Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp

Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp is simple to make and full of flavor with a spicy sweet copycat bang bang sauce.

The first time I tried Bang Bang Shrimp was at Bonefish Grill. It’s a pretty famous shrimp appetizer that has sparked the “bang bang” revolution. Everyone needs a good copy cat recipe for this delicious appetizer.

Why You’ll Love It

• The sauce is so delicious that you will want to find other things to eat it on. We keep a jar of it in the refrigerator all the time.
• This recipe is so simple to make. The air fryer is a crazy useful tool that cooks food super fast, but also really well, with the oil and complication of deep frying.
• It makes the perfect, easy appetizer. Make crispy shrimp in the air fryer and add this great Bang Bang Sauce. I guarantee it will be a hit with everyone!

Capri Lilly says: I made these for the kiddos and they loved them! Thanks for the recipe!

Ingredients You Need

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this dish. You probably already have most of these things in your fridge, so you can make this up tonight!

• Shrimp – Raw, shelled, cleaned and deveined. Any sized shrimp works fine. These are a medium sized shrimp. You may need to add a minute or two if you use bigger shrimp. Don’t use pre-cooked shrimp.
• Flour – Coating the shrimp in flour before the egg and bread crumbs helps the coating stay on during cooking.
• Salt and pepper – Salt and pepper are added to increase the flavor.
• Egg – The egg helps hold the breading on.
• Bread crumbs – This recipe uses panko bread crumbs but you could use regular bread crumbs.
• Mayonnaise – This is the base of the bang bang sauce.
• Sweet Thai chili sauce – You can find this in the Asian food section of most grocery stores. If you want to try making it use this recipe.
• Sriracha – Made from chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar and salt. This hot sauce adds flavor.
• Honey – Adding sweetness to something hot mellows the heat.

Equipment Needed

• Air fryer: I use this 4-quart basket-style air fryer. It’s large enough to fit a meal for 4-6. But some things need more space in the air fryer basket, so they cook evenly.
• Kitchen tongs: It’s very easy to remove food from your air fryer with kitchen tongs. I use these kitchen tongs that are silicon coated so they don’t scratch the interior.
• Whisk – A whisk will help mix all the ingredients into a creamy smooth sauce.
• Small bowl – For the bang bang sauce.

Expert Tips to Follow

• Wait for the shrimp to cool slightly before tossing with the sauce to retain the crispy exterior.
• Serve as an appetizer, or over rice as a meal.
• The size of shrimp that you use will change the cooking time slightly. This recipe uses medium sized shrimp. If you are using smaller or larger you will need to adjust the cooking time up or down a few minutes.
• Mix up the sauce before hand and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
• Don’t over crowd the air fryer basket. The shrimp should not be touching. Cook them in batches if you have to.

Oven Directions

Don’t have an air fryer? No problem!

Follow steps 1 and 2 below. Then preheat your oven to 400° F(200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

 Place the prepared shrimp on the baking sheet, leaving space between each shrimp. Lightly spray the tops of the shrimp with cooking oil.

Cook for 4 minutes. Flip the shrimp over and cook for an additional 4 minutes. Large shrimp may need more time to cook through. Continue in small batches until all shrimp are cooked.

Mix the sauce ingredients together in a bowl. Once shrimp are cooked, toss the shrimp in a bowl with the sauce to fully coat.

What Shrimp To Use

I buy fresh raw shrimp that is already shelled and cleaned (who has the time for that!) If you do have that time, it’s totally fine to get shrimp with the shells on and do the shelling and cleaning yourself.

You can use frozen shrimp, but you’ll have to thaw it first in order to bread them properly. The flour, egg and breadcrumbs won’t adhere to the shrimp when they’re frozen.

I like to use a medium sized shrimp that can be eaten in one bite. I think these make the best appetizer sized Bang Bang Shrimp.

How to Store and Reheat

These crispy shrimp are always better eaten right as they come out of the air fryer but if you find that you have leftovers store them separately from the sauce for the best results.

Storage

Refrigerate: Allow the shrimp to cool to room temperature, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Store the sauce separately in a jar. They can be kept for up to 2-3 days.

Freeze: While it’s possible to freeze Bang Bang Shrimp, keep in mind that the texture may change slightly upon thawing. It isn’t advisable to freeze the sauce. Place the shrimp in an air tight container or freezer bag. Use them within 2-3 months for the best results.

Reheating

The reheating instructions are going to vary based on whether your leftovers have the sauce mixed with the shrimp or whether they are separate.

Air fry: If the shrimp has no sauce on it reheat them in the air fryer at 350° F (176°C) for 2-3 minutes until warm. Start small and add more time so that you don’t overcook the shrimp.

Microwave: If the shrimp and sauce are mixed together cook in a microwave safe bowl until heated through.

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