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This easy 30-minute Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos recipe is a fun take on one of my favourite restaurant go-to dinner orders. And if you’ve ever had Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos, you know it’s all about the sauce, and mine has only 4 ingredients that you likely have in your fridge at this very moment. Take your next taco Tuesday up a notch and surprise your family with this easy and delicious recipe; I promise it won’t disappoint!
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Ingredients
Here is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make my Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos. For the exact detailed measurements and ingredients, please scroll to the bottom of this page to review my recipe card.
- Shrimp
- Buttermilk
- Hot sauce
- Simple seasonings
- Canola oil
- Cornstarch
- Mayonnaise
- Sweet Thai chilli sauce
- Honey
- Lime
- Corn tortilla’s
- Cilantro
- Cabbage
- Avacado
- Green onion
- Raddish
Tips before getting started
Let the shrimp marinade for at least 10 minutes in the buttermilk marinade, ideally up to 20 minutes.
Prep your veggies before getting started. This will ensure that once the shrimp are fried and ready, you can assemble and eat right away.
Let the shrimp rest on a wire rack after frying for 1-2 minutes, to cool slightly before adding the bang bang sauce.
Be sure to have your oil temperature to at least 375˚F before adding your shrimp.
Try not to overcrowd the pan, so work in batches if you need. Adding too many shrimp to the pan will cause the temperature to decrease which can result in your shrimp becoming soggy.
Feel free to use any veggies you like in these tacos: purple cabbage, carrot, cucumber, romaine lettuce, or pickled onions, all taste really delicious.
Substitutions & FAQ’s
Can I use an air-fryer instead?
You can! Spray the tops of the shrimp lightly with a neutral oil and air-fry for 3 to 4 minutes at 400˚F, flipping halfway. Be sure not to overcrowd the air-fryer and work in batches if you need.
Can I adjust the bang bang sauce to be less spicy?
If you aren’t a huge fan of the heat, don’t add any of the hot sauce to the shrimp marinade and remove it from the bang bang sauce. It will still taste delicious.
Storing & reheating
I recommend storing the shrimp in a separate container. To reheat simply add to a lined baking sheet and bake for 5-6 minutes at 400˚F. Keep in mind the shrimp won’t be as crispy as the first time, but they will still be delicious! Store any leftover bang bang sauce in an airtight container and use within 7 days.
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Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos
Ingredients
Shrimp:
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed (fresh or frozen then thawed)
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tbsp hot sauce, I use Frank's Red Hot
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- pinch cayenne pepper, optional
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- canola oil, or peanut/avocado oil, for frying the shrimp
Bang Bang Sauce:
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup Thai sweet chili sauce ,
- 1 tbsp hot sauce, I use Frank's Red Hot
- 1 tbsp honey
Toppings:
- corn tortilla's
- cabbage slaw, bagged or chopped fresh
- cilantro, chopped
- green onion, chopped
- avocado, sliced
- radish, sliced
- lime , quartered
Instructions
- Start by preparing your shrimp.Using paper towel, pat the shrimp down to remove as much moisture as your can.
- To a medium sized bowl add all of the shrimp ingredients (except the cornstarch and oil) and set aside while you prepare your bang bang sauce and veggies.Let marinade for at least 10 minutes, but preferably 20.
- Chop up the veggies: cabbage, cilantro, green onion, avocado, radish and fresh limes. Set aside.
- Prepare your bang bang sauce by adding all of the ingredients to a medium sized bowl. Taste and adjust accordingly.
- To a large plate, add your cornstarch and spread it out evenly covering the entire surface of the plate. Add the shrimp one-by-one to the cornstarch, coat both sides, shaking off any excess.Tip: add the shrimp in an even layer and avoid them touching to ensure an even coating of cornstarch. Use one hand to add the shrimp to the cornstarch, and the other hand to press the shrimp into the cornstarch and then flip.
- To a large pan, add your oil; enough to fully submerge a piece of shrimp. Set to medium/high heat, and once hot, add your shrimp, working in batches to avoid crowding.Fry for 1 to 2 minutes per side, or until cooked through and very lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool while you prepare your second batch.Tip: once you are finished frying your shrimp, let the oil come to room temperature, strain, and pour into a glass jar to use a second time when you make this recipe again.
- Add the cook shrimp to a large bowl and pour in half of the bang bang sauce. Gently toss, just until the shrimp have an even coating.Save the remaining sauce to pour on top of the tacos or use as a dipping sauce on the side.
- Assemble your tacos starting with the tortilla, cabbage, radish, avocado, green onions, shrimp, and top more bang bang shrimp.
- Enjoy these right away!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was soooo good! A family full of picky eaters and everyone was stuffed 🙂 Thanks for the delicious recipe!!
I love to hear it! Thank you for the wonderful review, Bri! xo
Super easy! Super tasty! Will add to my regular rotation for sure!!
My husband and I absolutely loved this dinner!
Hi Kelly! That is so awesome, thanks so much for sharing!!
Absolutely delicious!! One of my family’s favorite meal.
Hi Daniela – thanks for taking the time to leave a review! That is so awesome! Thanks for sharing! xo – Sammy