Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe: A Crispy, Sweet, and Spicy Restaurant Favorite
America has embraced Asian-inspired cuisine for decades, and Bang Bang Shrimp is one of those dishes that keeps winning people over. This popular recipe is inspired by Thai flavors and gets its name from the bold, creamy sauce that coats every bite of shrimp.
The flavor is hard to resist: sweet, tangy, creamy, and spicy, with just enough heat to keep things exciting. It is the kind of dish that stands out on restaurant menus and is just as satisfying when made at home.
One of the best things about Bang Bang Shrimp is how flexible it is. While shrimp is the classic choice, the same preparation works well with chicken, beef, or other seafood. If shrimp is not your favorite, you can easily swap it for another protein and still enjoy the same delicious sauce and crispy texture.
This recipe is especially popular as a shrimp bowl or as a filling for shrimp tacos, but it does not stop there. It also works beautifully in sandwiches, sliders, pita pockets, fluffy buns, and even stir-fry style meals. If you enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, this dish offers plenty of possibilities.
The History of Bang Bang Shrimp
Bang Bang Shrimp has roots in Thai cuisine, where the original version was traditionally made with chicken rather than shrimp. The name is believed to come from the sound created when the chicken was pounded with a mallet during preparation.
The shrimp version became especially well known through the popular Bonefish Grill copycat recipe, which helped turn it into a favorite appetizer and entrée in the United States.
What Gives Bang Bang Sauce Its Flavor?
Because this dish is Thai-inspired, the sauce is built around a balance of sweetness, heat, and acidity. A combination of sweet Thai chili sauce, sriracha, rice vinegar, mayonnaise, and buttermilk creates its signature flavor and smooth texture.
Sriracha plays an important role here. It brings both heat and sweetness, making it similar to a Thai-style hot sauce. Today, it is easy to find in most grocery stores alongside other bottled hot sauces.
The sauce also gets extra depth from the chili elements, which often add small red flecks and a mild garlic kick. The creamy finish comes from the mayonnaise and buttermilk, which help mellow the spice and create a rich coating for the shrimp.
If you have access to Japanese mayonnaise, it is an excellent option for this recipe. Brands such as Kewpie are especially popular because they are silky, flavorful, and already contain a slight vinegar note that complements the sauce very well.
Easy Variations to Try
This dish is easy to customize, so everyone at the table can enjoy it.
- Chicken: Use chicken tenders, strips, nuggets, or chopped boneless chicken pieces.
- Beef: Cut beef into small bite-size chunks and cook using the same general method.
- Seafood: Try cod, squid rings, or mussels instead of shrimp.
- Meatless option: Cauliflower florets make a great vegetarian alternative and work especially well for a meat-free dinner.
No matter which version you choose, the sauce is what brings the whole dish together.
Prep and Cook Time
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 12 oz medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 5 teaspoons sweet Thai chili sauce
- 3 teaspoons sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp
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Place the shrimp, or your protein of choice, in a bowl with the buttermilk. Let it soak while you prepare the coating stations.
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Add the panko bread crumbs to one bowl and the cornstarch to another. Coat each shrimp first in the cornstarch, then in the panko, and set aside. Repeat until all of the shrimp are breaded.
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Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat with a small amount of olive oil. Cook the shrimp in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry until golden brown, then transfer to paper towels to drain. Continue until all shrimp are cooked.
- You can also use an air fryer instead of pan-frying if you prefer.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the sweet Thai chili sauce, sriracha, mayonnaise, and rice vinegar until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
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Toss the cooked shrimp in the sauce until every piece is evenly coated.
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Serve over steamed rice or shredded cabbage, then garnish with toppings such as:
- sliced scallions
- sesame seeds
- chopped cilantro
- a squeeze of lemon juice
Serving Ideas
Bang Bang Shrimp is incredibly versatile and can be served in many ways:
- As a shrimp bowl for a quick lunch
- Inside tacos
- Over a bed of mixed greens or shredded cabbage as an appetizer
- In sliders, pita bread, or soft sandwich buns
- As part of a larger Asian-inspired dinner
For a full restaurant-style meal, pair it with:
- fried rice
- steamed broccoli
- egg rolls
- dumplings or pot stickers
- chow mein
The creamy sauce and crispy shrimp also benefit from a little fresh lemon juice, which brightens the dish and adds a refreshing finish.
Nutrition Information
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 493
- Total Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Cholesterol: 193mg
- Sodium: 1513mg
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 7g
- Protein: 26g
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a crispy shrimp recipe with a bold, creamy kick, this Bang Bang Shrimp recipe is a great choice. It is quick to make, easy to adapt, and perfect for everything from appetizers to tacos and rice bowls. Whether you stick with shrimp or try a different protein, this dish delivers big flavor in every bite.
