The air fryer gives bang bang shrimp the perfect crispy crunchy texture without the need for frying. Combined with the creamy sweet and spicy sauce, this meal is right up there with takeout and on the table faster than delivery.
The first time I tried bang bang shrimp at Bonefish Grill, I was hooked. The sauce is the ultimate combination of sweet, creamy, spicy and savory that hooks you from the first bite. I play around with it a bunch, having made everything from baked bang bang shrimp to bang bang cauliflower and bang bang chicken skewers on the grill but never utilizing the air fryer until this recipe.
What an oversight that was! The air fryer is the absolute perfect way to mimic the original bang bang recipe you get in the restaurant with the crispy, crunchy coated exterior without the mess of frying at home. The result is what is so far my absolute favorite recreation of any bang bang variation that exists. Whether you call this bang bang, firecracker, dynamite or boom boom shrimp (all these names are pretty much the same thing depending on which chain restaurant you’re at), this is a recipe worth making.
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Highlights
- Works as a meal or appetizer. It’s great for parties with the bang bang sauce served on the side as a dip. For a main course, enjoy it in tacos, as a rice bowl or in a salad.
- Perfectly balanced flavors in the sauce.
- Air fryer makes this quick and easy.
- Just 10 minutes of prep!
Ingredients You’ll Need For Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
I tested this recipe with and without an egg wash and ultimately, the extra step of dipping the shrimp in the egg makes for a crunchier outcome. While you can skip that step, I highly recommend the using the eggs.
- Shrimp — For serving 4 people, you’ll want about a pound of shrimp. I opt for wild-caught, shelled, deveined and tails off. Tails on is fine but we all know it’s much easier to eat shrimp without them.
- Cornstarch — This is a key ingredient in getting the crave-worthy crunch to the shrimp. Tapioca starch or arrowroot powder can both be used as substitutes.
- Eggs — An egg wash helps the panko coating stick to the shrimp.
- Panko breadcrumbs — If you want crunchy, panko is the way to go. Use gluten-free panko if needed, or as noted in the recipe card below, crushed rice crackers make a great GF substitute as well.
- Seasonings — A combination of salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder is combined with the breadcrumbs to season the shrimp.
The bang bang sauce consists of the following:
- Mayonnaise — I’m typically not a mayo person but this is one of the few instances I don’t mind it. When it’s combined with the all the other ingredients I find it way less offensive than usual. If you just cannot do mayo though, I’ve subbed Greek yogurt for this before. You’ll want to add a bit more honey to counter the tartness of the yogurt.
- Sweet chili sauce
- Sriracha — this can be adjusted to your spice preference
- Honey
- Rice vinegar
Step by Step Instructions
The full recipe card can be found below, but this step by step overview gives you a good visualization of how to make the bang bang shrimp in the air fryer.
- Combine the breadcrumbs and spices in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs in a separate bowl and have the cornstarch in another small bowl, all lined up in a row so you can dredge the shrimp easily.
- Pat the shrimp dry and dip each one in the cornstarch, then egg wash, then breadcrumb mixture until well coated.
- Grease the basket or trays of an air fryer with cooking spray and arrange the breaded shrimp in a single layer.
- While the shrimp air fry, whisk together all the ingredients for the bang bang sauce in a bowl.
- Once the shrimp have air fried for about 8-10 minutes total, remove from the air fryer and place in a bowl.
- Toss with the bang bang sauce until well coated. Alternatively, you can drizzle the sauce over the shrimp before serving.
My Pro Tips
How to Make the Best Air Fried Bang Bang Shrimp
- If you want the shrimp to remain super crunchy, drizzle the sauce over top instead of coating in a bowl.
- Don’t overcrowd the shrimp in the air fryer. Leaving ample space between the shrimp helps the airflow and results in crispier shrimp.
- Tap off any excess cornstarch before dipping in the eggs.
- Make sure to flip the shrimp half way through cooking (or rotate the trays for oven model air fryers)
Best Ways To Serve
If you’re enjoying this as a meal, I prefer to use the bang bang shrimp as the main component of a rice bowl. Garnished with scallions, paired with brown or white rice and your favorite vegetable, this is a quick and flavorful meal.
The other main course option is to eat these as tacos. Load the air fried shrimp into tortillas, add your favorite salsa or slaw, douse in a squeeze of lime and finish with fresh cilantro. Can’t beat that for taco night. It’s a more indulgent option than blackened shrimp tacos.
Bang bang shrimp also does well as a salad topper. If you’re someone who craves texture in your salads, this is a great way to achieve that without needing a ton of extra ingredients. I usually stick to basic greens like kale, baby lettuce or Romaine but any salad with an Asian flair is a good pairing too.
Storage
Bang bang shrimp is best eaten fresh. It’s pretty hard to retain the crispy texture of the shrimp once it’s been tossed in the sauce, but you can store this in the fridge for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing the shrimp.
Reheating is best done in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350°F.
More Shrimp Recipes To Try
These frozen shrimp are made in the air fryer too and come with a garlic ginger sauce.
You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make both General Tso shrimp and shrimp lo mein at home with these recipes.
If you want anther appetizer option for shrimp, try this popcorn shrimp recipe that’s baked in the oven but also come with directions for air frying if preferred.
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Ingredients
Shrimp
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails off for easiest eating)
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, *see note for gluten-free options
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray or olive oil spray
- freshly chopped green onions and sesame seeds, for garnish
Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1-2 tablespoons sriracha, to taste
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Dry the shrimp thoroughly with paper towels (key for crispiness).
- In a small bowl, add the cornstarch. In a separate small bowl, whisk the eggs together. Then, in a medium bowl, combine panko, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
- Cover the shrimp in cornstarch and dust off excess. Then dip the shrimp in the egg wash bowl. Finally, cover the shrimp in the panko mixture. Set aside on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Lightly spray the basket (or trays depending on model) of an air fryer with oil. Arrange shrimp in a single layer and spray tops lightly.
- Cook for 4–5 minutes, flip, spray again, and cook another 4–5 minutes until crisp and opaque.
- While shrimp cook in the air fryer make the sauce by whisking together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey and vinegar until smooth and glossy.
- Toss the air fried shrimp gently with sauce or drizzle sauce over shrimp for maximum crunch. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
