🍤🔥 Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp

Crispy, golden shrimp coated in a creamy, sweet, and spicy Bang Bang sauce—all made in the air fryer for an easy appetizer or quick weeknight meal.

This Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp delivers the irresistible crunch of fried shrimp without needing to deep-fry. Large shrimp are coated in seasoned cornstarch and panko breadcrumbs, air-fried until crisp and golden, then tossed in a creamy sauce made with mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and fresh lime juice.

Serve them as an appetizer, over rice, in tacos, or on top of a fresh salad.

⏱️ Recipe Information

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
Total Time: 25–30 minutes
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
Method: Air Fryer

🛒 Ingredients

🍤 For the Shrimp

1 lb (450 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 large egg
½ cup (60 g) cornstarch
½ cup (50 g) panko breadcrumbs
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Cooking spray or a little oil, for the air fryer

🌶️ For the Bang Bang Sauce

½ cup (120 g) mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
2 tablespoons sriracha, adjusted to taste
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

Optional Garnishes

Sliced green onions
Fresh cilantro
Sesame seeds
Lime wedges
Red pepper flakes

👩‍🍳 Instructions

🍤 Prepare the Shrimp

1. Pat the Shrimp Dry

Place the peeled and deveined shrimp on a plate lined with paper towels.

Pat them thoroughly dry.

Removing excess moisture helps the coating adhere better and creates a crispier exterior.

2. Set Up the Coating Stations

Place the cornstarch in one shallow bowl.

In a second bowl, whisk the egg until smooth.

In a third bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.

Stir thoroughly to distribute the seasonings evenly.

3. Coat the Shrimp in Cornstarch

Working with one shrimp at a time, lightly coat it in cornstarch.

Shake off any excess.

4. Dip in Egg

Dip the cornstarch-coated shrimp into the beaten egg, making sure it’s lightly covered.

Allow excess egg to drip back into the bowl.

5. Coat With Panko

Transfer the shrimp to the seasoned panko mixture.

Press gently so the breadcrumbs adhere to all sides.

Repeat until all shrimp are coated.

🔥 Air Fry the Shrimp

6. Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for approximately 3–5 minutes, if your model requires preheating.

Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray or brush with a small amount of oil.

7. Arrange the Shrimp

Place the breaded shrimp in the air fryer basket in a single layer.

Avoid overcrowding.

Work in batches if necessary.

Lightly spray the tops of the shrimp with cooking spray.

8. Cook

Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 5–6 minutes.

Carefully flip the shrimp.

Spray lightly with more cooking spray if the coating looks dry.

Continue air frying for another 4–6 minutes, or until the shrimp are golden and cooked through.

The exact time depends on the size of the shrimp and your air fryer.

9. Check for Doneness

The shrimp should be:

Golden and crisp
Opaque throughout
Firm but tender

Avoid overcooking because shrimp can become rubbery quickly.

🌶️ Make the Bang Bang Sauce

10. Combine the Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and lime juice.

Mix until smooth and creamy.

11. Adjust the Flavor

Taste the sauce.

Add additional sriracha if you want more heat.

For a sweeter sauce, add a little more sweet chili sauce.

For more brightness, add another small squeeze of lime juice.

🍤 Toss the Shrimp

12. Coat the Shrimp

Place the hot crispy shrimp in a large mixing bowl.

Drizzle the Bang Bang sauce over them.

Toss gently until the shrimp are evenly coated.

For maximum crunch, use only enough sauce to coat the shrimp and serve any extra sauce on the side.

13. Garnish

Transfer the shrimp to a serving platter.

Sprinkle with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, or fresh cilantro.

Serve immediately with lime wedges.

⭐ Chef’s Tips

Dry the shrimp first

Excess moisture can prevent the coating from becoming crisp.

Don’t skip the cornstarch

Cornstarch creates a light, crisp layer beneath the panko and helps the coating stick.

Don’t overcrowd the air fryer

Air needs to circulate around each shrimp for proper browning and crisping.

Lightly spray the coating

A small amount of oil helps the panko turn beautifully golden without deep frying.

Sauce just before serving

The longer the shrimp sit in the sauce, the softer the coating becomes. Toss immediately before eating for maximum crunch.

Cook shrimp in a single layer

Overlapping shrimp can lead to uneven cooking and soggy areas.

🌶️ Adjust the Spice

Mild

Use 1 tablespoon sriracha or less.

Medium

Follow the recipe as written.

Hot

Increase the sriracha to 3 tablespoons.

Extra Hot

Add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the sauce.

🍋 Easy Variations

Honey Bang Bang Shrimp

Add 1 teaspoon honey to the sauce for extra sweetness.

Garlic Bang Bang Shrimp

Add 1 minced garlic clove to the sauce.

Lime Bang Bang Shrimp

Increase the lime juice slightly and add a little lime zest.

Coconut Bang Bang Shrimp

Replace some of the panko with finely shredded unsweetened coconut.

Buffalo Bang Bang Shrimp

Add a splash of buffalo sauce to the Bang Bang mixture for a spicy twist.

Sesame Bang Bang Shrimp

Add ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil to the sauce and finish with sesame seeds.

🍚 How to Serve

These shrimp are delicious served over:

Steamed jasmine rice
Coconut rice
Fried rice
Noodles
Salad greens
Slaw
Rice bowls

They’re also fantastic tucked into tacos or served as an appetizer with extra sauce for dipping.

🥗 Build a Bang Bang Shrimp Bowl

For a complete meal, layer:

Warm jasmine rice
Crisp lettuce or cabbage
Air-fried Bang Bang shrimp
Cucumber
Avocado
Carrots
Green onions
Extra Bang Bang sauce
Sesame seeds

Finish with fresh lime juice.

🧊 Storage

Store cooked shrimp and sauce separately in airtight containers.

Refrigerate promptly and use within 2–3 days.

Keeping the sauce separate helps preserve the crispy coating.

🔥 Reheating

Reheat the shrimp in an air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 3–5 minutes, until hot and crisp.

Avoid microwaving when possible because it can make the breading soft.

Toss with freshly prepared or reserved sauce after reheating.

❄️ Freezing

For the best texture, freeze the breaded but uncooked shrimp rather than shrimp that has already been coated in sauce.

Arrange breaded shrimp in a single layer and freeze until firm.

Transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 1 month.

Air fry directly from frozen at 400°F (200°C), adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time as needed.

Prepare fresh Bang Bang sauce for serving.

🍤🌶️ Final Result

This Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp is crispy, juicy, creamy, sweet, tangy, and wonderfully spicy.

The crunchy panko coating provides the perfect contrast to the smooth Bang Bang sauce, while a squeeze of lime and fresh herbs adds a bright finishing touch.

Crispy shrimp + creamy sweet heat = an irresistible appetizer or easy dinner! 🍤🔥🌶️✨