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Bang Bang Shrimp

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close up overhead shot of a plate of Bang Bang Shrimp
Make your own homemade bang bang shrimp with this recipe that lets you flavor the spicy creamy sauce just the way you love it to go with the crispy shrimp.
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Table of Contents
  1. Bang Bang Shrimp Ingredients
  2. How To Make A Buttermilk Substitute
  3. Substitutions And Additions
  4. How To Make This Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe
  5. How To Serve
  6. Storing Bang Bang Shrimp
  7. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. More Recipes You’ll Love
  9. JUMP TO RECIPE
  10. Even More Easy Recipes

Bang bang shrimp is one of those taste-filled recipes that appears on the menu at places like the Cheesecake Factory and Bonefish Grill. The great thing about this recipe is that you can easily make it at home as long as you have the right spicy sauce to add to those crispy shrimp to give it that bang bang flavor.

close up shot of a bowl of Bang Bang Shrimp

Bang Bang Shrimp Ingredients

Bang Bang Shrimp raw ingredients that are labeled
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PRO TIP:

You can use frozen shrimp as it is easy to have on hand in your freezer. To thaw the shrimp quickly, place them in a bowl of cold water for about 20 minutes.

Bang Bang shrimp is a classic Asian-inspired dish that packs a punch of flavor and crunch.

A restaurant copycat recipe, one of the best parts about making it at home is that you can adjust the level of heat to your preference.

For our bang bang shrimp recipe, you’ll need:


For The Bang Bang Sauce:

  • ½ cup of mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup of Thai sweet chili sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of chili garlic sauce

For The Batter:

  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 cup of buttermilk
  • ½ cup of all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup of panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon of onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon of paprika

For Frying:

  • 1 pound of medium uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • vegetable oil

How To Make A Buttermilk Substitute

You can make your own buttermilk using whole or 2% milk and lemon juice or distilled vinegar. For every 1 cup of milk, stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.

Substitutions And Additions

MAYO: you can switch the mayo for Greek yogurt if you prefer, the idea is to have something creamy to offset the tanginess of the other sauces.

CHILI GARLIC SAUCE: for a spicier version, swap this for some Sriracha sauce or another hot sauce – if you are brave enough!

How To Make This Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe

To make this delicious recipe, tender shrimp get coated in a batter, fried until crispy, then tossed in the signature sweet and tangy bang bang sauce. It’s one of those dishes that’s hard to resist.

STEP ONE: In a small bowl, add mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, and chili garlic sauce. Whisk to combine. Set aside.

PRO TIP:

Using a new jar of room temperature, unopened mayonnaise may make a noticeable positive difference in the flavor. 

mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, and chili garlic sauce whisked in a bowl

STEP TWO: In a separate medium mixing bowl, add the egg and buttermilk. Whisk to combine.

egg and buttermilk whisked in a bowl

STEP THREE: In another separate mixing bowl, combine flour, panko bread crumbs, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. Whisk to combine.

flour, breadcrumbs, and seasonings combined in a bowl

STEP FOUR: To bread the shrimp, dip each shrimp in the flour mixture, then dip the shrimp in the egg mixture, last, you’ll dip the shrimp back in the flour mixture. Repeat for all shrimp.

shrimp dipped into the egg mixture then into the flour mixture

STEP FIVE: Place the coated shrimp on a plate and place them in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes. This will help the breading set and stick to the shrimp as they are frying.

STEP SIX: In a deep-sided skillet, add vegetable oil until it covers around two inches of the bottom of the pan, then heat on medium heat until the temperature of the oil reaches 350°F.

STEP SEVEN: When the oil is ready, carefully place shrimp in the hot oil and fry shrimp for about 3 minutes total, turning halfway through the cooking process.

Remove the golden brown shrimp from the hot oil and place it on a plate lined with paper towels.

shrimp being fried in a skillet of hot oil

STEP EIGHT: When all of the shrimp are done cooking, place them in a large mixing bowl. Spoon ¼ cup of the sauce over the shrimp and toss to coat. Serve the remaining sauce with the shrimp.

How To Serve

Bang bang shrimp can be an appetizer, a starter, or even a main dish when served with pasta, noodles, fried rice, or dinner rolls.

This popular appetizer would also be delicious to serve to guests at a party. They would love this spicy and flavorful dish served alongside the dipping sauce.

From salad and coleslaw to potato sides and fried rice, there’s no limit to the delicious side dishes that can be paired with bang bang shrimp.

While you are at it, whip up our bang bang chicken, too, for a different spin with the same tasty flavor.

If you have the urge to try more delicious shrimp dishes after making this recipe, why not try some simple spicy garlic shrimp? Or you could create something for a main meal with chicken and shrimp tacos.

Storing Bang Bang Shrimp

IN THE FRIDGE: If you have made more fried shrimp than you need to serve, the best way to store it is without the sauce on. Add the cooked shrimp to an airtight container once they are cooled, and store the sauce in another container for 3 to 4 days.

REHEATING: To reheat this saucy shrimp, pop it in the oven at 375°F for 10 minutes, turning halfway through, then drizzle with the sauce.

IN THE FREEZER: Bang bang shrimp can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to three months.

close up shot of a bowl of Bang Bang Shrimp

Bang bang shrimp is one of those copycat recipes you just have to try making at home. Combining crispy fried shrimp with a sweet-spicy sauce, this recipe will have everyone asking for seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of hot oil is best for deep frying?

Fry only with oils that have a high smoking point. The smoking point is the temperature it takes for the oil to start to break down and smoke.

Once it smokes, it’s not good for frying. Good oils to use are peanut oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, corn oil, or vegetable oil. Olive oil, on the other hand, is not a good oil to fry in.

Can I freeze the leftovers of this bang bang shrimp?

This copycat recipe can be frozen in an airtight container for up to three months.

Is bang bang shrimp spicy?

Bang bang shrimp is coated in a spicy sauce, but you can adjust the spice level by adding less hot sauce when adding your ingredients to make the sauce.

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close up overhead shot of a plate of Bang Bang Shrimp

Bang Bang Shrimp

5 from 6 votes
Make your own homemade bang bang shrimp with this recipe that lets you flavor the spicy creamy sauce just the way you love it to go with the crispy shrimp.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

Sauce

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce

Egg Mixture

  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 cup buttermilk

Breading Mixture

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour     
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika

Frying

  • 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • vegetable oil

Instructions
 

  • In a small mixing bowl, add mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, and chili garlic sauce. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
  • In a separate medium mixing bowl, add egg and buttermilk. Whisk to combine.
  • In another separate mixing bowl combine flour, panko bread crumbs, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. Whisk to combine.
  • Dip each shrimp in the flour mixture, then dip the shrimp in the egg mixture, last you’ll dip the shrimp back in the flour mixture. Repeat for all shrimp.
  • Place the coated shrimp on a plate and place them in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes. This will help the breading stick to the shrimp as they are frying.
  • In a skillet with deep sides add vegetable oil so it is 2 inches deep. Heat over medium heat until the oil is 350°F.
  • When the oil is ready, carefully place shrimp in the hot oil and fry for about 3 minutes total, turning halfway through the cooking process. Remove golden brown shrimp from the hot oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
  • When all of the shrimp is done cooking, place them in a large mixing bowl. Spoon ¼ cup of sauce over the shrimp, and toss to coat. Serve the remaining sauce with the shrimp.

Video

Notes

  • You can use frozen shrimp as it is easy to have on hand in your freezer. To thaw the shrimp quickly, place them in a bowl of cold water for about 20 minutes.
  • Using a new jar of room temperature, unopened mayonnaise may make a noticeable positive difference in the flavor. 
  • You can make your own buttermilk using whole or 2% milk and lemon juice or distilled vinegar. For every 1 cup of milk, stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.

Nutrition

Calories: 485kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 345mg | Sodium: 2143mg | Potassium: 218mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 318IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 253mg | Iron: 4mg
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This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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  1. Laurie says

    5 stars
    I made this for the first time with jumbo shrimp.
    I had to make more of the flour bread crumbs and the sauce but it came out perfect!
    So my first try was not as pretty as the picture however it was fabulous in flavor. I’ll work on presentation!
    Ps I didn’t have any buttermilk so I substituted sour cream and thin it out as suggested on the internet.
    I would make it again in a heartbeat!

  2. Melissa says

    5 stars
    I’ve made this before, and I want to make it tonight for my bf for Valentines Day, but I’m trying to decide how to add it to pasta- should I make double the sauce? Thanks!

  3. Shawn says

    5 stars
    I had to adjust this recipe due to a time crunch and I ended up just using the spice mixture on peeled and deveined shrimp. Then I sautéed it in a cast iron pan with a bit of olive oil and butter. I served it with a baked potato and crusty Italian bread so my Italian husband could soak up all that yummy sauce. It was delicious and requested as a regular meal!

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