryer really makes cooking easier.
David Air Fryer says
panko breaded fried with the help of air fryer is the best idea and it is very good I will also try this at my home because I have also a hot air fryer
wendy browne says
My hub just got me an air fryer for Xmas and I love your recipes. I'm on a keto diet so it was great to see low carb as well here.
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I plan to have more low-carb recipes on the blog soon. I hope you enjoy!
Gerald says
FYI I printed recipe for bang bang shrimp and it lists cook time as 20 minutes..obviously an error as the directions list 8 to 10 minutes.
Will try recipe this weekend, looks good.
staysnatched says
Hi there! I cook the shrimp in batches because they wouldn’t fit in the Air Fryer at once. The time noted is total cook time. Thanks!
Patti Kells says
Just a little tip. Mix a very small amount of the oil of your choice (olive, canola, or flavored oil) , into the breading of your choice (panko, bread or cracker crumbs, cornmeal, etc). About 1tsp oil to 1/4 cup breading. It helps it stick to the shrimp and get super crispy. An alternative is to spray your breading with canola or olive oil spray before dipping your shrimp into it
staysnatched says
Thanks for this tip!
pat marino says
made the air fryer bang bang shrimp. GREAT will try more of your recipes soon.
thank you.
staysnatched says
Awesome! One of my favorites! Be sure to let me know what you think of the others. 🙂
Laura says
OMG, I just love shrimps!! I have to try this at my air fryer right away!! Thank you, Brandi, it looks delicious!!
jenny says
yummm! This sounds delicious!
Melissa Wright says
Loved the recipe! Will definitely make again. Thanks for the tip with the shrimp they were perfect
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope you try more recipes!
Donna says
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!
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I hope you try more of my air fryer recipes!
Daniel says
Can you do this with frozen pre-cooked shrimp?
staysnatched says
Raw shrimp will taste much better. If you use frozen defrost it first.
Michel Barwell says
Shrimp were fine but the dipping sauce was a keeper. How long can I keep it
Fern says
I made this for dinner today. I used shrimp I had in the freezer along with some longastino tails. It was tailess shrimp. Made as directed but did not make the sauce as I had some comeback sauce in the fridg alsomdid not have yogurt.. they were very tasty. Served it along with fries and a fresh made avacado/cucumber salad. Very tasty. Would make it again. Thank you for sharing.
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Shae says
Thank you, thank you for putting up this delicious recipe!!! My family loved it! I put a thicker layer of the breading on, put it on tacos with cabbage and diced jalapenos and it was super tasty! Two tacos and we are all full and happy, again thank you so much!
staysnatched says
YUM! That sounds absolutely delicious! I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Joyce D. Engle says
Thank You So Much for this awesome sharing! Excited to try this Tonight
staysnatched says
Let me know what you think!
Best says
Awesome post. This post is very helpful for me. It has Lots of information in AIR FRYER BANG BANG PANKO BREADED FRIED SHRIMP. Thanks for sharing.
Mom oh says
Very good! First day with our new fryer and this was a hit! Thank you!
staysnatched says
Yay! Glad you enjoyed it. Happy air frying!
Laura says
Such a quick & easy recipe! This was my first time cooking raw shrimp and using my air fryer. I didn’t make the sauce, due to lack of ingredients, but the shrimp was good enough without it.
staysnatched says
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!
Corinne Frońswa says
We loved it so much! My four kids made it all by themselves and did great! It was quick and easy. Thank you!
staysnatched says
I love a kid friendly recipe!
mary singleton says
Thank you for sharing these wonderful recipes, Brandi. I am using my air fryer most days now - thanks to you. LOVED this shrimp recipe.. I"m going to try your fried chicken tenders tonight. Happy Summer!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Brand B says
I love these!! Have made for lunch a least once a week for the last few weeks!
staysnatched says
That's so good to hear!
Brooke says
These were so good and so was the sauce! They were restaurant quality!
staysnatched says
Yay! Glad you enjoyed it!
Matthew Plodinec says
Prepare to have your mind blown. Serve this with grits for kicked up version of shrimp and grits. Make the shrimp. Male the sauce. Make some cheese grits. Pour grits in a bowl and top with an asterisk of the sauce. At each point put a shrimp. For some variety add a few slices of chorizo. Put shrimp/chorizo in the middle and garnish with green onions.
staysnatched says
I love all of these additions!
Kelly Chelten says
Planning on making this tonight! Question, can you use something other than Greek yogurt for the dipping sauce? Like mayo or sour cream? My husband isn’t a fan of yogurt or Greek yogurt.
staysnatched says
Greek yogurt is a healthier substitute for sour cream. You can use sour cream if you wish.
Helen says
This was the first recipe I tried in my new air fryer. So easy and tasty. The sauce is wonderful too. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
staysnatched says
Yay! You're welcome. This is awesome for a first time recipe.