Get ready to fall head over heels for Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos—a showstopping meal that packs serious flavor, irresistible crunch, and just the right hint of creamy heat. Imagine crispy golden shrimp smothered in a tangy, spicy-sweet sauce, all wrapped up in soft tortillas with fresh cabbage, buttery avocado, and a burst of cilantro and lime. These tacos are perfect for busy weeknights or impressing friends, offering a crowd-pleasing spin on both classic shrimp tacos and your favorite takeout appetizer.

Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

You won’t believe how easy it is to create Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos at home. Each ingredient plays a starring role—from their crisp, golden shrimp to the creamy, spicy sauce to the fresh toppings that bring it all together. Here’s what you’ll need, with a quick tip for each:

S hrimp: Choose medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, for the best bite and texture without any fuss.
Buttermilk: This tangy soak keeps the shrimp tender and helps the coating stick beautifully.
Cornstarch: Adding cornstarch gives your shrimp that ultra-crisp, light crunch that’s simply addictive.
All-purpose flour: Blending flour with cornstarch ensures a sturdy, shatteringly crisp exterior.
Garlic powder: A dash of this brings savory depth to every mouthful.
Paprika: Smoked, sweet, or plain—paprika adds warmth and color to your coating.
Salt: Just a sprinkle enhances all those amazing flavors.
Vegetable oil: Use a neutral oil for frying; it delivers golden crust while letting the shrimp flavor shine.
Flour tortillas: Soft, small tortillas keep each taco handheld and loaded with filling.
Shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix: These add crunch and help balance the spice and creaminess inside each taco.
Avocado: Sliced fresh, it lends creamy, cooling richness to brighten up every bite.
Chopped cilantro and lime wedges: Essential garnishes for a pop of freshness and citrus zip right at the end.
Mayonnaise (for sauce): The creamy base that makes your Bang Bang sauce smooth and indulgent.
Sweet chili sauce (for sauce): Adds sweetness, zing, and a hint of floral spice to the sauce.
Sriracha (for sauce): The source of all that amazing, lingering heat—adjust to your spice level!
Honey (for sauce): Just a drizzle helps mellow the spice and round out the flavors in the sauce.

How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos

Step 1: Whip Up the Bang Bang Sauce

Start by making your signature sauce—the thing that transforms ordinary shrimp tacos into unforgettable Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos. In a bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey until completely smooth. Taste as you go, and feel free to dial up the sriracha if you love a little more kick. Once you’re happy with the flavor, cover and set the sauce aside; this lets the flavors blend and get even better.

Step 2: Prep the Shrimp

Now, focus on those plump shrimp. Pat them dry with paper towels so the coating clings well. In a shallow bowl, pour your buttermilk, then in another mix together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, and salt. Dunk each shrimp in buttermilk to soak up moisture and tang, then toss generously in the dry mix, making sure each one is fully coated. This double process is the key to ultra-crispy shrimp.

Step 3: Fry to Crispy Perfection

Warm a good glug of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat (it should shimmer when ready). Working in batches, fry the coated shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until each is golden brown and irresistibly crispy. Lay them on paper towels when done—this step helps keep your shrimp from getting soggy before you assemble the tacos.

Step 4: Get Your Toppings and Tortillas Ready

While the shrimp cool slightly, quickly warm your flour tortillas in a dry skillet or the microwave. Lay out shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix, slice the avocado, and chop up your cilantro. Get those lime wedges ready for serving—this little nudge of citrus really lifts the whole taco.

Step 5: Assemble and Drizzle

Now the fun part—building your Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos! Place a handful of cabbage on each tortilla, top with crispy shrimp, spoon on a generous drizzle of Bang Bang sauce, then add avocado slices and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro. Serve immediately, with lime wedges on the side for squeezing right before that first big bite.

How to Serve Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos

Garnishes

The finishing touches make your Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos pop: a sprinkle of bright green cilantro, plenty of fresh lime wedges for squeezing, and perhaps even thinly sliced radishes, pickled onions, or jalapeño if you want an extra punch of color and flavor. These little garnishes bring freshness and flair to each plate.

Side Dishes

Round out your taco night with sides that keep the meal light and tasty. Think crisp tortilla chips with homemade salsa, a tangy cucumber salad, or charred corn on the cob. Cooling sides help balance the spice of the Bang Bang sauce and add even more variety to your meal.

Creative Ways to Present

Serving Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos is half the fun. Stack them on a platter lined with parchment for a casual, hands-on vibe, or use taco holders if you want something tidier. You can even transform the tacos into bite-size appetizers by assembling them on mini street taco tortillas or lettuce cups for a gluten-free party twist!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you find yourself with leftovers, store the components separately. Keep the fried shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days, and store the sauce, tortillas, and toppings independently to maintain freshness and crispness.

Freezing

While Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze the cooked, un-sauced shrimp. Arrange the cooled shrimp on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to a month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating

To bring leftover shrimp back to life, reheat them in a 400°F oven or air fryer for a few minutes until crispy. Avoid microwaving, which can make the coating soggy. Warm the tortillas and rebuild your tacos just before serving for maximum crunch and freshness.

FAQs

Can I use frozen shrimp for Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos?

Absolutely! Thaw frozen shrimp overnight in the fridge and pat them dry thoroughly before coating and frying. This ensures the coating sticks and gets ultra-crisp.

Is there a substitute for buttermilk?

If you don’t have buttermilk, simply mix regular milk with a teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes. It will give you the same tenderizing effect and tangy flavor.

How spicy is the Bang Bang sauce?

The sauce is lively and a little spicy thanks to sriracha, but you can adjust the heat by adding less (or more!) according to your preference. Sweet chili sauce and honey keep it perfectly balanced.

Can I make Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos gluten-free?

Yes! Just swap out the flour tortillas for corn tortillas and use a gluten-free flour blend in place of all-purpose flour in the shrimp coating. It’s an easy adaptation that doesn’t sacrifice any flavor or crunch.

Could I bake or air fry the shrimp instead of frying?

Definitely! For a lighter twist, arrange breaded shrimp in a single layer on a lined baking sheet, spritz with oil, and bake at 425°F until crisp. The air fryer also works beautifully for fast, crispy results with less mess.

Final Thoughts

If you love bold flavor, unforgettable texture, and a dish that instantly brightens your table, these Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos will quickly become a repeat favorite. There’s nothing more satisfying than creating your own restaurant-worthy meal and seeing everyone’s eyes light up with the first bite. Don’t wait—gather your ingredients, invite some friends over, and let the taco night magic begin!

Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos Recipe

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4.6 from 21 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Non-Vegetarian

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Description

These Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are a flavorful and crispy seafood delight, featuring golden fried shrimp tossed in a creamy and spicy Bang Bang sauce, served in warm tortillas with crunchy cabbage, creamy avocado, and zesty lime. Perfect for a fun and easy taco night!

Ingredients

Scale

Shrimp:

1 lb medium shrimp (peeled and deveined)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Bang Bang Sauce:

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon sriracha
1 teaspoon honey

Additional:

Vegetable oil for frying
8 small flour tortillas
2 cups shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix
1 avocado (sliced)
Chopped cilantro and lime wedges for garnish

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Instructions

Bang Bang Sauce: In a medium bowl, mix mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey. Set aside.
Shrimp Preparation: In another bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, and salt. Dip shrimp in buttermilk, then coat with flour mixture.
Frying: Heat vegetable oil in a skillet, fry shrimp in batches until crispy.
Assembly: Warm tortillas, add cabbage, shrimp, Bang Bang sauce, avocado, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.