Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Crispy air-fried shrimp coated in panko and tossed with a sweet and spicy bang bang sauce.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 444kcal
Ingredients
For the Shrimp:
- 1 lb cooked large shrimp peeled and deveined (tails off for easiest eating)
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Cooking spray or olive oil spray
For the Bang Bang Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 tbsp sriracha to taste
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
Instructions
- Start by preheating your air fryer to 400°F so it's ready when you need it. While it heats up, dry your shrimp thoroughly with paper towels. Mix the cornstarch, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until everything is evenly combined.
- Add the dried shrimp to this mixture and toss them gently until each piece is lightly coated, then shake off any excess breading.
- Spray your air fryer basket with oil and arrange the shrimp in a single layer, making sure they're not touching. Give the tops a light spray of oil too. Cook for 4-5 minutes, then flip each shrimp and spray again before cooking another 4-5 minutes until they're golden brown and opaque all the way through.
- While the shrimp cook, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, and rice vinegar until the sauce is smooth and glossy.
- When the shrimp are done, you can either toss them gently in the sauce or drizzle it over them if you want to keep maximum crunch.
Notes
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket - Shrimp need space for air to circulate around them. Cook in batches if necessary to maintain that crispy coating.
- Pat shrimp completely dry - Any moisture on the shrimp will create steam in the air fryer and prevent proper crisping. Take an extra minute to dry them well.
- Shake off excess breading - Too much coating will fall off and burn in the air fryer basket. A light, even coating is all you need.
- Make the sauce while shrimp cook - The timing works perfectly if you prepare the bang bang sauce during those 10 minutes of cooking time.
- Serve immediately - These air fryer bang bang shrimp are best when they're fresh and hot. The coating stays crispiest right out of the air fryer.
Nutrition
Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 155mg | Sodium: 1758mg | Potassium: 184mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 267IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Vitamin D: 0.2µg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 1mg