This homemade Bang Bang Shrimp is crispy and saucy at the same time. This shrimp can be served so many ways, but it’s especially satisfying as Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos drizzled with the bang bang sauce.

Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is to recreate this restaurant favorite.

Bang bang shrimp tacos drizzled with bang bang sauce

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This recipe will elevate your taco Tuesdays. If you love tacos as much as we do, be sure to add our famous Fish Tacos to your rotation. You can also change things up with Taco Salad or even Taco Soup!

Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos Video

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What is Bang Bang Shrimp?

Bang Bang Shrimp was made popular by Bonefish Grill. They are also called Dynamite Shrimp which was made popular by Cheesecake Factory restaurant.

The shrimp are battered and fried until extra crispy then tossed in a sweet and spicy creamy sauce. It’s just three ingredients for this easy and tasty sauce: mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, and sriracha hot chili sauce. We can’t help but add a little extra hot sauce for more heat.

Bang Bang Shrimp tossed with Bang bang sauce in a bowl

Ingredients

The key to making great bang bang shrimp is in dredging with corn starch. It makes the crispiest exterior that stays crispy even after adding the sauce. It’s pretty fantastic!

  • Shrimp – we use large 21-25 count raw shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails removed. Prep is much faster and easier if you get pre-peeled shrimp.
  • Marinade – Combine buttermilk, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder to form a flavorful marinade. The buttermilk tenderizes the shrimp, adds flavor, and helps the corn starch stick to the shrimp to form a crust.
  • Corn Starch – creates a golden color and extreme crunchiness.
  • Oil – fry the shrimp in 1 to 1 1/2 inches of high heat oil such as peanut oil or canola oil.
  • Bang Bang Sauce – made of just 3 ingredients: mayo, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha
Ingredients with shrimp, buttermilk, corn starch and seasonings

How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp

  1. Bang Bang Sauce – Combine mayo, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha.
  2. Marinate – combine marinade ingredients and pour over shrimp. Stir and let sit while you heat the oil to 375˚F on a clip-on pot thermometer.
  3. Dredge – Remove shrimp from marinade one at a time, letting excess drip off. Dip in corn starch, tapping off the excess.
  4. Fry – Once all shrimp are breaded, fry in 3 batches for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes until golden brown, crispy, and cooked through. Use a strainer to transfer shrimp to a paper towel-lined plate.
  5. Add Sauce – Transfer warm shrimp to a mixing bowl and drizzle with half of the sauce.
  6. Make Tacos – toast corn tortillas, add toppings, shrimp and drizzle with remaining sauce. Serve with fresh lime wedges to squeeze over the top.
How to make Bang Bang Shrimp

Pro Tip: Use a clip-on pot thermometer to keep the temperature of the oil steady at 375˚F and be sure to bring the oil back to temperature before adding the next batch. If the oil cools too much, the shrimp will absorb more oil, if it gets too hot, the shrimp may burn.

How to Serve Bang Bang Shrimp

People have gotten so creative with Bang Bang Shrimp over the years, serving it as a starter or main course.

  • Appetizer – garnish with chives and serve right out of the bowl with toothpicks.
  • Tacos – we love this option because the shrimp already come with a creamy sauce you can drizzle over the assembled tacos.
  • Pasta – toss the saucy shrimp with your favorite pasta. Try adding a squeeze of lime juice over the dish as we did with tacos.
  • Rice Bowls – Serve shrimp over a bowl of cooked white rice, add the same toppings as for tacos, and drizzle with sauce.
Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos served on a platter

Pro Tip: To make it easy to drizzle sauce over tacos, transfer it to a ziploc bag and seal. Snip off the tip of the bag with scissors then drizzle sauce over tacos.

Up close juicy bang bang shrimp on a taco

The combination of flavors and textures in Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos is ‘dynamite’ and you’ll fall in love with the bang bang sauce.

More Asian Recipes

If you love to recreate your favorite Asian takeout recipes, then you won’t want to miss these recipes:

Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos (Dynamite Shrimp)

4.99 from 242 votes
Bang Bang Shrimp served as tacos
Bang Bang Shrimp are crispy, creamy, sweet, and spicy. They are so satisfying served as Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos drizzled with that famous sauce.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 tacos (or 12 smaller tacos)

Bang Bang Shrimp:

  • 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 3/4 cup corn starch
  • Peanut oil or Canola oil for frying shrimp

Sauce Ingredients

Taco Toppings:

  • 8 to 12 Small White Corn Tortillas, or Hard Taco Shells
  • 3 cups Purple or Green Cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium tomato, diced
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped

Instructions

How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp:

  • In a small bowl, stir together Bang Bang Sauce ingredients and set aside.
  • Make the marinade by combining buttermilk, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder. Pour over peeled and deviled shrimp and stir to coat. Set aside while you start preheating your oil.
  • Remove shrimp from the marinade one at a time, letting excess marinade drip off. Dip both sides in cornstarch until fully coated, tap off the excess and arrange breaded shrimp on a platter.
  • Heat 1 1/2” of oil in a dutch oven or pot to 375˚F. Fry shrimp in 3 batches, cooking for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes until golden brown, crispy and cooked through (turn halfway if needed). Use a strainer to transfer shrimp to rest on a paper towel-lined plate for a few minutes.
  • Transfer shrimp to a bowl and drizzle half of the sauce over warm shrimp. Toss gently until shrimp are coated and rest for 10 minutes to absorb the sauce.

How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos:

  • Lightly toast corn tortillas on a griddle, skillet for 30 seconds per side, or over a gas flame if you want some charring.
  • Add desired taco toppings, top with 2-3 shrimp per taco and drizzle with remaining sauce.
  • Serve with a sprinkle of cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Notes

The nutrition label (fat content and overall calories) is only an estimate since it’s difficult to gauge oil absorption for shrimp.

Nutrition Per Serving

362kcal Calories30g Carbs14g Protein21g Fat4g Saturated Fat1g Trans Fat150mg Cholesterol744mg Sodium242mg Potassium3g Fiber6g Sugar571IU Vitamin A25mg Vitamin C140mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos (Dynamite Shrimp)
Amount per Serving
Calories
362
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
21
g
32
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Cholesterol
 
150
mg
50
%
Sodium
 
744
mg
32
%
Potassium
 
242
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
 
30
g
10
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
6
g
7
%
Protein
 
14
g
28
%
Vitamin A
 
571
IU
11
%
Vitamin C
 
25
mg
30
%
Calcium
 
140
mg
14
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: bang bang shrimp, bang bang shrimp tacos, dynamite shrimp
Skill Level: Easy/Medium
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 362
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.99 from 242 votes (150 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Emily
    June 22, 2021

    I love to cook new recipes.i will definitely try yours.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 22, 2021

      Sounds good, Emily. I hope you’ll love all the recipes that you will try!

      Reply

  • Tina Welch
    June 22, 2021

    I did it! I made yummy bang bang shrimp tacos! Sauce was great. I left out last tsp. Of sriracha bc we don’t like too saucy. Ty for a new recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 22, 2021

      You’re so welcome, Tina. I’m happy to know that you loved this recipe!

      Reply

  • Maria
    June 18, 2021

    Love the shrimp, love the sauce (though I excluded Sriracha for hubby) – I made this twice already! So easy to make – thank you for the recipe!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 18, 2021

      You’re welcome, Maria! I’m so happy this was a hit!

      Reply

  • Emily
    June 15, 2021

    Fantastic! My husband helped me make these, and couldn’t stop exclaiming over how good the tacos were. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 15, 2021

      Yay, that’s fantastic feedback from you both. Thanks a lot for sharing that with us, Emily!

      Reply

  • Jill G.
    June 14, 2021

    Once again, Natasha, you’ve nailed it with this one. My picky son gave me the side eye when I told him what I was making for dinner last night. He calmed down a little when I told him it was a “Natasha recipe.” Once he tried it, he was fully converted! So crispy and full of flavor. And easy too. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 14, 2021

      That is the best when kids love what we moms make, especially the picky ones. I’m so happy your son tried it and loved it, Jill! That’s so great!

      Reply

  • Arya
    June 11, 2021

    YUMMY!!! i have tried other website’s bang bang recipes and none were a hit EXCEPT YOURS!! natasha you are the best

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 11, 2021

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Arya!

      Reply

  • James C Whalen
    June 10, 2021

    Followed the Bang Bang Shrimp recipe and paid close attention to the frying temperature advice…it paid off! Crispiest fried shrimp(or anything) we’ve ever had…thanks for that tip, and all the great recipes!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 10, 2021

      Yay, that is awesome! Thanks for the great feedback, I appreciate you sharing it with us, James.

      Reply

  • cindy
    June 10, 2021

    Hi Natasha! Im going to make this as an appetizer for my party..in order to preplan im going to fry the shrimp and let them sit until they cool, and then when the party starts just warm them lightly…and then add the marinade…would that be the best way?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 10, 2021

      Hi Cindy, I think that would work just fine. Please share with us how it turns out if you try this recipe!

      Reply

  • Lisa
    June 8, 2021

    This was amazing! My skeptical people here were just amazed.wish I could add pic but no idea how🥰

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 8, 2021

      Hi Lisa, no worries about the pic. I’m glad to hear that you all enjoyed this recipe! Feel free to share some photos of your creation on our Facebook page or group so others can see them too!

      Reply

  • Lorraine
    June 7, 2021

    Just delicious! And….Easy to make! Thank you Natasha.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 7, 2021

      You’re welcome, Lorraine! We love easy recipes, and I’m so glad you enjoyed this one!

      Reply

  • Gerta
    June 6, 2021

    100 percent family approved! Even the person, who doesn’t eat shrimp and for whom I made some using filet of sole, loved the shrimp!!! Fantastic recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 6, 2021

      That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing that with us, Gerta.

      Reply

  • Pat Hetzler
    June 5, 2021

    I made the bang bang shrimp tacos and they were fabulous. They looked exactly like the ones pictured and were so easy to make. I definitely will be making them again soon!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 5, 2021

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Pat!

      Reply

  • Squirl
    June 1, 2021

    One word “Incredible”. This is that recipe that you crave and when I watched your video I could almost taste it! You have the best recipes and I don’t think twice about trying them as they are always winners! Thank You Natasha.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 1, 2021

      Thank you for always trusting my recipes, I appreciate it!

      Reply

  • Amy B.
    May 30, 2021

    Amazing!

    Reply

  • Donald j Mcnamara
    May 29, 2021

    Tried the bang bang shrimp. It was a BIG HIT! Everyone loved it! I added a little more hot sauce and it turned out perfect! Thanks again!!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 29, 2021

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Donald!!

      Reply

  • Christine
    May 28, 2021

    Anything I can substitute for buttermilk?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 28, 2021

      Hi Christine, if you don’t have buttermilk on hand you can make your own! We do this if we ever run out. Combine the milk or cream and some lemon, let stand 5-10 minutes, and use it in the recipe.

      Reply

      • Jessica
        June 3, 2021

        Can these be made in the air fryer instead of fried?

        Reply

        • Natasha's Kitchen
          June 3, 2021

          Hi Jessica, I haven’t tried making air fryer bang bang shrimp so I don’t have specific instructions for it. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes!

          Reply

  • Martha Camp
    May 27, 2021

    Natasha,
    Thank you so much for all your post. Everything that I make from your website is always a hit! I will be attempting this recipe this weekend. I can’t wait! I know it will turn out awesome just like everything else you post! 🙂

    -Martha Camp

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      May 27, 2021

      You are very welcome, Martha. I hope you love every recipe that you will try!

      Reply

      • Martha Camp
        May 28, 2021

        Yep, they were a hit as usual!!

        We did lettuce wraps with crispy fried noodles. Sooo tasty! 🙂

        Reply

        • Natasha
          May 28, 2021

          Oh that’s awesome! I’m so happy to hear you loved the bang bang shrimp and it sounds perfect in lettuce cups with crispy noodles. yum!

          Reply

  • Jennie Gonzalez
    May 27, 2021

    This sounds so good I’m definitely going to try it this sounds like a strange question because of the name bang bang shrimp taco, but other than just leaving the Sriracha out and the sweet chili sauce, what can I use that would make it tasty but not so spicy I have a condition (sjogren’s) where my mouth cannot handle spicy foods.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      May 28, 2021

      Hi Jennie, I’m sorry to hear about the sjogrens. I honestly haven’t tested it that way just using the sweet chili sauce and omitting the sriracha. You might experiment with adding just a teensy bit of vinegar to offset the sweetness. I wish I had better advice on that, but without testing, I can only guess.

      Reply

    • Adri
      June 14, 2021

      There’s a Japanese sauce I love called “yum yum sauce” that consists of Mayo, ketchup, butter, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, paprika and water. It lives up to its name and I recommend it as an alternative!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        June 14, 2021

        Yum! Thank you so much for sharing that with us!

        Reply

  • Josie Calise
    May 27, 2021

    Once again, you did not disappoint. The Fambam LOVED IT, especially my picky one. Thank you, for always making me look like a great cook!!! 🙂

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 27, 2021

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Josie! I’m so happy your Fambam loved it!

      Reply

  • Terry
    May 27, 2021

    This looks really tasty. I can’t wait to try it.
    And I just love your videos. Your presentation is so much fun to watch. I learn a lot about how to cook and assemble dishes.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      May 27, 2021

      Thanks for your good comments, Terry! I hope you love this and all the recipes that you will try.

      Reply

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