If you are craving a dish that bursts with flavor and brings a delightful crunch with every bite, this Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos Recipe is your new best friend in the kitchen. Combining tender, crispy shrimp coated in a creamy, spicy bang bang sauce with fresh, crisp toppings wrapped in warm tortillas creates a sensational taco experience that’s perfect for lunch, dinner, or impressing friends on game day. The interplay of textures and the vibrant layers of flavor make these tacos utterly irresistible.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos Recipe plays a crucial role in building layers of flavor, texture, and color. Simple yet essential, they come together for a dish that’s both delicious and visually inviting.
- Mayonnaise: Creates the rich, creamy base of the bang bang sauce that coats the shrimp perfectly.
- Chili garlic sauce: Adds a balanced kick of heat and tanginess to the sauce.
- Sriracha sauce (optional): Boosts the spiciness if you like your tacos with some extra fire.
- Extra-large shrimp (peeled and deveined): The star of the dish, bringing a juicy seafood sweetness.
- Buttermilk: Tenderizes the shrimp and adds subtle flavor to the breading process.
- All-purpose flour: Forms a crispy, golden crust when fried.
- Cornstarch: Keeps the breading light and crisp rather than heavy or greasy.
- Kosher salt: Enhances every component’s natural flavors beautifully.
- Freshly ground black pepper: Adds mild heat and depth to the breading seasoning.
- Vegetable oil: Essential for deep frying the shrimp to crunchy perfection.
- Flour tortillas or Bibb lettuce leaves: The base for your tacos, offering warmth or a fresh crunch depending on your preference.
- Shredded cabbage: Adds crispness and freshness to contrast the crispy shrimp.
- Thinly sliced radishes: Provide peppery crunch and vibrant color.
- Thinly sliced jalapeño peppers: For those who want an extra layer of heat and brightness.
- Sliced green onions: Bring a mild onion flavor and freshness.
- Chopped cilantro: Adds a burst of herbal brightness to finish off the tacos.
How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos Recipe
Step 1: Make the bang bang sauce
Start by whisking together mayonnaise, chili garlic sauce, and optional Sriracha to create the signature creamy, spicy bang bang sauce. This sauce is the magic touch that makes these shrimp tacos stand out with its balance of heat and creaminess. Refrigerate it for up to two days if you want to get a head start.
Step 2: Marinate the shrimp
Next, dunk your peeled and deveined shrimp into a bowl of buttermilk and let them soak for 20 minutes. This step is all about tenderness and subtle flavor enhancement, making sure each shrimp cooks up juicy and soft inside its crispy coating.
Step 3: Prepare your breading station
Mix flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl for your breading mixture. Setting up a cooling rack and a draining station with paper towels helps the shrimp stay crispy after frying. Preheat your oven to 200°F to keep cooked shrimp warm and crispy while you finish frying the rest.
Step 4: Bread the shrimp
Drain the buttermilk from the shrimp and toss them in the flour mixture in batches, shaking off excess. Place breaded shrimp on a cooling rack to help dry them for a better fry. This step is key to achieving the perfect crunch without heavy, soggy coating.
Step 5: Heat the oil
Pour vegetable oil into a deep pot and heat to 350°F using a thermometer for accuracy. Proper oil temperature ensures the shrimp fry quickly to a golden crisp without absorbing excess oil.
Step 6: Fry the shrimp
Carefully add a handful of shrimp into the hot oil, stirring gently after one minute to keep them from sticking together. Fry for about 4 to 4 1/2 minutes, or until golden brown and irresistible. Remove and drain on a rack lined with paper towels, then transfer to the oven to keep warm.
Step 7: Sauce the shrimp and assemble
Toss all fried shrimp in 1 cup of the bang bang sauce to coat them evenly. Fill warmed tortillas with shredded cabbage, then top with the sauced shrimp. Add extra sauce and finish with radishes, jalapeños, green onions, and cilantro. Serve these fresh for the best texture and flavor explosion.
How to Serve Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos Recipe
Garnishes
Radishes and jalapeños add crunch and a peppery, slightly spicy note that complements the creamy shrimp perfectly. Cilantro and green onions uplift the tacos with fresh herbal and mild onion highlights. These garnishes balance the rich flavors, making each bite multidimensional and exciting.
Side Dishes
Serve these tacos alongside a light, refreshing slaw or Mexican street corn to continue the celebration of textures and tastes. A simple avocado salad or black beans pair beautifully and will keep your meal vibrant without overpowering the bold shrimp flavors.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, swap warm flour tortillas with crisp Bibb lettuce leaves for a low-carb option that adds fresh crunch. You could also line a platter with taco-sized tortillas, arrange the shrimp and toppings separately, and let guests build their own tacos for a festive, interactive meal.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover shrimp and sauce separate in airtight containers in the refrigerator. The shrimp will stay fresh for up to two days but are best enjoyed within 24 hours to retain their crunch and succulent flavor.
Freezing
While not ideal to freeze the assembled tacos, you can freeze cooked shrimp before adding the sauce. Cool the shrimp completely, then freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring to freezer bags for up to two months to preserve their texture best.
Reheating
Reheat shrimp gently in a hot oven at 350°F on a wire rack to keep the coating crispy. Avoid the microwave if possible, as it will make the shrimp rubbery and soggy. Warm the tortillas separately, then assemble tacos fresh for the best experience.
FAQs
Can I make the bang bang sauce ahead of time?
Absolutely! The sauce actually benefits from sitting in the fridge for a few hours, allowing the flavors to meld perfectly. It can last up to two days refrigerated in an airtight container.
Is it possible to bake instead of frying the shrimp?
Yes, you can bake the shrimp for a lighter version, but frying gives that signature crispy texture that makes this Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos Recipe so addictive. Baking at a high temperature on a wire rack ensures some crispiness but expect a slightly different texture.
Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?
Frozen shrimp works just fine as long as they are fully thawed and patted dry before marinating and breading. Removing excess moisture helps achieve that crunch you want.
What type of tortillas work best?
Warm flour tortillas are traditional and flexible, perfect for holding the shrimp and toppings. Alternatively, Bibb lettuce leaves offer a fresh, low-carb option with a great crunch and lightness.
How spicy are these tacos?
The heat level is medium by default thanks to the chili garlic sauce. Adding Sriracha or jalapeño slices boosts the spice for those who like it hotter, but you can always adjust to your taste.
Final Thoughts
This Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos Recipe is a joyful celebration of flavors and textures you’ll want to share again and again. The crispy shrimp coupled with creamy, spicy sauce wrapped in a soft tortilla makes for a meal that feels both indulgent and special. Give it a try—you’re going to fall in love with these tacos just like I did!
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Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are a flavorful fusion of crispy, fried shrimp coated in a creamy, spicy bang bang sauce, nestled in warm tortillas with fresh cabbage and vibrant garnishes. Perfect for a satisfying meal that balances heat and crunch in every bite.
Ingredients
Bang Bang Sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup chili garlic sauce
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce (optional)
Shrimp and Breading
- 1 1/2 pounds extra-large (26–30 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 6 cups vegetable oil for frying
Tacos and Garnishes
- 10 taco-sized flour tortillas, warmed (or Bibb lettuce leaves)
- 8 ounces shredded cabbage (about 3 cups)
- Thinly sliced radishes
- Thinly sliced jalapeño peppers
- Sliced green onions
- Chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Make the bang bang sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, chili garlic sauce, and optional Sriracha sauce until smooth and fully blended. Store this sauce in the refrigerator for up to two days until ready to use.
- Marinate the shrimp: Place the peeled and deveined shrimp in a separate bowl, then pour the buttermilk over them. Let the shrimp marinate for 20 minutes to tenderize and infuse flavor.
- Prepare your breading station: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Set up a cooling rack over a sheet pan to arrange the breaded shrimp before frying, keeping them crispy. Also prepare a draining station by lining another sheet pan with paper towels or placing a cooling rack over it. Preheat your oven to 200°F to keep the cooked shrimp warm.
- Bread the shrimp: Drain the buttermilk from the shrimp, then toss them in the flour mixture in batches. Shake off any excess flour and arrange the breaded shrimp on the cooling rack to dry as you prepare the oil.
- Heat the oil: Pour the vegetable oil into a wide, deep pot or Dutch oven. Insert a thermometer and heat the oil over medium-high heat until reaching 350°F, which typically takes about 20 minutes.
- Fry the shrimp: Carefully add a handful of breaded shrimp to the hot oil. After one minute, gently stir them with a slotted spoon to separate any that are sticking together. Continue frying for 4 to 4 1/2 minutes until the shrimp are golden brown and crispy.
- Keep the shrimp warm and continue frying: Remove fried shrimp with a slotted spoon and place them on the draining rack to absorb excess oil. Transfer the shrimp to the preheated oven to keep warm. Repeat frying in batches, allowing the oil to return to 350°F between batches.
- Sauce the shrimp: Once all shrimp are fried, toss them in 1 cup of the prepared bang bang sauce to coat evenly. Reserve the remaining sauce for drizzling over the tacos.
- Assemble the tacos: Fill each warmed tortilla with a handful of shredded cabbage, then top with the sauced shrimp. Add more bang bang sauce if desired. Garnish with thinly sliced radishes, jalapeño peppers, green onions, and chopped cilantro. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use extra-large shrimp for the best texture and bite size for tacos.
- Marinating shrimp in buttermilk tenderizes and enhances the flavor.
- Maintaining oil temperature between batches ensures crispy shrimp without excess greasiness.
- The bang bang sauce can be made up to two days in advance for convenience.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend.
- Serve immediately after assembly to enjoy the shrimp’s crispiness and fresh garnishes.
