Description
Crispy, spicy, and creamy bang bang shrimp made in an air fryer for a healthier, faster alternative to takeout. This recipe delivers restaurant-quality texture in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled, deveined, thawed if frozen, and patted very dry)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free 1:1 blend)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper (to taste)
- Cooking spray (olive oil or avocado oil)
- 1/2 cup full-fat mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons Sriracha
- 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- Cilantro (for garnish, optional)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add the dried shrimp to the flour mixture and toss gently until lightly coated. Shake off any excess flour.
- Arrange the coated shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap.
- Spray the shrimp lightly with cooking spray.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then flip the shrimp and spray the other side with cooking spray.
- Cook for another 3-5 minutes until the shrimp are pink, opaque, and crispy.
- While shrimp cook, whisk together mayonnaise, Sriracha, sweet chili sauce, lime juice, honey, and minced garlic in a small bowl.
- Transfer hot shrimp to a large bowl and toss with about half to two-thirds of the sauce.
- Serve immediately with remaining sauce on the side, garnished with cilantro and sesame seeds.
Notes
Ensure shrimp are completely dry before coating to achieve crispiness. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary. Preheating the air fryer is crucial for texture. Store shrimp and sauce separately in the refrigerator to prevent sogginess.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/4 of
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 22
Keywords: air fryer shrimp, bang bang shrimp, easy dinner, seafood recipe, air fryer recipes, spicy shrimp, healthy takeout alternative