20-Minute Bang Bang Shrimp Air Fryer Recipe (Video)

20-Minute Bang Bang Shrimp Air Fryer - Air fried jumbo shrimp is tossed in a crispy breading to make this easy 20-minute recipe. Finished with a homemade bang bang sauce, this is a great appetizer or main protein that’s impossible to resist! Need more fast dinner recipes? Check out our easy family dinner recipes for more quick meals the whole family will enjoy.

 

I love using my air fryer for quick recipes like spicy shrimp patties and air fryer chicken wings because it always saves me so much time. Quick, easy, and crunchy, this Bang Bang Shrimp is no different! Shrimp always cooks quickly no matter the method, so frying it in the air fryer means it’s going to be ready to eat in a flash!

This flavorful and spicy easy shrimp recipe is crisped up perfectly before being covered in a creamy homemade bang bang sauce. Each bite has plenty of crunch and just enough spice to give it a much-needed kick. Serve it as a fun appetizer on game day or as a main dish with a Quinoa Salad, Avocado Side Salador Easy Fried Rice.

Jump to:

• What is Bang Bang Shrimp?
•  
• Bang Bang Shrimp Ingredients
• How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp in the Air Fryer?
• Serving Suggestions
• More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
• Did you try this recipe? 
• 📖 Recipe

What is Bang Bang Shrimp?

Bang bang shrimp was made popular at the Bonefish Grill restaurant in the US. It’s a crispy fried shrimp appetizer that’s coated in a creamy and spicy sauce made from Thai chilis. Since the Thai chilis give your whole mouth a “bang” from the heat, the sauce was aptly named bang bang sauce!

 

Traditionally served as an appetizer, bang bang shrimp can also be served over rice, pasta, or even a bed of greens. This recipe is even better made at home from scratch!

Bang Bang Shrimp Ingredients

The ingredients in bang bang shrimp are fairly simple. The shrimp is coated in a panko and cornstarch breading to give it a crunch and dipped in a homemade bang bang sauce. Everything you need to make air fryer shrimp at home can easily be found at any major grocery store:

• Jumbo shrimp
• Buttermilk
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Cornstarch
• Mayonnaise
• Sriracha sauce
• Sweet chili sauce

How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp in the Air Fryer?

Step 1: Preheat your air fryer and spray a bit of cooking oil on the bottom of the basket.

Step 2: Make the sauce by whisking the mayo, sriracha, and chili sauce together until fully combined. Set aside. 

Step 3: Coat the shrimp by dredging it in cornstarch first, then buttermilk, and finish in the Panko breadcrumbs. This is easier when you work in batches.

Step 4: Place the breaded shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 5 minutes, flip, and cook for another 5 minutes.

Step 5: Remove from the air fryer, drizzle with bang bang sauce, and top with fresh parsley or cilantro.

How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp in a Skillet

Step 1: Make the bang bang sauce and coat the shrimp in breadcrumbs as instructed.

Step 2: Preheat a nonstick skillet with some oil on medium/high heat. 

Step 3: When the oil is hot, cook the coated shrimp in the skillet for a few minutes on each side. Plate the cooked shrimp and add a drizzle of the bang bang sauce on top.

Serving Suggestions

My bang bang shrimp air fryer recipe is the perfect party or game day snack. Serve a batch next to more fun party snacks like Air Fryer French Fries and Spinach Artichoke Dip with veggies. You could even replace the shrimp and make this recipe with bang bang chicken for a more hearty appetizer.

Make it a main dish and use the bang bang shrimp in Homemade Shrimp Tempura Roll for a fun and crunchy twist or add it as a topping on Shrimp Avocado Salad with quinoa.

For another quick dinner that’s big on flavor, try our crispy Smash Tacos — ready in just 20 minutes.

More Air Fryer Recipes to Try

If you love making this easy shrimp recipe in your air fryer, you’ll want to give these extra crunchy air fryer recipes a try as well:

• Spicy Shrimp Patties
• Lobster Tails with Garlic Butter
• Chicken Wings with Garlic Marinade
• Whole Chicken Recipe

Or keep things simple with this easy Honey Garlic Salmon — a perfect sheet pan dinner for busy nights.

📖 Recipe

Have a wonderful day!