This Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp recipe lightens up traditional Bang bang Shrimp because you don’t have to fry anything…but you still get the delicious, creamy sauce.
Lately, I’ve been making fried foods that I love in my air fryer instead of deep frying, which can be a hassle and a mess. So I decided that air fryer Bang Bang Shrimp was next on my list. It’s so good and I bet the whole family will love this one!
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.
What Is Bang Bang Shrimp?
Bang Bang Shrimp is a delicious appetizer with Thai flavors in the sauce. It has Thai sweet chili sauce and a bang of heat from the sriracha, balanced with mayo and honey. It’s a creamy and spicy sauce that is so delicious with the air fryer shrimp. It became very popular as a menu item at Bonefish Grill Restaurants.
It’s usually deep fried, but we’re making it easier with the air fryer for my version of this copycat recipe.
Lighter Fried Shrimp
I’m not big on fried foods, but there are some restaurant style classics that I love to make at home. They’re generally not the healthiest. That’s why I love making Bang Bang Shrimp in the air fryer, no oil, just hot, circulating heat to crisp the lightly battered shrimp.
I always have a bag of frozen shrimp on hand, and I thaw it out when I’m in the mood for seafood. I’ve been making shrimp in my air fryer and I usually serve it over rice, a salad, whatever. But on a Friday when I have company and I don’t want to turn the oven on, this is my new go-to for shrimp.
How To Make Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
I take peeled shrimp, with the tails on, and let it soak in buttermilk for a few minutes before coating them in cornstarch. The cornstarch is important and is what gives the shrimp that light coating.
The shrimp go directly in the air fryer basket and they cook for about 5 minutes. You want them in a single layer, so you may need to work in batches if you’re making extra. Once they’re done, and while they’re still hot, they get coated in the Bang Bang sauce. It’s best served right away.
It all comes together in 20 minutes, and you’ve got a restaurant-style appetizer at home (without the mess).
Serving Bang Bang Shrimp
It’s classic to serve this shrimp dish as an appetizer, I usually put them on butter lettuce leaves for easy handling and top with some green onions.
Want to make it a meal? Not a problem! Make bang bang shrimp tacos by putting the shrimp in tortillas along with some shredded lettuce or cabbage and diced tomatoes. Or make a rice bowl with the shrimp and some veggies. Let me know in the comments how you love to enjoy these tasty shrimp.
More Air Fryer Recipes
There’s so much variety with my collection of easy air fryer recipes. Here’s some more featuring seafood to get you started.
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
This Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp recipe lightens up traditional Bang bang Shrimp because you don’t have to fry anything… but you still get the delicious, creamy sauce.
Garnish with chopped green onions.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sweet Thai chili sauce
- 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp. Sriracha
- 1 Tbsp. honey
- 1 lb. raw shrimp, shelled and deveined (41/50 count)
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the chili sauce, mayonnaise, Sriracha, and honey. Whisk until fully combined. Taste and add more sriracha if desired. Set aside.
- Pat the shrimp dry and season with salt, garlic powder, and pepper.
- Pour the buttermilk over the shrimp and allow to soak for 5 minutes. Place the cornstarch in a zip top bag.
- Remove the shrimp from the buttermilk, shaking off any excess and place in bag with cornstarch. Shake to coat.
- Place the shrimp in the tray of the air fryer in a single layer.
- Turn the temperature to 400°F and slide the tray in. Cook for 5-6 minutes.
- Remove the shrimp from the air fryer and place them in a bowl. Pour the sauce over the shrimp and toss to coat.
- Serve in butter lettuce cups with green onions.
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This post originally appeared in June 2019 and was revised and republished in February 2024.