EASIEST Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe (Under 30 Mins!)

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Sophie

Introduction

Oh, remember those nights when you just wanted something delicious, a little bit fancy, but didn’t want to spend hours in the kitchen? This Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp recipe is that memory brought to life! It’s the kind of dish that brings a smile to everyone’s face, from picky eaters to serious foodies. And the best part? It’s ridiculously easy and surprisingly quick to whip up, making it perfect for a weeknight treat or a last-minute appetizer.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fast: Seriously, dinner or an appetizer is ready in under 30 minutes!
Easy: Even if you’re new to cooking, you can nail this.
Giftable: Imagine a batch of these delivered to a friend who’s had a tough week – pure joy!
Crowd-pleasing: Everyone goes nuts for this sweet, spicy, creamy goodness.

Ingredients

Gathering your ingredients is half the fun! Here’s what you’ll need:

1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined: Make sure they’re nice and ready to go.
1-2 teaspoons seafood seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning: This is where the flavor magic starts.
1 teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika recommended): For a little smokiness and beautiful color.
Salt and pepper to taste: The essentials that make everything better.
1 egg, beaten: Our sticky binder for all that delicious coating.
½ cup all-purpose flour: A light dusting to get things going.
¾ cup panko breadcrumbs: These give you that amazing crispy crunch!
Cooking oil spray: Just a little bit to help everything get perfectly golden.

For the Bang Bang Sauce:

⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream: The creamy base. I love Greek yogurt for a little tang!
2 tablespoons Sriracha: For that signature kick! Adjust to your spice preference.
¼ cup sweet chili sauce: This adds the perfect touch of sweetness and tang.

How to Make It

Alright, let’s get cooking! It’s as simple as can be.

Prep your shrimp: First things first, grab some paper towels and gently pat your shrimp dry. This helps the seasonings stick and ensures a nice crispy coating.
Season ’em up: In a medium bowl, toss those beautiful shrimp with your seafood seasoning (or Old Bay!), paprika, a pinch of salt, and some freshly ground pepper. Give them a good mix so they’re all nicely coated.
Set up your dredging station: This is the fun part! Grab three shallow dishes. Put your beaten egg in the first one. In the second, add your all-purpose flour. And in the third, pile up those fluffy panko breadcrumbs.
Get them coated: Now, take each shrimp one by one. First, give it a light dusting in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then, dip it into the beaten egg, letting any extra drip off. Finally, roll it generously in the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently so they stick all over.
Preheat your air fryer: Give your air fryer basket a light spritz with cooking oil spray. This is a little trick that helps prevent sticking and gives you that perfect crisp.
Arrange for air frying: Place your breaded shrimp in the air fryer basket in a single layer. You don’t want them overlapping too much, or they won’t get as crispy. You might need to do this in batches, depending on your air fryer size.
Air fry to perfection: Pop your basket into the air fryer and set the temperature to 400°F (200°C). Let them cook for about 8-10 minutes. Remember to flip them halfway through – usually around the 4-5 minute mark – so they get beautifully golden brown on both sides and are cooked all the way through.
Whip up the sauce: While your shrimp are doing their thing in the air fryer, let’s make that irresistible Bang Bang sauce! In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt (or sour cream), Sriracha, and sweet chili sauce until it’s smooth and creamy. Taste it and see if you want to add a tiny bit more Sriracha for extra heat, or a splash more sweet chili sauce for sweetness.
Sauce ’em up!: Once the shrimp are done and perfectly golden, carefully take them out of the air fryer. Gently toss them in that delicious Bang Bang sauce until each piece is coated in creamy, spicy goodness. Serve immediately and watch them disappear!

Substitutions & Additions

Feeling creative? This recipe is super adaptable!

For the Shrimp: If you can’t find raw shrimp, you can use pre-cooked shrimp that have been peeled and deveined. Just make sure they are fully thawed.
For the Seasoning: If you don’t have seafood seasoning or Old Bay, a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of cayenne can work in a pinch.
For the Creamy Base: If you don’t have Greek yogurt or sour cream, mayonnaise is a surprisingly good substitute for the sauce.
Spice Level: Want it spicier? Add a touch more Sriracha or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce. Prefer it milder? Reduce the Sriracha.
Additions: For an extra layer of flavor, you could add a teaspoon of garlic powder to the panko breadcrumbs.

Tips for Success

A few little secrets to make your Bang Bang Shrimp even more amazing:

Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: This is key for crispiness! Cook in batches if needed.
Pat Shrimp Dry: I can’t stress this enough – dry shrimp means a better coating.
Prep Ahead: You can bread the shrimp and have them ready to go in the fridge (on a parchment-lined baking sheet) for a couple of hours before air frying. Just make sure they aren’t touching.
Sauce Timing: For the crispiest shrimp, toss them in the sauce right before serving. If you toss them too early, they can get a little soggy.
Smoked Paprika Power: If you can find smoked paprika, it adds a wonderful depth of flavor that’s just divine.

How to Store It

While these are best enjoyed fresh, here’s how to store any leftovers:

Store any leftover Bang Bang Shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat them gently in your air fryer or oven to try and revive some of their crispiness. Be aware that they will be softer than when first made.

FAQs

Got questions? I’ve got answers!

Can I bake these instead of air frying? Absolutely! Bake them on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 400°F (200°C) for about 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through. They might not be quite as crispy as air-fried, but still delicious!
Can I make the Bang Bang sauce ahead of time? Yes, you can! The sauce can be made a day or two in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just give it a good stir before tossing it with the shrimp.
Is this recipe spicy? It has a medium spice level thanks to the Sriracha. You can easily adjust the amount of Sriracha in the sauce to make it as mild or as spicy as you like.

Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp

Print Recipe

This Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp recipe is ridiculously easy and surprisingly quick to whip up, making it perfect for a weeknight treat or a last-minute appetizer. It’s a crowd-pleasing dish that’s sweet, spicy, and creamy.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Scale

Shrimp

1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1.5 teaspoons seafood seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning (Adjust to taste, recipe suggests 1-2 teaspoons.)
1 teaspoon paprika (Smoked paprika recommended.)
to taste salt
to taste pepper (Freshly ground.)
1 egg, beaten
0.5 cup all-purpose flour
0.75 cup panko breadcrumbs
as needed cooking oil spray (For spritzing air fryer basket.)

Bang Bang Sauce

0.33 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream (Greek yogurt recommended for tang.)
2 tablespoons Sriracha (Adjust to spice preference.)
0.25 cup sweet chili sauce

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Instructions

First things first, grab some paper towels and gently pat your shrimp dry. This helps the seasonings stick and ensures a nice crispy coating.
In a medium bowl, toss those beautiful shrimp with your seafood seasoning (or Old Bay!), paprika, a pinch of salt, and some freshly ground pepper. Give them a good mix so they’re all nicely coated.
This is the fun part! Grab three shallow dishes. Put your beaten egg in the first one. In the second, add your all-purpose flour. And in the third, pile up those fluffy panko breadcrumbs.
Now, take each shrimp one by one. First, give it a light dusting in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then, dip it into the beaten egg, letting any extra drip off. Finally, roll it generously in the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently so they stick all over.
Give your air fryer basket a light spritz with cooking oil spray. This is a little trick that helps prevent sticking and gives you that perfect crisp.
Place your breaded shrimp in the air fryer basket in a single layer. You don’t want them overlapping too much, or they won’t get as crispy. You might need to do this in batches, depending on your air fryer size.
Pop your basket into the air fryer and set the temperature to 400°F (200°C). Let them cook for about 8-10 minutes. Remember to flip them halfway through – usually around the 4-5 minute mark – so they get beautifully golden brown on both sides and are cooked all the way through.
While your shrimp are doing their thing in the air fryer, let’s make that irresistible Bang Bang sauce! In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt (or sour cream), Sriracha, and sweet chili sauce until it’s smooth and creamy. Taste it and see if you want to add a tiny bit more Sriracha for extra heat, or a splash more sweet chili sauce for sweetness.
Once the shrimp are done and perfectly golden, carefully take them out of the air fryer. Gently toss them in that delicious Bang Bang sauce until each piece is coated in creamy, spicy goodness. Serve immediately and watch them disappear!

Notes

For the crispiest shrimp, toss them in the sauce right before serving. Store any leftover Bang Bang Shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat them gently in your air fryer or oven to try and revive some of their crispiness.