You may recognize these bang bang shrimp as a trendy appetizer from Bonefish Grill; this is our version! Each bite offers a crispy, juicy shrimp coated with a delicious thai sweet chili sauce. The sauce tastes sweet and spicy, making for a beautiful medley of flavors. 

Whether you like your shrimp fried or prefer air-fried shrimp, this sauce is excellent for taking your shrimp to the next level. You can even make breaded fried shrimp and toss them in this delicious sauce!

A white plate with the bang bang shrimp.

These bang-bang shrimp make for a memorable appetizer! Juicy shrimp are battered and fried, then coated in a sweet & spicy sauce. Each bite is full of incredible flavors and textures. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Easy. This shrimp comes together in under 30 minutes, making this part of our 30-minute recipes.
  • Flavorful. This shrimp is packed with flavor, from the battered shrimp to the sweet & spicy sauce.
  • Cheaper alternative. Making these shrimp at home is much cheaper than paying for this appetizer at a restaurant. 
A white plate with the bang bang shrimp held up by a chopstick.

Ingredients for Bang Bang Shrimp

The ingredients for this Bang Bang shrimp are simple; most are pantry staples!

  • Shrimp – large, peeled, and deveined shrimp. 
  • Bang bang sauce – mayonnaise, Thai chili sauce, and sriracha make a mouth-watering sauce. 
  • Milk mixture – milk, sour cream, and lemon juice make for a perfect marinade. 
  • Flour mixture – flour and cornstarch seasoned with salt, pepper, and paprika. 

See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and quantities, see the recipe card below.

A set up of all the ingredients to make bang bang shrimp.

Keep Your Shrimp Warm as You Cook!

If you cook the shrimp in multiple batches, keep the cooked shrimp in the oven at 250°F until the rest are ready.

How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp 

Step-by-step instructions on making this fantastic appetizer!

A white bowl with the shrimp in a milk mixture.

1 – Milk mixture: Combine milk, sour cream, and lemon juice in a bowl. Dredge all the shrimp in this combination. 

A white bowl with the shrimp in the flour mixture.

2 – Flour mixture:  Combine flour, cornstarch, and seasoning in a separate bowl. Generously coat the shrimp in the flour mixture set on a pan, and finish with the rest of the shrimp. 

The shrimp cooking in a frying pan.

3 – Fry: In a large skillet, heat 1-1½ inches of canola oil to 325°F. Add the shrimp to the hot oil in small batches and fry the shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side. 

A white bowl with the shrimp being tossed in a sauce.

4 – Sauce: Toss all the shrimp gently in the spicy mayo sauce when all the shrimp is cooked.

Expert Tip for Deep Frying

Oil temperature: Having the oil at the right temperature is incredibly important. If the oil is too hot, it will burn the shrimp before cooking. If the oil is not hot enough, the shrimp will soak up too much oil and not be any good. Use an oil thermometer to monitor the oil temperature; you want to keep it right around 325°F. 

The bang bang shrimp in a bed of lettuce.

Serving Suggestions

Recipe FAQs

How can I know the oil is hot enough if I don’t have an oil thermometer?

You can test the oil using a chopstick or a wooden dowel. Put it into the oil, and if you see bubbles forming rapidly around it. Before adding all the shrimp, use a tester shrimp to determine if the oil is too hot. 

Can I use frozen shrimp? 

Fully thaw the frozen shrimp before battering to ensure even cooking. 

What size shrimp is best? 

Large shrimp or jumbo shrimp are ideal for this recipe. Small shrimp will overcook and become rubbery. 

The bang bang shrimp topped with fresh cilantro.

Store & Reheat 

  • Storage. Keep leftover shrimp in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. 
  • Reheat. Warm leftovers in the oven until crispy. 
  • Freeze. You want to freeze the fried shrimp before adding the sauce to freeze bang bang shrimp. Place shrimp in a freezer-safe bag and keep for up to 3 months. Reheat: Place frozen shrimp into the oven at 325°F for 12-15 minutes or until warm through. Toss in sauce, and enjoy!

More Shrimp Recipes!!

If you enjoyed this bang bang shrimp recipe, be sure to try our other popular shrimp recipes, here are some of our favorites:

Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe

Author: Valentina
A white plate with the bang bang shrimp.
Print
4.93 from 28 votes
Crispy shrimp doused in a delicious thai chili sauce. Bang bang shrimp make an incredible appetizer full of great texture and flavor to be enjoyed for game day or a side dish.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 lb raw shrimp deveined & peeled
  • oil, for frying (canola, olive or avocado oil)

bang bang sauce –

  • cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
  • 1 minced garlic clove
  • 1 Tbsp sriracha

milk mixture –

  • ½ cup whole milk
  • 2 Tbsp sour cream
  • 2 tsp lemon juice

Flour mixture –

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup corn starch
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • ¼ tsp paprika

Instructions

bang bang sauce –

  • Combine all the bang bang sauce ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside.

bang bang shrimp –

  • Devein and remove tails from the shrimp. Pat shrimp completely dry.
  • Set up a bowl and add the milk, sour cream, and lemon juice.
  • Set up a second bowl with the flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and paprika.
  • Dredge shrimp in the milk mixture, then generously coat it in the flour mixture. Place onto a platter and continue with the remaining shrimp.
  • Add 1-1 ½ inches of oil in a large skillet. Once the oil has reached 325°F, add the shrimp, but don’t overcrowd the skillet.
  • Fry the shrimp in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until the outside is golden-brown and the inside is cooked.
  • Once all the shrimp is cooked, pour the sauce over the shrimp and toss gently.
  • Serve and enjoy friends.

Notes

  • Oil: Keep the oil at a consistent 325°F to ensure proper frying. Adjust the heat accordingly.
  • Keep shrimp warm: If you cook the shrimp in multiple batches, keep the cooked shrimp in the oven until you fry all the shrimp.
  • Store: Keep leftover shrimp in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

406kcal Calories29g Carbs3g Protein30g Fat6g Saturated Fat17g Polyunsaturated Fat7g Monounsaturated Fat0.1g Trans Fat23mg Cholesterol788mg Sodium88mg Potassium1g Fiber10g Sugar117IU Vitamin A4mg Vitamin C51mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 406 Calories from Fat 270
% Daily Value*
Fat 30g46%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Trans Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 17g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 23mg8%
Sodium 788mg34%
Potassium 88mg3%
Carbohydrates 29g10%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 117IU2%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 51mg5%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
(The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)