This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
This easy Air Fryer bang bang shrimp is addictive- bringing a classic restaurant favorite right into your kitchen with less oil and all the flavor.
It’s crispy on the outside, juicy and succulent on the inside, and perfect as a fun appetizer for your next gathering or as a weeknight dinner along with some steamed rice- just like my Air Fryer Cajun shrimp.
I recently tried making Air Fryer breaded shrimp, and the crunch on them was just next level! They were such a hit in my household, and everyone just devoured them, which is actually why I thought of this recipe.
Crunchy, breaded shrimp getting tossed in a wicked delicious sauce- who can say no to that. This one’s now become a family favorite- along with my classic Air Fryer shrimp Fajitas.
Quick Look At This Recipe
✨ Flavor: Creamy and spicy.
⏱️ Prep time: 40 minutes.
🔥 Cook time: 10 minutes.
⏲️ Total time: 50 minutes.
👥 Servings: 6 servings.
🥄 Tools: Air Fryer.
❄️ Freezer friendly: No.
👩🏻🍳 Tip: Shrimp tends to overcook quickly. Keep an eye on them at the 8 minute mark and check if they’re done, especially if you’re using smaller or medium sized shrimp.
SUMMARIZE AND SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s the perfect easy shrimp appetizer to whip up in your Air Fryer- just like my Air Fryer keto coconut shrimp.
- No pots and pans needed- which means less mess to cleanup afterwards!
- You can prep this ahead of time too. Simply coat the shrimp and prepare the sauce. Then, air fry and combine when you’re ready to eat!
Recipe Ingredients
For the Crispy Shrimp
- Shrimp: Large, raw shrimp give best results.
- Egg: To help the flour and breadcrumbs adhere to the shrimp.
- Milk: For that creaminess and to create a rich dip for the shrimp.
- Flour + breadcrumbs: To create that crunchy exterior coating. I used all purpose flour and Panko breadcrumbs.
- Seasonings: I used a mix of ground black pepper, red pepper, some onion powder, garlic powder and dried basil. Sometimes I also like to add a dash of my homemade poultry seasoning too!
- Olive oil: To help the shrimp crisp up in the Air Fryer.
For the Bang Bang Sauce
- Mayonnaise: For that rich, creamy flavor.
- Garlic chili sauce: For that fiery, pungent depth.
- Rice vinegar: For that slight tanginess.
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations
- To lend the bang bang sauce a sweet and spicy twist, add a bit of honey into it.
- For extra heat, add a dash of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Love some smokiness? Add a pinch or two of some homemade BBQ seasoning or BBQ sauce along with the other sauces.
How to Make Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Start by cleaning and pat drying the shrimp. Set up a dredging station with whisked egg and milk in one bowl and flour, breadcrumbs and seasonings in another bowl.
- 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. Garnish and serve immediately.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
Serve this Air Fryer bang bang shrimp as an appetizer to go with your favorite dipping sauces, or team them up with some taco shells to make some quick Air Fryer shrimp tacos.
You can also add these into your simple salad bowl as a nice flavorful protein. You can also team them up with other appetizers and snacks like Air Fryer jalapeno poppers, my favorite Air Fryer nachos and some Air Fryer ham and cheese sliders whenever you’re hosting a party or a game-day celebration!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Avoid overcrowding the Air Fryer basket with too many shrimp. Arrange them in a single layer and spray them with olive oil to help the breading crisp up on all sides.
- For the best flavor and texture, serve these air fried bang bang shrimp immediately after you toss them in the sauce. That way, they’ll be juicy and soft, but still have that crunchy texture.
- To make the dish dairy-free, use vegan mayonnaise as the base for the sauce and swap the milk with coconut milk for that rich, creamy flavor.
- Craving for a more intense flavor? Add some chopped fresh garlic into the mix. I did this when I made my Air Fryer lemon garlic shrimp and Air Fryer garlic butter shrimp and they were both huge hits!
Recipe FAQs
Substitute the all-purpose flour and panko breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives to enjoy the same crispy texture without the gluten.
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 make them quicker.
Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheat the leftovers in your Air Fryer for a few minutes until warm. Skip the microwave as it can make the shrimp rubbery.
Yes, you definitely can! Defrost the shrimp and pat them dry first to remove all moisture, then bread them and use them as you would!
More Air Fryer Shrimp Recipes
Seafood
Air Fryer Shrimp
Appetizers
Air Fryer Shrimp Egg Rolls
Appetizers
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a STAR ⭐️ RATING in the COMMENTS 📝 SECTION below.
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
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
- Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in your Air Fryer basket and flip them over midway during the cooking time to get them crunchy.
- Avoid overcooking the shrimp- they’ll turn rubbery.
- Toss them in the sauce right before you want to serve them. This way, they’ll still retain that crunchiness.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
