One of the best weeknight recipes is this bang bang popcorn shrimp in the air fryer. It is made with my healthier bang bang sauce!
One of my absolute favorite dishes from Cheesecake Factory or Bonefish Grill was their bang bang sauce dishes! That sauce is amazing with chicken but it is most commonly paired with shrimp.
I made some deliciously crispy shrimp in the air fryer and then I tossed it in my healthier, greek yogurt bang bang sauce.
Quick Tips from Allie Carte
- Use this recipe to make air fryer bang bang shrimp or substitute the shrimp for another meat. Bang bang sauce is so delicious with chicken as well.
- Skip the breading for a healthier, lower carb alternative.
- Coat the chicken in the sauce or dip the shrimp into the sauce after. Dipping will keep the shrimp crispier.
What You Need for Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
This recipe is for breaded shrimp, made in the air fryer, and then tossed in a delicious yogurt sauce.
You will obviously need an air fryer. I love my Ninja double basket. The one side is the perfect size to cook one serving of shrimp. You can also use a rack or toaster oven style air fryer; however, I do prefer the basket kind for this one.
Sauce Ingredients
First, let's go over the ingredients for the sauce. I do like to make the sauce first and allow it to sit in the fridge while I cook the shrimp. This allows all the flavors to mend together.
- Plain, nonfat Greek yogurt
- Chili sauce
- Sriracha sauce
- Rice vinegar
This is my healthier take on the classic bang bang sauce with a crispy air fryer shrimp. Therefore, make this recipe with plain, nonfat Greek yogurt. Yogurt is the ultimate healthier substitute for sour cream or mayo. I absolutely love making sauces and dips with it because you cannot even taste the yogurt. However, if you do not want to use that, you can substitute mayo or sour cream.
For the chili sauce, I use my favorite sauce in the entire world, G Hughes's sweet Thai chili sauce. I always grab a pack on amazon because I cannot live without it. However, you can substitute a different kind of chili sauce if you prefer that more.
Add as much or as little sriracha sauce as you can handle. It can get pretty spicy so be careful. If you like it sweeter, you can add in a teaspoon or two of Splenda.
Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp Ingredients
Now for the shrimp!
- Shrimp
- Flour
- Egg
- Breadcrumbs
- Seasonings
For the shrimp, I went the easy route and got peeled and deveined shrimp. I did a third pound which was enough for two people. You can use frozen shrimp and just make the sauce with them. You can also just peel and devein the shrimp yourself.
I typically use egg whites since they are easier to pour and not as stringy as real eggs. However, you can use a real egg, just whisk it before coating the shrimp in it.
How to Make Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Start by combining all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. Cover and store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, to allow the flavors to form together.
Grab three small, shallow bowls. In one bowl, add the flour and half the seasonings. Pour the eggs in the second bowl. Finally, in the third combine the breadcrumbs and the remaining seasonings.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees and grease the air fryer basket.
One by one, cover the shrimp in the flour. Then, cover in egg. Finally, press all sides of the shrimp into the breadcrumb mixture.
Place all the coated shrimp in the air fryer, trying not to let them touch.
Air fry for 2 minutes then spray the shrimp with cooking spray. Air fry for another 2 minutes.
Flip the shrimp over and spray again with cooking spray. Air fry for another 3-5 minutes, or until the shrimp are fully cooked and look pink.
Either cover the shrimp in the bang bang sauce or place it on the side and dip the shrimp into it. I prefer dipping as it keeps the shrimp crispy.
Bang Bang Sauce
This sauce is great with non-breaded shrimp or chicken!
You can also try my air fryer coconut shrimp with this sauce!!
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
One of the best weeknight recipes is this bang bang popcorn shrimp in the air fryer. It is made with my healthier bang bang sauce!
Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients
Bang Bang Sauce
- ¼ cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons sweet thai chili sauce G Hughes
- 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp
- ⅓ pound shrimp peeled and deveined
- ⅓ cup flour all-purpose
- ¼ cup liquid egg whites
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ginger ground
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
Instructions
- Start by combining all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. Cover and store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, to allow the flavors to form together.
- Grab three small, shallow bowls. In one bowl, add the flour and half the seasonings. Pour the eggs in the second bowl. Finally, in the third combine the breadcrumbs and the remaining seasonings.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees and grease the air fryer basket.
- One by one, cover the shrimp in the flour. Then, cover in egg. Finally, press all sides of the shrimp into the breadcrumb mixture.
- Place all the coated shrimp in the air fryer, trying not to let them touch.
- Air fry for 2 minutes then spray the shrimp with cooking spray. Air fry for another 2 minutes.
- Flip the shrimp over and spray again with cooking spray. Air fry for another 3-5 minutes, or until the shrimp are fully cooked and look pink.
- Either cover the shrimp in the bang bang sauce or place it on the side and dip the shrimp into it. I prefer dipping as it keeps the shrimp crispy.
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