Name: Best Bang Bang Shrimp
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: Shrimp:; 1 lb large shrimp; Cornstarch + flour + club soda batter; Sauce:; ½ cup mayo · ¼ cup sweet chili; Sriracha · honey · rice vinegar

Introduction

Best Bang Bang Shrimp is pure crispy, creamy, spicy-sweet magic: tender shrimp coated in a light, shatteringly crisp batter and tossed in the iconic mayo-sweet chili-sriracha sauce that made Bonefish Grill famous — but better, because you made it in 20 minutes. This addictively delicious appetizer (or main over rice) delivers perfect crunch and that signature tangy heat in every bite. Served in a bowl with extra sauce and scallions, this Best Bang Bang Shrimp recipe offers a stunning, appetizing aesthetic that instantly turns any night into a restaurant-worthy feast.

Why you’ll love this recipe

20 minutes total — faster than takeout.
Crispiest shrimp ever — cornstarch + club soda trick.
Perfect sauce balance — neither too sweet nor too spicy.
Air fryer or fried — both methods included.
Endlessly riffable — chicken, cauliflower, or extra spicy.

Ingredients (4 appetizers or 2 main servings)

Shrimp & Batter

1 lb (450 g) large shrimp, peeled & deveined (tail-on or off)
½ cup (60 g) cornstarch
½ cup (65 g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp garlic powder
¾ cup (180 ml) cold club soda or beer
Oil for frying (or air fryer spray)

Bang Bang Sauce

½ cup (120 g) mayonnaise
¼ cup (60 ml) Thai sweet chili sauce
1–3 tbsp sriracha (adjust heat)
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp rice vinegar or lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)

Garnish

Sliced green onions
Sesame seeds
Lime wedges

Essential Tools and Equipment

Large skillet or wok (for frying)
Wire rack + baking sheet
Air fryer (optional)

Step-by-step process

Pat shrimp aggressively dry — moisture kills crisp.
Make batter — whisk cornstarch, flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Add cold club soda → stir gently until just combined (lumpy = good).
Heat oil to 375 °F (190 °C) — 2 inches in a skillet. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
Coat & fry — dip shrimp in batter → let excess drip → fry 2–3 minutes until golden and crisp (do batches). Drain on a rack. Air fryer alternative: spray shrimp + basket heavily → 400 °F 8–10 min, flip halfway.
Make sauce — whisk mayo, sweet chili, sriracha, honey, vinegar, and garlic. Taste → adjust heat/sweet.
Toss — gently fold hot shrimp in sauce until glossy (reserve some sauce for dipping).
Serve immediately — piled high with green onions, sesame seeds, and lime.

Mistakes to avoid

Wet shrimp — soggy coating; dry thoroughly.
Overmixing batter — tough shrimp; lumps = crisp bubbles.
Low oil temp — greasy; 375 °F exact.
Saucing too early — crisp dies; toss right before serving.
Too much batter — heavy coating; light dip only.

Variations of the Best Bang Bang Shrimp

Bang Bang Chicken — chicken tenders, same batter/sauce.
Cauliflower — florets → same method = vegan.
Extra Spicy — double sriracha + fresh chilies.
Baked — 425 °F on rack 15–18 min, flip + spray.
Tacos — stuff in tortillas with slaw.

Tips for better storage & make-ahead

Make-ahead — fry shrimp → cool → fridge 24 hrs. Reheat 400 °F air fryer 4–5 min → sauce fresh.
Sauce — fridge 2 weeks.
Freezer raw — breaded shrimp → freeze flat → fry from frozen +2 min.

Frequently Asked Questions

No club soda? Cold water + ½ tsp baking powder.
Gluten-free? Rice flour + cornstarch + GF panko for extra crisp.
Less mayo? Half Greek yogurt.
Air fryer only? Spray heavily → 400 °F 8–10 min.
Double batch? Fry in small batches to keep oil temp.

Conclusion

Best Bang Bang Shrimp is pure crispy-spicy-sweet perfection — each golden, saucy shrimp bursting with creamy heat tastes like the appetizer you dream about. One skillet (or air fryer) turns ordinary shrimp into the most addictive, most requested dish that disappears with zero leftovers. Keep sweet chili sauce and sriracha stocked, and restaurant-level bang bang bliss is literally 20 minutes away. Whether it’s game day, date night, or “because it’s Tuesday,” these shrimp deliver pure joy and sticky fingers in perfect harmony. One bite, endless “I could eat 50 more,” and the quiet thrill of bang bang mastery.