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This recipe brings a restaurant favorite right into your kitchen with less oil and all the flavor. These battered and “fried” air fryer bang bang shrimp are coated in a spicy sauce that will become a repeat recipe in your household.

Bang Bang Shrimp made in the air fryer and served on a white plate with dipping sauce, ready to eat.

Table of Contents

Quick and Easy Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe

This Bang Bang Shrimp recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a fun appetizer for your next gathering. It’s crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and drizzled with a creamy, spicy sauce that will have everyone asking for more.

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Ingredients

  • Shrimp: Start with large, raw shrimp for the best results.
  • Egg: Helps the flour and breadcrumbs adhere to the shrimp.
  • Milk: Combines with the egg to create a wet dip for the breading.
  • All-Purpose Flour: The primary coating that creates a crispy exterior.
  • Panko Breadcrumbs: Adds extra crunch to the shrimp’s breading.
  • Red Pepper: Provides a mild, spicy kick.
  • Ground Black Pepper: Enhances overall flavor.
  • Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, and Dried Basil: These seasonings add depth and savory notes to the breading.
  • Olive Oil: Used to spray the shrimp to ensure they crisp up in the air fryer.

For the Bang Bang Sauce

  • Mayo: The base of the sauce gives this dish a creamy texture.
  • Garlic Chili Sauce: Adds a fiery depth to the sauce.
  • Rice Vinegar: Balances the sauce with a slight tang.
Ingredients needed to make bang bang shrimp in the air fryer.

How to Cook Bang Bang Shrimp in the Air Fryer

STEP 1 – Clean and pat dry the shrimp.

STEP 2 – Add panko bread crumbs, flour, and seasonings to a medium bowl. Mix well.

STEP 3- In a small mixing bowl, add egg to the milk and whisk until combined.

STEP 4 – Dip the shrimp into the flour and panko mixture, the egg mixture, and then back into the flour mixture. Place on a wire rack.

Shrimp coated and set on a wire rack.

STEP 5 – Chill the breaded shrimp in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

STEP 6 – Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).

STEP 7 – Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the preheated basket, spray lightly with olive oil, and air fry for 5 minutes. Flip the shrimp after 5 minutes, spray again, and cook for 3-5 minutes until golden and crispy.

Breaded shrimp in the basket of the air fryer, ready to cook.

STEP 8 – While the shrimp are cooking, make the spicy sauce. Add the mayo, chili garlic sauce, and rice vinegar to a small bowl. Mix well until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

STEP 9 – Toss the cooked shrimp in the sauce until well-coated.

Shrimp in a shallow bowl covered in bang bang sauce.

Now dive in and enjoy this dish!

air fried bang bang shrimp ready to dip into dipping sauce and eat.

NOTE: This recipe was made using a Cosori Air Fryer. If you’re using a different brand of air fryer, you may need to adjust the temperature and cooking time slightly to accommodate your specific air fryer.

Tips

  • Ensure Even Cooking: Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow even airflow around each shrimp.
  • Spray Evenly: Lightly spray the shrimp with olive oil to help the breading crisp up without drying out.
  • Serve Immediately: For the best texture and flavor, serve the shrimp immediately after tossing with the sauce.

Variations

  • Add Heat: Incorporate more garlic chili sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper into the sauce for extra spice.
  • Sweet and Spicy: Mix a little honey into the Bang Bang sauce for a sweet twist.
Bang bang shrimp served on plates and with a side of dipping sauce.

FAQs:

How can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Substitute the all-purpose flour and panko breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives to enjoy the same crispy texture without the gluten.

What are the best dipping sauces for Bang Bang Shrimp besides the Bang Bang sauce?

For those who enjoy variety, consider serving with sweet chili sauce, ranch dressing, or a zesty lime yogurt sauce for dipping.

Can I prepare the Bang Bang Shrimp ahead of time?

For best results, it’s recommended to prepare and cook the shrimp close to serving time. However, you can bread the shrimp and keep them refrigerated up to a few hours before frying to manage prep time better.

Close up shot of air fryer bang bang shrimp in dipping sauce, surrounded by a plate of air fryer bang bang shrimp.

It’s a delicious recipe the whole family will enjoy.

Looking for other recipes like this one? Check out our other favorite air fryer recipes below.

MORE ASIAN INSPIRED AIR FRYER RECIPES:

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Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp in dipping sauce and on a white plate.
5 from 2 votes
Servings: 6

Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp

By Jen
This Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp is an easy Air Fryer recipe that knocks regular shrimp out of the park! These battered and "fried" crispy shrimp are coated in a spicy Bang Bang sauce that will surely become a repeat recipe in your household.
Prep: 40 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
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Equipment

  • 1 Air Fryer

Ingredients 

Shrimp breading and seasoning

  • 25 shrimp
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil, to spray

Bang Bang Sauce

  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 4 teaspoons garlic chili sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar

Instructions 

  • Clean and pat dry the shrimp.
  • Add panko bread crumbs, flour, and seasonings to a medium bowl. Mix well.
  • In a small mixing bowl, add egg to the milk and whisk until combined.
  • Dip the shrimp into the flour and panko mixture, the egg mixture, and then back into the flour mixture. Place on a wire rack.
  • Chill the breaded shrimp in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
  • Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the preheated basket, spray lightly with olive oil, and air fry for 5 minutes. Flip the shrimp after 5 minutes, spray again, and cook for 3-5 minutes until golden and crispy.
  • While the shrimp are cooking, make the spicy sauce. Add the mayo, chili garlic sauce, and rice vinegar to a small bowl. Mix well until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
  • Toss the cooked shrimp in the sauce until well-coated and serve.

Notes

This recipe was made using a 5.8 qt Cosori air fryer. 
For dipping, you can use hot sauce, spicy ranch, Thai sweet chili sauce, sriracha sauce, or any other delicious sauce you like.
 If you want to cut back on fat, swap out mayo for Greek yogurt. Plus, Greek yogurt has protein, so it’s a win-win!

Nutrition

Calories: 268kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 44mg, Sodium: 371mg, Potassium: 105mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 139IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 67mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Jen Gamble

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