These bang bang shrimp tacos have everything you want in a taco, with a perfect balance of flavors and a fun contrast of textures. You get golden shrimp, a creamy sweet-spicy sauce, and fresh toppings all wrapped up in a warm tortilla.
The bang bang sauce adds a creamy kick with just the right amount of sweetness and heat, giving the shrimp tons of flavor. This recipe also gives you the crispiest, lightest coating, making every bite even better.
With all that crunch, bold flavor, and freshness, every bite is so satisfying. Perfect for Taco Tuesday or any day you want something fun and flavorful.
What is Bang Bang Sauce?
Bang bang sauce is a creamy, sweet, and spicy sauce made with mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha.
The name comes from bang bang chicken, a Sichuan dish made by pounding the meat with a wooden stick. The word bàng means “stick,” and while some people connect the name to the sound of the pounding, it more directly refers to the stick itself.
Over time, the name carried over into modern dishes like bang bang shrimp, though the creamy mayo-based sauce we know today is a more Americanized version.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These bang bang shrimp tacos come together with a mix of pantry staples and fresh toppings.
- Shrimp: Use peeled and deveined shrimp to make prep easier.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk helps tenderize the shrimp and gives the coating something to cling to. If you don’t have buttermilk, mix ½ cup milk with ½ tablespoon of vinegar.
- Potato starch: It’s my secret ingredient for the crispiest shrimp. You can use cornstarch in a pinch, but potato starch really does give the coating a lighter, crispier texture.
- Mayonnaise: Mayo is the base of the bang bang sauce and gives it that creamy, rich texture. Use a good-quality mayo for the best flavor.
- Sweet chili sauce: Sweet chili sauce adds sweetness and that signature sticky, tangy flavor. It is one of the main ingredients that makes bang bang sauce taste like bang bang sauce.
- Sriracha: Sriracha brings the heat and balances out the creamy and sweet elements. Add more or less depending on how spicy you want the tacos.
- Tortillas: Corn or flour tortillas both work here, so use whichever you prefer. Warm them before assembling so they are soft and flexible.
- Toppings: Purple cabbage, onion, tomatoes, and cilantro add crunch, freshness, and color. You can keep it simple with just a couple, or use them all for a more loaded taco.
Easy Bang Bang Sauce for Tacos
This homemade bang bang sauce is incredibly easy to make.
All you need is mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, and rice vinegar. The mayo makes it creamy, the sweet chili sauce adds sweetness, the sriracha brings heat, and the rice vinegar brightens everything up.
How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos
It’s easy: just marinate the shrimp, fry until crispy, then assemble your tacos.
1. Marinate the shrimp. In a bowl, whisk together buttermilk, salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder. Add the shrimp and toss to coat. Let the shrimp marinate for 20 minutes.
2. Make the bang bang sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, and rice vinegar until smooth. Set aside.
3. Prepare the breading. In a shallow bowl, whisk together the potato starch, salt, and pepper.
4. Prep the toppings. Shred the cabbage, slice the onion, dice the tomatoes, and chop the cilantro. Warm the tortillas and set aside.
5. Bread the shrimp. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Remove shrimp from the buttermilk mixture, letting the excess drip off, then dredge each piece in the breading until fully coated.
6. Cook the shrimp. Pan-fry the shrimp for about 2 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
7. Sauce the shrimp. Toss the shrimp in the bang bang sauce, or leave them plain and drizzle the sauce over the tacos instead.
8. Assemble the tacos. Fill each tortilla with cabbage and onion, then add the bang bang shrimp. Top with diced tomatoes and cilantro, then serve right away. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
A few simple tips will help you get crispy shrimp and tacos that are full of flavor.
- Don’t skip the marinating time. Let the shrimp marinate for the full 20 minutes so they stay flavorful and tender.
- Shake off the excess buttermilk before breading. Excess buttermilk will make the coating gummy.
- Coat the shrimp well for the crispiest texture. Coat the shrimp well in the starch for the crispiest finish.
- Do not overcrowd the pan. Otherwise, the shrimp will steam instead of fry. Cook in batches if needed for the best golden crust.
- Add the sauce right before serving. Toss the shrimp in sauce right before serving to keep them as crisp as possible.
Topping Ideas
These tacos are easy to customize with your favorite toppings.
- Sliced avocado
- Jalapeños
- Lime wedges
- Crumbled cotija cheese
- Extra bang bang sauce
Recipe Variations
There are plenty of ways to switch these tacos up depending on what you have on hand.
- Use cornstarch if that’s what you have. It still works well here, but if you can get potato starch, it really does make a difference in how light and crispy the shrimp turn out.
- Use flour tortillas if you want something softer and more flexible.
- Swap the shrimp for chicken or salmon.
- Add avocado for extra creaminess.
- Use shredded lettuce instead of cabbage.
- Turn it into a rice bowl instead of tacos.
What to Serve with Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos
These tacos pair well with fresh, simple sides that balance the creamy spicy shrimp. Some great options include:
- Cilantro lime rice
- Mexican street corn
- Chips and guacamole
- Mango salsa
- Corn salad
How to Store Leftovers
These tacos are best enjoyed fresh, but you can still save the components for later.
To Store: Store the cooked shrimp, sauce, and toppings separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. The shrimp will keep for up to 2 days, and the sauce will keep for up to 4 days.
To Reheat: Reheat the shrimp in a skillet or air fryer to help bring back some crispiness. Assemble the tacos just before serving so the tortillas and toppings stay fresh.
More Dinner Recipes You’ll Love
Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons sriracha
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 cup potato starch or cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Corn or flour tortillas
- Shredded purple cabbage
- Thinly sliced onion
- Diced tomatoes
- Chopped cilantro
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together buttermilk, salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder. Add the shrimp and toss to coat. Let the shrimp marinate for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the bang bang sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, and rice vinegar until smooth. Set aside.
- Make the breading. In a shallow bowl, whisk together the potato starch, salt, and pepper.
- Prepare the taco toppings: shred the cabbage, slice the onion, dice the tomatoes, and chop the cilantro. Warm the tortillas and set aside.
- Heat a shallow layer of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Remove shrimp from the buttermilk marinade, letting the excess drip off. Dredge each shrimp in the breading until fully coated.
- Pan-fry the shrimp for about 2 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Toss the shrimp in the bang bang sauce. Alternatively, drizzle the sauce over the shrimp tacos.
- To assemble, fill each tortilla with cabbage and onion, then add the bang bang shrimp. Top with diced tomatoes and cilantro. Serve right away and enjoy!
