Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp are a healthier alternative to the typically fried dish! Simple and super delicious, they're the perfect meal!
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp is a healthier take on the popular fried bang bang shrimp recipe! Bang Bang Sauce is such a delicious sauce; sweet and then a punch of spice, it's perfect on pretty much everything! If you haven't made my Bang Bang Chicken (in the instant pot), or my Bang Bang Shrimp Egg Rolls you need to give them a try! I also LOVE these Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp Skewers as a healthy meal!
Do you have an Air Fryer? I am in LOVE with mine because it makes “frying” food healthier! It does a great job crisping food and doesn't use any of the greasy oil! Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp is much healthier than the fried alternative because you don't have to deep fry them. The prep is pretty much the same because you still have to coat the shrimp with flour, egg and then the crumb mixture, but then you just pop them in the air fryer.
How to make Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp:
**scroll all the way down for a full ingredient list and printable directions**
It's very easy, and pretty much uses the same method as frying, but using the air fryer allows the oil to be left out!
- Prepare a pound of large shrimp: make sure they are deveined with tails and shells are removed. They should also be defrosted if frozen (follow package directions ). You can also use fresh shrimp.
- Setup all of the ingredients: it's easiest to make the air fryer bang bang shrimp in somewhat of an assembly line.
- Add the shrimp to a plastic bag with the flour and toss to coat. Tap off any excess flour before the next step.
- Add a few of the shrimp to the egg wash and toss to coat completely. Add the shrimp to the breadcrumb mixture and press the coating into the shrimp, being sure it sticks. Repeat for all of the shrimp.
- **Don't want to bread the shrimp? Use this basic seasoned Air Fryer Shrimp recipe.
- To cook the Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp:
- Place the shrimp into the air fryer, adding only as many as will fit in a single layer. Give a quick spray of olive oil over the tops of the shrimp, then close the air fryer. Set the temperature at 400 degrees and the timer to 5 minutes. When the time is up, carefully flip the shrimp over, spray with olive oil, then close and set again to 400 degrees and set the timer for 3 minutes.
- Remove when the time is up, then repeat until the rest of the shrimp are cooked.
How to make Bang Bang Sauce (lightened up):
Bang bang sauce is a sweet and spicy sauce that tastes great on EVERYTHING! The traditional version is made with full fat mayonnaise, but for this recipe I’ve lightened the sauce up. Since we are using the air fryer, and by doing so, saving a ton of fat and calories by not deep frying, I figured it would be nice to have a healthier sauce as well. The difference is Greek yogurt is used instead of using all mayonnaise! To make: Add all of the sauce ingredients into a bowl or jar (scroll down for amounts), then mix until completely combined. Place in the fridge until ready to use!
How and when to serve Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp:
- Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp makes a perfect party appetizer! Serve it on a tray (add the sauce right before serving), with small forks or toothpicks on the side! Top with green onions or cilantro!
- Bang Bang Shrimp also makes a great meal! Serve it over rice or cauliflower rice as a lower carb option and dig in! Top the shrimp with the sauce (add extra to the rice- YUM), then garnish with green onions and some cabbage slaw!
- Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp would be GREAT in Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos! You can find my popular version of the recipe here, just substitute the deep-fried shrimp with the air fryer bang bang shrimp!
- Add Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp into a quesadilla for lunch or the another great party appetizer option!
What type of Air Fryer should I use for this recipe?
There are many Air Fryers to choose from, but I love my PowerXL Vortex Air fryer! Here are some other great options:
- Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven, 6 Quart: 6-in-1, Broil, Roast, Dehydrate, Bake, Non-stick and Dishwasher-Safe Basket, Stainless Steel
- COSORI Air Fryer 5.8QT - Large Hot Electric Oven Oilless Cooker with 8 Quick Setting Recommendation
Like appetizers as much as I do?!?! Checkout these other recipes from Domestic Superhero:
- Sloppy Joe Stuffed Bread takes all the effort out of making individual sloppy joes! It’s easy, delicious, and a meal your whole family will enjoy!
- Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks will leave everyone’s mouthwatering. Made on fresh dough and loaded with cheese, this is a winner!
- Baked avocado fries are creamy, crunchy, and healthy without any oily mess! They’re the perfect health conscious snack, with only a handful of ingredients!
- Instant Pot Garlic Hummus has only a handful of ingredients; Save money and know exactly what’s in your food with this recipe!
- Jalapeño Popper Cheese Bread is the perfect blend of spice and creaminess. This appetizer will not last long at your next party!
- Stuffed Tuna Melt Bread takes the classic sandwich to a new level. Creamy tuna topped with tomatoes and cheese makes for the perfect lunch or party snack!
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp are topped with a healthier version of the classic delicious sweet and spicy Bang Bang Sauce. They’re the perfect lightened up appetizer or meal!
- 1- pound large cooked shrimp peeled, deveined, and tails removed, defrosted
- olive oil spray
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup panko
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2 medium eggs
- 1 TBS water
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt, (plain, 2% or nonfat)
- 2 TBS light mayonnaise
- 2 TBS sriracha
- 2 TBS sugar
- 1 TBS rice vinegar
- chopped green onions or chopped cilantro, optional
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Setup all of the ingredients; it's easiest to make the air fryer bang bang shrimp in somewhat of an assembly line.
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Place flour into a large Ziploc bag. Place eggs and water into a small bowl and beat together. Place cornstarch, panko breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika in a shallow container and mix well.
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Add the shrimp to the plastic bag with the flour and toss to coat. Tap off any excess flour off before the next step.
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Add a few shrimp to the egg wash, and toss to coat completely.
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Add the shrimp to the breadcrumb mixture, toss and press the coating into the shrimp, being sure it sticks. Repeat for all of the shrimp.
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Wash hands with Lava® Soap to remove all of the grime from your hands!
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Place the shrimp into the air fryer, adding only as many as will fit in a single layer. Give a quick spray of olive oil over the tops of the shrimp, then close the air fryer.
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Set the temperature at 400 degrees and the timer to 5 minutes. When the time is up, carefully flip the shrimp over, spray with olive oil, then close and set again to 400 degrees and set the timer for 3 minutes.
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Remove when the time is up, then repeat until the rest of the shrimp are cooked.
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In a small bowl, add Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, sugar, sriracha, and rice vinegar. Whisk to combine; place in fridge until ready to serve.
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Place cooked bang bang shrimp on a tray, then top with bang bang sauce right before serving. Add chopped green onion or chopped cilantro over the top of the bang bang shrimp and enjoy!
Nutritional information (calculated from listed ingredients) based off 6 servings: 226 calories, 4 grams of fat, 27 grams carbohydrates, 20 grams protein, 1 gram fiber, 6 grams sugar. Weight Watchers: 6 points per serving
Toni
This is awesome! My husband loved it!
Toni
My husband really loved it!! Such a huge hit!
Julie Blanner
These look delicious! Can't wait to make this for my family.
Anna
This dish was a huge hit here! Love that I can make easy shrimp dinner in my air fryer!
Allyson
I am so glad y'all loved it! I love using my air fryer and lava soap to cleanup!!
Brandy O'Neill
Looks beyond delicious and love that it was made with an air fryer!!
Catalina
I love how crispy these shrimps look! I should definitely try this soon!
Taylor
Love the idea of making these in the air fryer! And that sauce looks delicious!
Chrissie Baker
This is the best recipe! I have made it for my family probably 10 times or more. My husband says he would like to have it at least once per week. Great recipe! Thank you!
Allyson
I am so glad y'all love it so much!!!
Stephanie
Making these in the air fryer was so easy. Thanks for this amazing recipe!
Jocelyn
I love the option to make this shrimp lighter by using the air fryer! And that sauce is amazing!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
Oh yum! These are gorgeous!
Seburnett
Amazingly delicious! Thanks for sharing! We loved it. I served it as a rice bowl with a cabbage slaw with lime sauce, green onions and broccoli. Cannot wait to make it again! ...or for leftover lunch tomorrow!
Donna
I have a bag of cooked frozen shrimp in my freezer. Is there a way to modify this recipe and use the cooked shrimp? I am fairly new to the Foodi Ninja but this looks amazing.
Thanks
Donna
Allyson
Yeah just use the cooked shrimp and cook for 2 minutes per side in the air fryer!
Nikki
Is the 1/2 cup cornstarch measurement correct? It seems like a lot of cornstarch. We made the recipe and it was very good but in the absence of a hefty spray of oil they came out fairly white as opposed to golden brown and gave a somewhat dry-mouth sensation because of all the cornstarch.
Please advise. Thanks!
E
I ran into the same issue. The shrimp was good, but without a liberal dose of oil there are dusty/powdery patches. I will have to find a new recipe 🙁
Allyson
You may have had too much cornstarch on the shrimp. Make sure you tap off the excess before cooking!
Matthew Dumas
Same here, I followed the directions but didnt have olive oil spray so i left it out thinking it wouldnt be that big of a deal, apparently it was. If I did it again, Id leave the cornstarch out completely.
D. Bailey
Looks amazing, but I prefer to use raw shrimp. Should I cook first, or just cook longer in my Air Fryer Oven?
Sarah
Be very careful with the amount of cornstarch you use. I followed the recipe to a T and my shrimp came out dusty and dry because of it. After the first batch came out that way I tried to coat my shrimp with more oil before putting them in the air fryer. It helped a little, but they were still dry.