The air fryer gives bang bang shrimp the perfect crispy crunchy texture without the need for frying. Combined with the creamy sweet and spicy sauce, this meal is right up there with takeout and on the table faster than delivery.

The first time I tried bang bang shrimp at Bonefish Grill, I was hooked. The sauce is the ultimate combination of sweet, creamy, spicy and savory that hooks you from the first bite. I play around with it a bunch, having made everything from baked bang bang shrimp to bang bang cauliflower and bang bang chicken skewers on the grill but never utilizing the air fryer until this recipe.

What an oversight that was! The air fryer is the absolute perfect way to mimic the original bang bang recipe you get in the restaurant with the crispy, crunchy coated exterior without the mess of frying at home. The result is what is so far my absolute favorite recreation of any bang bang variation that exists. Whether you call this bang bang, firecracker, dynamite or boom boom shrimp (all these names are pretty much the same thing depending on which chain restaurant you’re at), this is a recipe worth making.

A hand using chopsticks to pick up crispy, saucy bang bang shrimp made in the air fryer garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, served with a side of brown rice in a bowl.

Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Highlights

Works as a meal or appetizer. It’s great for parties with the bang bang sauce served on the side as a dip. For a main course, enjoy it in tacos, as a rice bowl or in a salad.
Perfectly balanced flavors in the sauce.
Air fryer makes this quick and easy.
Just 10 minutes of prep!

Ingredients You’ll Need For Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp

Five bowls and plates containing peeled shrimp, cornstarch, breadcrumbs, spices, salt, and pepper, along with two eggs, are arranged on a white marble surface, ready for meal preparation.

I tested this recipe with and without an egg wash and ultimately, the extra step of dipping the shrimp in the egg makes for a crunchier outcome. While you can skip that step, I highly recommend the using the eggs.

Shrimp — For serving 4 people, you’ll want about a pound of shrimp. I opt for wild-caught, shelled, deveined and tails off. Tails on is fine but we all know it’s much easier to eat shrimp without them.
Cornstarch — This is a key ingredient in getting the crave-worthy crunch to the shrimp. Tapioca starch or arrowroot powder can both be used as substitutes.
Eggs — An egg wash helps the panko coating stick to the shrimp.
Panko breadcrumbs — If you want crunchy, panko is the way to go. Use gluten-free panko if needed, or as noted in the recipe card below, crushed rice crackers make a great GF substitute as well.
Seasonings — A combination of salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder is combined with the breadcrumbs to season the shrimp.

The bang bang sauce consists of the following:

Mayonnaise — I’m typically not a mayo person but this is one of the few instances I don’t mind it. When it’s combined with the all the other ingredients I find it way less offensive than usual. If you just cannot do mayo though, I’ve subbed Greek yogurt for this before. You’ll want to add a bit more honey to counter the tartness of the yogurt.
Sweet chili sauce
Sriracha — this can be adjusted to your spice preference
Honey
Rice vinegar

A bowl of crispy bang bang shrimp bites topped with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, served alongside a portion of brown rice.

Step by Step Instructions

The full recipe card can be found below, but this step by step overview gives you a good visualization of how to make the bang bang shrimp in the air fryer.

Best Ways To Serve

If you’re enjoying this as a meal, I prefer to use the bang bang shrimp as the main component of a rice bowl. Garnished with scallions, paired with brown or white rice and your favorite vegetable, this is a quick and flavorful meal.

The other main course option is to eat these as tacos. Load the air fried shrimp into tortillas, add your favorite salsa or slaw, douse in a squeeze of lime and finish with fresh cilantro. Can’t beat that for taco night. It’s a more indulgent option than blackened shrimp tacos.

Bang bang shrimp also does well as a salad topper. If you’re someone who craves texture in your salads, this is a great way to achieve that without needing a ton of extra ingredients. I usually stick to basic greens like kale, baby lettuce or Romaine but any salad with an Asian flair is a good pairing too.

A close-up of chopsticks holding a piece of crispy air fryer bang bang shrimp topped with sesame seeds and green onion, with a bowl of more cauliflower and rice in the blurred background.

Storage

Bang bang shrimp is best eaten fresh. It’s pretty hard to retain the crispy texture of the shrimp once it’s been tossed in the sauce, but you can store this in the fridge for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing the shrimp.

Reheating is best done in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350°F.

From oil sprays to muffin cups and from pizza pans to racks, we've got them all, and they make fantastic Christmas presents, too!

A bowl of crispy, golden-brown air fryer bang bang shrimp pieces topped with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, served over a bed of rice.

More Shrimp Recipes To Try

These frozen shrimp are made in the air fryer too and come with a garlic ginger sauce.

You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make both General Tso shrimp and shrimp lo mein at home with these recipes.

If you want anther appetizer option for shrimp, try this popcorn shrimp recipe that’s baked in the oven but also come with directions for air frying if preferred.