Amazing Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are quicker and simpler than you think—ready in under 30 minutes. You don’t need to visit a restaurant to enjoy crispy fried shrimp tossed in a sweet, tangy bang bang sauce.
Perfect for Taco Tuesday or any busy weeknight. Serve in corn or flour tortillas, or spoon the shrimp over rice or pasta for a satisfying family meal.
👩🏻🍳 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These tacos feature a creamy, homemade bang bang sauce and crisp, golden shrimp. They come together fast and deliver bold flavor without complicated steps. The dish is versatile—pile the shrimp into warm tortillas or serve them over rice or pasta for a different take.
If you like shrimp tacos with bright seasoning and texture, this is an easy crowd-pleaser. Add your favorite toppings—shredded cabbage, carrots, fresh herbs, or a squeeze of lime—to make the tacos your own.
🥘 Ingredients Needed
- Mayonnaise – the base of the bang bang sauce.
- Thai sweet chili sauce – adds sweet heat and texture.
- Old Bay seasoning – classic seafood flavor.
- Sriracha – for extra heat; adjust to taste.
- Buttermilk – helps the cornstarch adhere to the shrimp.
- Cornstarch – yields a very crispy coating.
- Raw shrimp – peeled and deveined for convenience.
- Oil – avocado or any high smoke-point oil for frying.
- Green onions – a fresh garnish.
- Tortillas – flour or corn, warmed.
- Lettuce, cabbage, carrots (optional) – for crunch and color.
🔪 Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Old Bay, and sriracha. Taste and adjust heat or sweetness if desired; set most of the sauce aside for serving.
- Place buttermilk in one bowl and cornstarch in another. Dip the shrimp in buttermilk, then coat thoroughly in cornstarch.
- Heat oil in a deep, heavy-bottomed pan to about 375°F (moderate-high). Test with one shrimp; if it sizzles, fry the rest in batches for 1–2 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
- Drain cooked shrimp on a rack or paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Toss the warm shrimp with about three quarters of the prepared sauce so they’re well coated. Reserve the remaining sauce for drizzling at the table.
- Assemble tacos: warm the tortillas, add shredded lettuce or cabbage if using, top with sauced shrimp, sprinkle with chopped green onions, and finish with the remaining sauce and a squeeze of lime.
👪 FAQs
Bang bang sauce is usually a creamy blend of mayonnaise and a sweet chili component, plus a hot sauce for heat. This version uses sweet chili sauce and sriracha with a touch of Old Bay to complement seafood.
Either works. Flour tortillas are soft and pliable, while corn tortillas are gluten-free and offer a more traditional corn flavor. Choose the one you prefer.
Plan on about 4 ounces of shrimp per adult. One pound of shrimp generally serves four as tacos; adjust up for heartier appetites.
💭 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Use an oil with a high smoke point (avocado, canola, or peanut) for frying.
- Fry the shrimp in batches so they cook evenly and stay crispy.
- Buy peeled and deveined shrimp to save prep time.
- Season the cornstarch with a little salt and pepper for added flavor.
- Leftover shrimp are excellent tossed with pasta or added to a salad the next day.
Bold, spicy, and addictive—these bang bang shrimp tacos are sure to become a family favorite.
📖 Substitutions and Variations
- Serve the sauced shrimp over rice or pasta instead of in tortillas.
- For a lighter sauce, substitute plain Greek yogurt for part or all of the mayonnaise.
- Increase sriracha for more heat, or reduce it for a milder sauce.
- Add fresh toppings: diced tomato, cilantro, radish, jalapeño, or avocado.
🥫 Storage and Reheating
Store any leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. Reheat briefly in a skillet over medium-low heat to help restore crispness. Keep the sauce separate until serving to preserve texture.
⏲️ Make Ahead Instructions
Prepare the sauce in advance and chill. Peel and devein shrimp ahead of time, and shred any vegetables you plan to use—store them in airtight containers until you’re ready to assemble.
💡 What To Serve With This Dish
These tacos pair well with cilantro-lime rice, a simple slaw, roasted or air-fried vegetables, or a light quinoa salad. A wedge of lime and extra bang bang sauce at the table complete the meal.
🦐 More Shrimp Recipes You’ll Love
- Shrimp Grilled Cheese — a fun twist on a comfort classic.
- Shrimp Curry with Broccoli and Rice — savory and filling.
- Shrimp in Lemon Butter Sauce — bright and versatile.
- Shrimp Scampi Without Wine — a creamy pasta favorite.
Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Homemade Bang Bang Sauce
If you try this recipe, consider sharing feedback or a photo—it’s always great to see how you make it your own.
📋 Recipe Card
Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- ¼ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon sriracha (adjust to taste)
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- ¾ cup cornstarch
- 1 pound raw shrimp, cleaned
- 1 cup avocado oil (or other high smoke-point oil)
- 3 tablespoons chopped green onions
- 4 tortillas (soft taco size)
- 1½ cups chopped lettuce, red cabbage, and/or shredded carrots (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk together mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Old Bay, and sriracha; set most of the sauce aside.
- Put buttermilk in one bowl and cornstarch in another. Dip shrimp in buttermilk then coat in cornstarch.
- Heat oil in a deep pan to about 375°F. Fry shrimp in batches for 1–2 minutes per side until golden.
- Drain shrimp on a rack. Toss with about ¾ of the prepared sauce so they are well coated.
- Top shrimp with chopped green onions. Place shredded vegetables on tortillas, divide the shrimp between tortillas, and drizzle with remaining sauce to serve.
Notes
- Serve over rice or pasta as an alternative to tortillas.
- For a lighter sauce, use plain low-fat Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
- Add salt and pepper to the cornstarch for extra seasoning.
- Adjust sriracha to vary the heat level.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary based on products and portion sizes.
Thanks for reading! Happy cooking—enjoy these bold, crunchy tacos with your favorite toppings.
