If you’ve ever had bang bang shrimp at a restaurant and wondered if you could make it at home, this air fryer bang bang shrimp is going to blow you away. It’s perfectly crispy on the outside, tender inside, and coated in that famous creamy-sweet-spicy sauce. Even better? It’s way lighter than the deep-fried version and comes together in under 30 minutes.

Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp

This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, game day snacks, or even as a fun party appetizer. If you love easy seafood recipes like [air fryer salmon bites], [crispy coconut shrimp], or [spicy shrimp tacos], you’ll definitely want to add this to your rotation. You can even serve these bang bang shrimp over a salad, in lettuce wraps, or as a rice bowl for a full meal.

The best part? You probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry. And the homemade bang bang sauce takes just minutes to whisk together — it’s creamy, a little spicy, and totally addictive. One bite and you’ll see why this shrimp has a cult following.

What You Will Love About This Recipe

Crispy, juicy shrimp without deep frying

That famous sweet and spicy bang bang sauce

Made with simple, easy-to-find ingredients

Ready in under 30 minutes

Great as an appetizer or main dish

What do I need to get started?

Shrimp. You want to peel and deveined shrimp and remove the tails before starting.
Corn starch.
Buttermilk.
Panko bread crumbs. Be sure to get panko – standard bread crumbs will not result in the crispy breading that we want.
Chives or green onions (this is totally not necessary and is just for garnish – but it does add another element of flavor that you don’t want to miss!)
Mayonnaise.
Sriracha sauce.
Sweet chili sauce. This should be widely available at any grocery store, but if you’ve never used it before, I recommend this.
Honey.
Lime juice.

How to make Bang Bang Shrimp in the Air Fryer

Start with all the prep – measure out ingredients, remove tails from the shrimp, and preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.

To make the sauce, add all sauce ingredients to a large bowl and whisk until it is combined. Set aside.

Toss the shrimp in cornstarch, then dunk in buttermilk. Then coat the shrimp in panko breadcrumbs and repeat until all shrimp is breaded.

Add the shrimp to the air fryer basket, making sure that no shrimp is touching. Spray with cooking spray and cook in the air fryer for a cooking time of about 5 minutes. The shrimp should be golden brown.

Remove from the air fryer basket and place in a large bowl. Pour over half the bang bang sauce and toss it all together.

Plate the shrimp with chives and drizzle on more bang bang sauce as needed.

Bang Bang sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. Unfortunately, the shrimp does not hold well. It will get soggy in the fridge and lose that amazing crispy outer shell. I recommend serving all Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp immediately.

Tips & Tricks

Use large or extra-large shrimp for the best texture
Be sure the shrimp aren’t touching in the air fryer so they crisp up evenly
Don’t skip the cornstarch — it helps create a light, crunchy coating
Toss the shrimp gently with the sauce so they stay crispy
You can prep the sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to a week

FAQs

Yes, just make sure they are fully thawed and patted dry before breading.

You can make a quick substitute by mixing ½ cup of milk with ½ tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar and letting it sit for 5 minutes.

It has a mild kick from the sriracha, but you can adjust the heat up or down depending on your preference.

You can! Bake at 425℉ for 12 to 15 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying lightly with oil for a crispier result.

Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp

Name: Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: Shrimp Breading:; 1 pound large raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed; ½ cup corn starch; ½ cup buttermilk; ½ cup panko breadcrumbs; Cooking spray; Chives for garnish (optional); Bang Bang Sauce:; 1 cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons sriracha; ¼ cup sweet chili sauce; 1 tablespoon honey; Juice from ½ a lime

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp is fried shrimp made easily in the air fryer and tossed in an amazing sweet and spicy bang bang sauce to make the perfect appetizer so you can skip the take-out! I fell in love with Bang Bang Shrimp many many years ago and it has been my favorite ever since.

Ingredients

Shrimp Breading:
1 pound large raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed
½ cup corn starch
½ cup buttermilk
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
Cooking spray
Chives for garnish (optional)
Bang Bang Sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sriracha
¼ cup sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon honey
Juice from ½ a lime

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, add all the bang bang sauce ingredients and whisk until everything is combined. Set aside.

Preheat the air fryer to 375℉ and coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray

Bread the shrimp, first in cornstarch, then buttermilk, and finally in the panko. Work in batches.

Add the shrimp to the air fryer basket, making sure the shrimp are not touching each other. Spray the shrimp with some cooking spray and cook for 5 minutes. Remove shrimp from the air fryer basket and place it in a mixing bowl. Repeat with the rest of the shrimp.

Toss the Shrimp with ½ of the bang bang sauce, leaving the other half to drizzle on more later. Plate shrimp and garnish with fresh chives.

Notes

You can make the sauce ahead of time and store it for later for up to 7 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

The shrimp is best served right away, it does not store well as it will get soggy in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 542Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 28gCholesterol: 136mgSodium: 1127mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 1gSugar: 19gProtein: 16g

Melissa

I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!

Easy Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp with Homemade Sauce