Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp: Restaurant-worthy Appetizer at Home (Beginner-Friendly!)
This recipe creates crispy, flavorful bang bang shrimp right in your air fryer, with a creamy and slightly spicy sauce for dipping. Perfect for beginners, it’s a breeze to make and sure to impress!
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Additional Time: 5 minutes (for mixing sauce) Total Time: 25 minutes Servings: 2-3
Ingredients:
- For the Shrimp:
- 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on or off, your preference)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- Cooking spray (avocado oil or olive oil recommended)
- For the Bang Bang Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1-2 tablespoons sriracha sauce (adjust to your spice preference)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (optional)
- For Garnish (optional):
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions:
- Prep the Shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. In three separate shallow bowls or plates, set up your breading station: flour in the first bowl, beaten egg in the second, and panko breadcrumbs in the third. Season the panko with a pinch of salt and pepper for extra flavor (optional).
- Breading the Shrimp: Working with one shrimp at a time, dredge it in the flour, then coat it completely in the beaten egg. Finally, roll it generously in the panko breadcrumbs, making sure it’s evenly coated. Repeat with all the shrimp.
- Air Frying: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange the breaded shrimp in a single layer, making sure they don’t touch each other (you may need to cook in batches depending on your air fryer size). Spray the tops of the shrimp with a light mist of cooking spray.
- Cooking the Shrimp: Air fry the shrimp for 5-7 minutes, then flip them over and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Making the Bang Bang Sauce: While the shrimp cook, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and rice vinegar (if using) in a small bowl until smooth. Adjust the amount of sriracha to your desired spice level.
- Serving: Once the shrimp are cooked through, toss them in the bang bang sauce until evenly coated. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds (optional) and serve immediately with extra sauce for dipping.
Tips:
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. This ensures even cooking and crispy shrimp.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free flour and gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. However, they may lose some crispness.