Description
A quick and easy 15-minute dinner featuring crispy, air-fried shrimp tossed in a creamy, spicy, and sweet Bang Bang sauce. This recipe offers restaurant-style flavor without the grease or mess of deep frying.
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (full-fat)
- 3 tablespoons sriracha sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 2 stalks green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (for garnish)
- Small handful cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pat the shrimp completely dry with paper towels. Place them in a bowl with buttermilk and toss to coat. Let soak for 10-15 minutes.
- In a shallow dish, whisk together cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Remove shrimp from buttermilk, letting excess drip off, then toss in the cornstarch mixture. Press gently to ensure an even, light coating. Place coated shrimp on a plate.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes. Line the basket with parchment paper (with holes for airflow) and lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd; cook in batches if necessary.
- Air fry at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until shrimp are pink, opaque, and crispy.
- While shrimp cook, whisk together mayonnaise, sriracha, honey, lime juice, and soy sauce in a jar or bowl until smooth.
- Remove shrimp from air fryer while hot and toss immediately in the Bang Bang sauce to help it adhere.
- Serve immediately, garnished with green onions, sesame seeds, and cilantro.
Notes
Ensure shrimp are completely dry before coating to achieve maximum crispiness. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this causes steaming instead of crisping. Flip shrimp halfway through cooking for even browning. The sauce can be made up to 3 days in advance. Reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 375°F for 3-4 minutes; do not microwave.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 12-15
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 580
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 22
Keywords: air fryer shrimp, bang bang shrimp, quick dinner, spicy shrimp, healthy seafood, weeknight meals, crispy shrimp