Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos

These quick and easy restaurant-style Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are packed with crunchy shrimp tossed in a creamy sweet, spicy sauce and served with crunchy slaw. They are the perfect warm weather meal.

I am always on the lookout for new ways to make shrimp tacos. They are one of my favorite things to eat, especially when it's hot. While I normally make these easy shrimp tacos with cilantro slaw, last week I was craving crispy shrimp and decided to make some tacos using the sauce from my favorite bang bang chicken. And they came out so good!

To keep things light and healthy, I decided to pan-fry the shrimp in a skillet using cornstarch, my favorite trick for creating crispiness without frying. Then I tossed the shrimp and some packaged slaw in a quick homemade bang bang sauce made from Greek yogurt, mayo, Thai sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha. Pile it into warm corn tortillas and have a meal everyone loves.

Why You’ll Love These Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos

• Crispy without frying: While bang bang shrimp are typically deep fried, these have tons of crunch without the breading and oil from frying.
• Creamy, sweet, and spicy: Bang Bang sauce combines creamy, sweet, and spicy with yogurt, mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha. You’ll want to eat it on everything.
• 30-minute meal: This meal, including the sauce and slaw, can be made in less than 30 minutes. That’s faster than ordering takeout.

Looking for more quick and easy shrimp recipes? Try these Cajun Shrimp Tacos, Shrimp Tostadas, and Shrimp Taco Bowls.

What is Bang Bang Shrimp?

Bang Bang Shrimp is a popular appetizer known for its crispy, spicy, sweet flavors. It is normally made with deep-fried shrimp tossed in a creamy sauce made from mayo, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and lime juice. It was created by Bonefish Grill, but now you can find Bang Bang Shrimp and chicken in many restaurants.

Bang bang shrimp are often served as an appetizer on a bed of lettuce or cabbage and garnished with green onions. More recently, they have also become popular in tacos, adding a delicious twist to the traditional taco filling.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here’s everything you need to make these tasty tacos.

• Shrimp: Medium or large shrimp work great for this recipe. Usually, I buy frozen shrimp when they are on sale and then defrost them. If you don’t love shrimp, you could make these tacos with chicken, salmon, cod, tilapia, or tofu.
• Lime Juice: Lime juice is normally added to the bang bang sauce, but I prefer adding it to the shrimp for some extra flavor.
• Cornstarch: This is the key to getting crispy shrimp without frying. It isn’t breaded so it won’t have that same crunch, but cornstarch creates this delicious, crispy, browned layer on the shrimp. If you prefer breading, you could dunk the shrimp in egg and Panko breadcrumbs and bake, shallow-fry, or air-fry until crispy.
• Bang Bang Sauce: This is a lightened-up bang bang sauce made with nonfat Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise (so it isn’t too tart), Thai sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha to taste. You could use all mayo or all yogurt, swap in sour cream, or even use blended cottage cheese. Adjust the sweetness (using honey) and heat (more Sriracha) to your liking.
• Slaw: Keep things easy by using packaged coleslaw mix, shredded cabbage, or broccoli slaw. I like to toss it with the bang bang sauce, but you could also toss it with olive oil, lime juice, or vinegar. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
• Tortillas: Corn tortillas are always my first choice for seafood tacos. If you prefer, you can swap in flour tortillas, low-carb/gluten-free tortillas, or lettuce wraps.
• Toppings: Add fresh cilantro and green onions to cut through some of the sauce's creaminess. Then, add any other toppings you like—pickled red onions, avocado, cotija cheese, and more.

How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos: Skillet, Grill, or Air Fryer

These tacos are so easy to make! Cook the shrimp in a skillet, on the grill, or in the air fryer. Cook them in batches if needed so the shrimp can get nice and crispy.

1. Make the Bang Bang Sauce and Slaw

Start by combining the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha to make the bang bang sauce. Start with a small amount of Sriracha and add until it tastes good. Some people also like adding a sprinkle of garlic powder and onion powder.

Once the sauce tastes good, toss half of it with the shredded cabbage slaw to top the tacos. Mix it well and let the flavors combine while you make the shrimp.

2. Cook the Shrimp

Toss the shrimp with fresh lime juice, salt, and pepper. Then, toss the shrimp with cornstarch until they are well coated. The cornstarch will help the shrimp get crispy.

• Skillet: Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 1-3 minutes until golden brown and slightly crispy. Flip and cook on the other side until cooked through, about 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp.
• Grill: Heat the grill over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp to a grill basket, thread it onto skewers, or place it on a piece of foil so it doesn’t fall through the grill grates. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side until cooked through.
• Air Fryer: place the shrimp in the basket of an air fryer preheated to 400 degrees. Cook for 5-6 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.

Once the shrimp are cooked, let them cool for 1-2 minutes and then toss them with the remaining bang bang sauce.

3. Assemble the Tacos

Warm the corn tortillas until lightly browned. Then, pile with the creamy shrimp, slaw, fresh cilantro, and green onions. If you like, add an extra squeeze of lime juice or a drizzle of Sriracha.

More Tasty Shrimp Taco Toppings

Although these tacos have everything you need, you may want to add some extra toppings. Here are our favorites:

• Pickled red onions
• Fresh basil or mint
• Fresh jalapenos
• Avocado
• Queso cotija
• Corn salsa
• Hot sauce
• Butter lettuce
• Radishes
• Mango or mango salsa
• Fresh lime juice

Side Dish Ideas

This meal includes protein-packed shrimp, creamy coleslaw, and tortillas. However, we almost always add a few easy side dishes.

• Black beans
• Steamed rice or cilantro lime cauliflower rice
• Mexican street corn or corn on the cob
• Baked tortilla chips
• Watermelon cilantro salad
• Black bean and corn salad

Meal Prep, Storage, and Leftover Ideas

This dish is best when served fresh since the shrimp will lose their crunch over time.

If you plan to prep this in advance, the bang bang sauce and coleslaw can be made and stored separately in the refrigerator. Then, cook the shrimp just before serving to keep them crispy.

If you have leftover shrimp, store them and the sauce separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Reheat the shrimp in a hot skillet or the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes before tossing them in the sauce and assembling your tacos.

Leftovers are great for salads, wraps, rice bowls, and more. Just pack the sauce and slaw separately.