Bang Bang Shrimp
Bang Bang Shrimp is a wildly flavorful dish featuring crispy shrimp tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce. Make this restaurant favorite at home in 30 minutes or less!
Copycat Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp
Growing up, my family used to vacation in Myrtle Beach. Our entire extended family would come together for a week of relaxing, playing, and eating. There was definitely a LOT of good food on those trips!
One place we loved to go to was the Bonefish Grill. The first time I tried their crispy Bang Bang Shrimp I was in heaven. Even as a kid I couldn’t get enough of those sweet, crunchy little shrimp!
My husband is really good at re-creating my favorite restaurant dishes at home. So I asked him if he could make his own version of Bang Bang Shrimp. Y’all….I can’t even explain how GOOD this recipe is!!
First you pan fry shrimp until light and crispy, then you cook them in a homemade sweet spicy mayo sauce. Every bite is absolutely packed with flavor! I think it tastes better than the original!
Where Did Bang Bang Shrimp Originate?
The original source of Bang Bang Shrimp is a but murky. In fact, there’s no clear agreement whether it is actually an authentic Chinese dish or whether it was created in the United States and was simply inspired by Chinese cuisine.
One of the most popular versions of bang bang shrimp is served at Bonefish Grill. That’s where I first tried it myself! Bonefish Grill’s bang bang shrimp is made with crispy shrimp that are tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce made with mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and other ingredients. The dish is often served with a side of rice or noodles or with appetizers.
While Bonefish Grill might be the most well-known for serving Bang Bang Shrimp, there are many other restaurants that have a similar dish on the menu:
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
- Chili’s
- McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant & Bar
- Red Lobster
- Ruby Tuesday
- The Cheesecake Factory
- Yard House
But you don’t have to go to ANY restaurant to enjoy this fabulous seafood dish! You can make copycat Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp at home with just a handful of ingredients and in only 30 minutes total time!
Related: Be sure to check out our copycat Cheesecake Factory brown bread recipe too!
Ingredients
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- 1/2 teaspoon sriracha
- 1/2 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 pounds of shrimp, peeled and de-veined
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup cornstarch
- Vegetable oil for frying
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Large skillet (deep enough for frying)
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Wire rack
Instructions
To Prep: Make the Bang Bang Sauce by whisking together sriracha, mayo, and chili sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl, add buttermilk and the peeled, de-veined shrimp. Coat shrimp in buttermilk.
- Add cornstarch to another bowl. Take each shrimp out of the buttermilk, allow excess to drip back into the bowl, then toss or roll in the cornstarch to coat.
- Fry the shrimp in pan with oil for 3-5 minutes per side, until crispy. Place them on wire rack to dry. You can either deep fry, or pan fry, but the main thing is not to crowd the pan so they don’t stick together.
- Heat up the chili mayo sauce in a frying pan, until it gets warm and starts to bubble. Add the shrimp and cook just enough to coat them in sauce, then remove pan from heat.
Prep Tips
- Make it spicy by topping with red chili pepper flakes.
- Tone down the sweetness by adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving.
- Use any size of shrimp you like, just keep in mind that jumbo shrimp will take a little longer to cook.
- You could also do this recipe with chicken! Just make sure to cook the chicken completely before adding to sauce.
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. I’ve got lots of tips for reheating in the FAQ section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can You Serve With Bang Bang Shrimp?
When served as an appetizer, you can simply enjoy these crispy little bites all on their own! Plate them with toothpicks for a simple and mess-free dish to share.
For dinner, I love my bang bang shrimp over fluffy white rice, topped with chopped green onions for garnish.
However, you can get creative with it because this is a very versatile dish! Make a salad with fresh greens, cabbage, or Asian coleslaw. Grab some tortillas and make crispy shrimp tacos. So many options!
Is Bang Bang Shrimp Gluten Free?
Some restaurant versions of bang bang shrimp use panko breadcrumbs and/or all purpose flour in their batter. We used cornstarch in our recipe, which is a common method for making fried shrimp in Chinese cooking. Cornstarch creates a light and airy crust that crisps up perfectly and doesn’t get soggy in the oil or sauce.
Cornstarch is also naturally gluten-free, though I always recommend checking labels to ensure that there is no cross-contamination during manufacturing, if that is a concern.
How Do You Reheat Bang Bang Shrimp?
There are a few different ways to reheat bang bang shrimp leftovers…if you actually have any! (I usually don’t! Hehe!)
Here are a few tips:
- Oven: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the shrimp on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until heated through.
- Microwave: Place the shrimp in a covered microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high for 1-2 mins, stirring at the halfway point, until heated through.
- Air fryer: Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the shrimp in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 5-7 minutes, or until heated through.
It is important to note that the shrimp may not be as crispy as they were when they were first cooked, especially if using the microwave. However, they will still taste just as delicious!
Here are some additional tips for reheating:
- Heat just enough to warm them in the middle. Overcooked shrimp will be tough and dry.
- Add a little bit of oil or butter to the pan or baking sheet before reheating the shrimp. This will help to keep them moist while reheating.
- Serve the shrimp immediately after reheating them. Just like when they’re first cooked, fried shrimp of any kind tastes better when served warm.
Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
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Bang Bang Shrimp
Equipment
- Large Skillet or Saute Pan
- Mixing bowls
- Wire Rack
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon sriracha
- 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
- 3/4 cup mayo
- 1 1/2 pounds shrimp peeled and de-veined
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup cornstarch
- oil for frying
Instructions
- To Prep: Make the Bang Bang Sauce by whisking together sriracha, mayo, and chili sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl, add buttermilk and the peeled, de-veined shrimp. Coat shrimp in buttermilk.
- Add cornstarch to another bowl. Take each shrimp out of the buttermilk, allow excess to drip back into the bowl, then roll in the cornstarch to coat.
- Fry the shrimp in pan with oil for 3-5 minutes per side, until crispy. Place them on wire rack to dry. You can either deep fry, or pan fry, but the main thing is not to crowd the pan so they don’t stick together.
- Heat up the chili mayo sauce in a frying pan, until it gets warm and starts to bubble. Add the shrimp and cook just enough to coat them in sauce, then remove pan from heat.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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