Bang Bang shrimp is a crispy shrimp dish smothered in a sweet, creamy sauce. It’s a copycat recipe of Bonefish Grill’s Bang Bang shrimp. It’s an easy appetizer that is always a hit!
Want an appetizer recipe that will disappear in seconds, leave you wishing you had made triples, and bring heaps of compliments your way? I thought you might.
Let’s talk bang bang shrimp. This is one of those recipes I’ve been making for years—and every single time, it disappears fast. The shrimp get tossed in cornstarch and pan-fried until seriously crispy, then coated in a sweet, creamy sauce with just the right amount of heat. I first shared this recipe way back in 2013, and it’s been a fan favorite ever since. Whenever I make it, people always ask for the recipe.
These shrimp hit all the right notes: crispy on the outside, tender inside, and coated in a sauce that’s sweet, a little spicy, and totally irresistible. They’re easy to make, impressive to serve, and guaranteed to earn rave reviews.
Be sure to try my bang bang salmon next!
My hack to make this recipe a little better for you
Most bang bang shrimp recipes use Thai sweet chili sauce, which is often loaded with high-fructose corn syrup and unpronounceable ingredients. However, sweet chili sauce is essentially a sweet sauce with a hint of vinegar and a touch of spice. So I make my own bang bang sauce by using honey, vinegar, and sriracha. It’s so easy, and the results are (pardon the pun) bang on.
Also, they’re usually breaded and deep-fried. Instead, I use a small amount of starch to make them crispy, then pan-fry them in avocado oil. It’s the same tricks I use when I make my bang bang cauliflower , another great bang bang recipe!
Tips for making the best bang bang shrimp
- If using frozen shrimp, make sure they are completely thawed before coating them in starch.
- Shrimp overcook very easily. Note the time that they go into the pan and cook them for no more than 2 minutes per side.
- Pan fry them immediately before serving. They are best eaten hot and crispy.
- We LOVE them served with some toasted walnuts and chives or green onions over the top.
Make bang bang shrimp for a party
Bang bang shrimp are best eaten right after you toss them in the sauce. If you let them sit for a while, the crispness will turn to sogginess, and there will be unhappy faces all around. Here’s a little hack for making these more party-friendly:
Pan-fry the shrimp, then serve them on a paper-towel-lined plate with the bang bang sauce on the side. The shrimp will stay crispy much longer, and the sauce (which can be made 2 days in advance) makes a great dip.
Bang Bang Shrimp (lightened-up recipe with all the flavor!)
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Ingredients
- ▢ 1 ½ lbs. shrimp (about 30)
- ▢ ½ cup cornstarch starch
- ▢ 1 teaspoon each: salt and pepper
- ▢ ⅔ cup oil (see notes)
- ▢ Optional: chopped toasted walnuts and minced chives (to serve)
Bang Bang Sauce
- ▢ ½ cup mayonnaise (Can sub light mayo)
- ▢ ¼ cup liquid honey
- ▢ 2 teaspoons sriracha
- ▢ 1 teaspoon rice vinegar (can sub white vinegar)
Instructions
- Whisk the bang bang sauce ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl. ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup liquid honey, 2 teaspoons sriracha, 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- Remove the shell and tails (if needed) from the shrimp. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the tapioca starch with the salt and pepper. Add the shrimp to the bowl and toss so that they are all well coated. 1 ½ lbs. shrimp, ½ cup cornstarch starch, 1 teaspoon each: salt and pepper
- Heat the oil in a large, high-sided pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add half the shrimp. Cook for 2 minutes then turn the shrimp over and cook for 2 minutes on the other side. Remove the shrimp from the pan and put them on paper towel. Repeat with the remaining shrimp. ⅔ cup oil
- Toss the cooked shrimp in the sauce and serve immediately with some chopped walnuts and chives over the top. Optional: chopped toasted walnuts and minced chives
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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Favorite appetizer recipes
If you love shrimp as much as we do, make sure to check out all of my shrimp recipes !
Baked Coconut Shrimp with Mango Dipping Sauce
Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp – Made in just 15 minutes!
Bacon Guacamole with Roasted Garlic and Tomatoes
Sesame Pineapple Sausage Bites
Bang Bang Shrimp (lightened-up recipe with all the flavor!)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. shrimp , about 30
- ½ cup cornstarch starch
- 1 teaspoon each: salt and pepper
- ⅔ cup oil , see notes
- Optional: chopped toasted walnuts and minced chives , to serve
Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise , Can sub light mayo
- ¼ cup liquid honey
- 2 teaspoons sriracha
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar , can sub white vinegar
Instructions
- Whisk the bang bang sauce ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl. ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup liquid honey, 2 teaspoons sriracha, 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- Remove the shell and tails (if needed) from the shrimp. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the tapioca starch with the salt and pepper. Add the shrimp to the bowl and toss so that they are all well coated. 1 ½ lbs. shrimp, ½ cup cornstarch starch, 1 teaspoon each: salt and pepper
- Heat the oil in a large, high-sided pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add half the shrimp. Cook for 2 minutes then turn the shrimp over and cook for 2 minutes on the other side. Remove the shrimp from the pan and put them on paper towel. Repeat with the remaining shrimp. ⅔ cup oil
- Toss the cooked shrimp in the sauce and serve immediately with some chopped walnuts and chives over the top. Optional: chopped toasted walnuts and minced chives
