Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos

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This tasty appetizer (or dinner) is easier than you might think!

The best Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are deliciously homemade with crispy golden fried shrimp, fresh taco fixings, and that amazing bang bang sauce.

Lightly fry the shrimp, then whisk together the ingredients and adjust the heat to your liking for that authentic Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp recipe — right at home!

The whole family is sure to love this fried shrimp recipe for bang-bang tacos! So simple and scrumptious — even if it is slightly messy when you are preparing the shrimp — it is so worth it!

Take Taco Tuesday to the next level! I love a good taco night as much as the next girl. Some of my favorites are Smokey Chicken Street Tacos and Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas with Chimichurri.

And, my Redneck Tacos with juicy pulled pork and hoecakes are a real game changer. They are all so much more than the typical ground beef tacos.

Key ingredients & substitutions for Bang Bang Shrimp

Bang Bang Sauce

• Mayonaise — This creamy ingredient brings everything together and really lets the flavors shine. For a lighter option, replace half of the mayo with sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.
• Thai Sweet Chili Sauce — Or, sweet chili sauce. Bonefish Grill uses the brand Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce which is readily available on Amazon.
• Rice Wine Vinegar — Compared to white distilled vinegar, Rice vinegar is less acidic than other vinegar with a mild and slightly sweet flavor balancing out the heat of the sauce.
• Sriracha Hot Sauce — Use this ingredient to adjust the heat of the dish.

Shrimp Tacos

• Medium Shrimp — Peeled and deveined, medium shrimp are the perfect bite-size and provide the best breading to shrimp ratio.
• Buttermilk — Don’t have buttermilk at home? No problem. Just add a cap full of vinegar to the milk and let it rest. The curdling action will let you know the buttermilk is ready.
• Cornstarch — Cornstarch is a great alternative to flour. Not only is it gluten-free, but it adds crispiness you do not get with flour.
• Panko Breadcrumbs — Regular bread crumbs can be used, but the panko gives another layer of buttery crunch to the shrimp.
• Vegetable Oil — Canola oil or peanut oil can be used. Just don’t try using olive oil. It burns too fast.
• Tortillas — I prefer flour tortillas. I like how they fold up and are so soft and yummy. But corn tortillas work just fine and are a gluten free option.

How to make shrimp tacos

STEP 1 | Marinating the Shrimp

Start with a large bowl. Add in your shrimp and the buttermilk and allow it to marinate while you get the remainder of the ingredients ready to coat the shrimp.

The secret to this crispy, crunchy shrimp is cornstarch in the breading process.

STEP 2 | Coat the shrimp

Now, take a baking sheet or a tray and line it with parchment paper. Set that aside for a moment.

Place the cornstarch and the panko in separate shallow dishes. Then one by one, take a shrimp from the buttermilk and coat in the cornstarch.

Dip once more in the buttermilk and then right into the panko. Lay each one on the parchment-lined tray to dry while you finish each one.

STEP 3 | Frying the shrimp

In a large, deep skillet or wok, add the vegetable oil and heat. You can toss a piece of panko into the oil to see if it is ready. If the crumb fries right away, it should be hot enough. If it sinks- it is not ready.

Cook the shrimp in batches for a minute or two each batch. Be careful not to crowd the pan or your oil temp will drop and the shrimp will be soggy instead of crispy and crunchy.

Once they are that gorgeous golden brown, remove each batch to paper towels to drain.

Although I love making coconut shrimp in my air fryer, for this recipe I prefer cooking the shrimp in a small amount of oil in a large skillet. They fry up in just a couple of minutes.

STEP 3 | Make the bang bang sauce

The most essential step in making this famous creamy sauce is to get the heat of the tangy bang bang just right.

All you need to do is whisk together the 4 ingredients in the sauce recipe and adjust the sriracha to your liking. Then chill until you are ready to coat the warm and crunchy shrimp.

STEP 4 | Sauce the shrimp

While the shrimp are still hot, place them in a clean bowl and spoon on half of the yummy bang bang sauce. Gently toss them to coat.

Then you are all ready to assemble and serve your Spicy Shrimp Tacos. Place a layer of lettuce or cabbage down then 3 or 4 shrimp on the tortilla and add your favorite seafood taco toppings.

Don’t forget to add a bowl of the rest of the bang bang dressing to the table for those who like it extra saucy!

As if this is not enough, add a quick squeeze of fresh lime juice to the final creation and you take the flavors up one more notch! Too much? I think not!

Frequently asked questions

Serving Suggestions

There is no reason to be bored on taco night with all these taco night ideas and variations. Your family will look forward to Bang Bang Shrimp Taco night!

• Add a fresh Corn Salsa side or pile it high on top of your shrimp tacos!
• For a taco picnic, add fresh Watermelon Feta Salad to the plate. It is so refreshing and yummy!
• Add your own homemade 10-minute Cherry Tomato Salsa or Roasted Tomatillo Salsa and some tortilla chips to the plate for a meal full of Mexican deliciousness.

Taco Toppings

What do you like on your tacos? You can top bang bang shrimp tacos with any fresh taco topping you would like. Try shredded lettuce, shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, diced scallions, sour cream or greek yogurt, and more!

Behind the recipe: Bang Bang Sauce on Shrimp Tacos

Bang bang shrimp has a long history starting as Dynamite Shrimp from The Cheesecake Factory, then adopted by Bonefish Grill as Bang Bang Shrimp. And while theirs is served on lettuce as an appetizer, I thought, why not make a whole meal out of it!