This air fryer bang bang shrimp is one of those recipes I come back to all the time. It’s quick, it’s delicious, and everyone always loves it.
The idea is pretty simple – you take shrimp, bread them with panko, air fry them until crispy, and then toss them in a creamy spicy sauce. That’s basically it.
The sauce is a mix of mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha and honey. You can adjust the sriracha depending on how spicy you like things. It’s really easy to make it your own.
One thing I love about making this in the air fryer is how crispy the shrimp get without all the oil. They come out golden and crunchy every single time.
You only need a handful of ingredients and about 20 minutes from start to finish. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or when you want something a little more fun than the usual.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Crispy Without Deep Frying – These shrimp come out super crispy thanks to the panko breadcrumb coating and the air fryer’s hot circulating air. You get that satisfying crunch without dunking anything in a pot of oil.
The Bang Bang Sauce Is Addictive – The combo of mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey creates a creamy, sweet, and spicy sauce that makes these shrimp absolutely irresistible. Once you try it, you will want to put it on everything.
Ready in Under 20 Minutes – From breading the shrimp to pulling them out of the air fryer, this whole recipe takes less than 20 minutes. That is way faster than ordering takeout and just as good, if not better.
Way Less Greasy Than the Restaurant Version – Traditional bang bang shrimp is deep fried and can feel heavy and oily. This air fryer version gives you the same flavor and crunch with a fraction of the grease, so you can enjoy it without feeling weighed down.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Large Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup Cornstarch
- 2 Large Eggs, beaten
- 1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp Sweet Chili Sauce
- 1 tbsp Sriracha
- 1 tsp Honey
- Cooking Spray
- Salt and Pepper to taste
How to Make
Step 1
Pat shrimp dry and season with salt and pepper. Set up three bowls: cornstarch in first, beaten eggs in second, and panko breadcrumbs in third.
Step 2
Coat each shrimp in cornstarch, dip in egg, then press into panko breadcrumbs until fully coated. Place on a plate.
Step 3
Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange shrimp in a single layer and spray tops lightly with cooking spray.
Step 4
Air fry at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
Step 5
While shrimp cook, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey in a bowl. Toss cooked shrimp in sauce and serve immediately.
Tips
Dry the Shrimp Really Well
This is probably the most important step in the whole recipe. Use paper towels and press down firmly on the shrimp to get as much moisture off as possible.
If the shrimp are still wet when you start breading them, the cornstarch won’t stick right and the whole coating will slide off during cooking. You’ll end up with bare shrimp and a bunch of loose breadcrumbs in your air fryer basket.
Take an extra minute here and it will make a huge difference in how crispy everything turns out.
Use One Hand for Wet and One for Dry
When you’re breading the shrimp, use one hand for the dry bowls (cornstarch and panko) and your other hand for the egg. This keeps your fingers from turning into a clumpy, breaded mess halfway through.
If you use the same hand for everything, the egg and cornstarch will build up on your fingers and you’ll spend more time picking breading off yourself than actually coating shrimp. Trust me, the two-hand method saves a lot of frustration.
Press the Panko On Firmly
Don’t just dip the shrimp into the panko and call it done. After you lay the shrimp in the breadcrumbs, use your fingers to press the panko into the surface so it really sticks.
Panko breadcrumbs are bigger and flakier than regular breadcrumbs, which is what makes them so crispy in the air fryer. But that also means they can fall off easier if you don’t press them on well.
Give each shrimp a gentle squeeze after coating to lock everything in place before setting it on the plate.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Blackened Mahi Mahi
- Air Fryer Cajun Cod Fillets
- Air Fryer Crispy Avocado Fries
- Air Fryer Korean BBQ Beef Bowls
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature and time should I air fry bang bang shrimp?
Cook the shrimp at 400°F for about 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through. You want them golden brown and crispy on the outside.
Every air fryer runs a little differently, so start checking around the 8-minute mark. Once the coating looks golden and crunchy, they are ready to go.
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
- air fryer
- 1 lb Large Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup Cornstarch
- 2 Large Eggs, beaten
- 1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp Sweet Chili Sauce
- 1 tbsp Sriracha
- 1 tsp Honey
- Cooking Spray
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Pat shrimp dry and season with salt and pepper. Set up three bowls: cornstarch in first, beaten eggs in second, and panko breadcrumbs in third.
- Coat each shrimp in cornstarch, dip in egg, then press into panko breadcrumbs until fully coated. Place on a plate.
- Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange shrimp in a single layer and spray tops lightly with cooking spray.
- Air fry at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
- While shrimp cook, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey in a bowl. Toss cooked shrimp in sauce and serve immediately.