Description

A lighter, faster, and crunchier version of the popular restaurant appetizer made in an air fryer. This copycat recipe features perfectly crispy shrimp tossed in a sweet, spicy, and creamy Bang Bang sauce, ready in just 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

2 lbs jumbo shrimp (raw, peeled, deveined, tails on)
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cornstarch
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup mayonnaise (full-fat)
3 tablespoons sriracha sauce
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 teaspoon soy sauce
Cooking spray or oil for brushing

Instructions

Prep the shrimp: Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving tails on. Pat them completely dry with paper towels to ensure crispiness.
Make the coating: In a shallow bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Set up breading station: Pour buttermilk into one bowl and beat the egg in another.
Dip and coat: Dip each shrimp in buttermilk, then egg, then press firmly into the panko mixture to coat evenly. Place on a plate.
Preheat air fryer: Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray the basket with oil.
Air fry: Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the basket (cook in batches if necessary). Spray tops with oil. Air fry for 5 minutes, flip, spray again, and air fry for another 5-7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
Make the sauce: While shrimp cooks, whisk together mayonnaise, sriracha, honey, lime juice, minced garlic, and soy sauce in a small bowl.
Toss and serve: Transfer cooked shrimp to a large bowl, pour sauce over, and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

Notes

Ensure shrimp are completely dry before coating to prevent the breading from sliding off. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches to maintain crispiness. The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. For a lighter version, substitute half the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free panko and soy sauce.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: Asian Fusion

Nutrition

Serving Size: Approximately 6-8 sh
Calories: 280
Sugar: 6
Sodium: 450
Fat: 12
Saturated Fat: 2
Carbohydrates: 18
Fiber: 1
Protein: 22

Keywords: air fryer shrimp, bang bang shrimp, copycat recipe, crispy shrimp, spicy shrimp, seafood appetizer, quick dinner, air fryer recipes