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Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp

Crispy breaded shrimp air-fried until golden, then tossed in a creamy sweet-chili mayo sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes and lighter than the restaurant original.

32 minEasyServes 4360 cal/serving

Asian-AmericanAppetizerAir FryerStandardHigh ProteinPork-FreeAlcohol-Free

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Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs large shrimp (21-25 count), peeled, deveined
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • as needed cooking spray
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
  • 2 tsp sriracha
  • 2 tsp fresh lime juice
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.

  2. 2

    Make the bang bang sauce: whisk together 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup Thai sweet chili sauce, 2 tsp sriracha, and 2 tsp fresh lime juice in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.

  3. 3

    Pat 1.5 lbs peeled, deveined large shrimp (21-25 count) thoroughly dry with paper towels. Season with 1/2 tsp kosher salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.

  4. 4

    Set up a dredging station: one bowl with 1/3 cup cornstarch, one with 2 beaten large eggs, one with 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs. Dredge each shrimp in cornstarch, dip in egg, then coat in panko, pressing gently to adhere.

  5. 5

    Arrange the breaded shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overlapping. Spray evenly with cooking spray. Air fry at 400°F for 6 minutes, flip, spray again, and cook for another 4-6 minutes until golden and the shrimp is opaque and cooked through (internal temperature of 145°F / 63°C). Work in batches if needed.

  6. 6

    Transfer cooked shrimp to a large bowl. Drizzle bang bang sauce over the shrimp and toss gently to coat.

  7. 7

    Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with 2 thinly sliced scallions. Serve immediately with any remaining sauce on the side.

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Questions

What internal temperature should Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp reach?

For Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp, the air fryer is set to 400 F (about 205 C) in step 1. The longest stretch at that heat is 6 minutes, in step 5. Air fryers run hot or cool by model, so check two minutes early the first time. The target internal temperature is 400 F (about 205 C), given in step 5. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork. The target internal temperature is 145 F (about 65 C), given in step 5. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

How do I know when Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp is done?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 5: cook until golden and the shrimp is opaque and cooked through (internal temperature of 145°F / 63°C). A reading of 400 F on a thermometer settles it.

Why pat it dry first in Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp?

Step 3 reads: "Pat 1.5 lbs peeled, deveined large shrimp (21-25 count) thoroughly dry with paper towels." Surface water has to boil off before anything can brown. Drying at step 3 means the food sears in the first minute instead of steaming.

Is there a substitute for panko in Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp?

The entry for Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp calls for 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs. In its place: Coarse dry breadcrumbs, crushed cornflakes or crushed crackers all work. Fine breadcrumbs coat more densely, so use a little less.

Can I use frozen shrimp instead of shrimp in Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp?

Yes; most shrimp sold as fresh were frozen once already. Thaw them under cold running water for about ten minutes and pat them very dry so they sear instead of steaming. As written, the entry for Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp uses 1.5 lbs large shrimp (21-25 count), peeled, deveined.

How hot is Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp?

Moderately. The heat in Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp comes from 2 tsp sriracha. For a milder plate, start with half the sriracha and add more to taste at the end; nothing else in the method changes. For more, add it at the table rather than in the pot, so everyone sets their own level.

Does Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp contain shellfish?

Yes: 1.5 lbs large shrimp (21-25 count), peeled, deveined. The full allergen list for this entry is gluten, eggs and shellfish. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

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