Quick and Easy Bang Bang Shrimp (Bonefish Grill Copycat)

Bonefish grill copycat bang bang shrimp is one of the easiest party shrimp appetizers that you can make in just 20 minutes. Shrimp is soaked in buttermilk, coated in the cornstarch mix, fried to golden perfection, and smothered in sweet, spicy, mayo bang bang sauce. It’s truly a crowd-pleaser!

Jump to:

• Why this recipe for bang bang shrimp works?
• What is bang bang shrimp?
• Ingredients needed
• Step-by-step instructions
• Ways to serve
• How to prevent cornstarch from clumping to the shrimp
• Useful tips
• Recipe FAQs
• Related shrimp recipes
• 📋Copycat Bang Bang Shrimp

Why this recipe for bang bang shrimp works?

1. Soaking shrimp in buttermilk makes the cornstarch coating stick thus ensuring really crispy, crunchy shrimp when fried.
2. Deep-fried shrimp is crispy, crunchy on the outside, and succulent inside.
3. The spicy, sweet, creamy mayonnaise base sauce also called bang bang sauce is bursting with flavors. It’s finger-licking good!
4. It’s so delicious, you could eat it with a spoon. Ridiculously addictive too.

What is bang bang shrimp?

It’s a popular appetizer from the famous restaurant Bonefish Grill.

This crispy crunchy shrimp are covered with a sweet and spicy creamy sauce which is the real star of the dish. Bang bang sauce is fabulous! I love the sauce so much, that I smothered crispy fried shrimp in the sauce instead of drizzling the sauce over the shrimp.

It’s a great appetizer served over a bed of iceberg lettuce. You could also serve it as a meal over a bed of steamed rice.

The sauce is the real star of this dish!

Ingredients needed

Here’s what you’ll need-

All ingredient’s exact measurements are mentioned in the recipe card below.

Ingredients notes

1. Shrimp – use medium to large size shrimp. Peel the shell off, and devein before use. For the best taste, I highly recommend you use fresh shrimp. If fresh shrimp isn’t available, use frozen.
2. Buttermilk – store-bought or fresh homemade buttermilk can be used. Buttermilk is used to soak shrimp for a minute or 2 before dredging it in the cornstarch mix. Soaking shrimp in buttermilk makes the cornstarch coating stick thus ensuring crispy, crunchy shrimp when fried.
3. Cornstarch – it gives a wonderfully airy, crispy, crunchy coating on shrimp when fried. Highly recommend corn starch which will keep it crispy for longer even after adding it to the sauce. If you don’t have cornstarch, you can use plain flour, there might be slight variation in texture. Note: to know how to prevent the cornstarch from clumping to the shrimp read the section “How to prevent the cornstarch from clumping to the shrimp”.
4. Seasoning – cornstarch is seasoned with garlic powder, salt, and freshly ground pepper.
5. Garnish – bang bang shrimp is better when garnished with green onion and toasted sesame seeds (white or black).

Sauce ingredients

1. Mayonnaise – use regular or Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise. Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise is slightly sweeter and tangier than regular mayo. It also packs a wonderful umami flavor. Most Korean (and Japanese) recipes usually call for Kewpie mayo. For the best taste use full-fat mayo.
2. Thai sweet chili sauce – use any sweet chili sauce, Thai sweet chili sauce gives it an authentic taste. I would even recommend using homemade spicy sweet chili sauce.
3. Sriracha – adds a kick to the sauce.
4. Rice vinegar – Kewpie mayo has a tangy flavor profile, skip rice vinegar if using it. Vinegar adds tang flavor to the sauce.
5. Pepper – season to taste.
6. Honey – optional, add if you prefer sweeter sauce. I skipped honey.

Step-by-step instructions

Sprinkle green onions on top and, little sesame seeds. Serve shrimp immediately over a bed of iceberg lettuce leaves.

Ways to serve

Bang bang shrimp is popularly served as an appetizer over iceberg lettuce leaves. You could also serve it as an entrée or main dish with a bowl of steamed rice.

More ways to serve-

1. Over a bed of salad – yes, works great as a salad ingredient. It’s almost like topping a salad with homemade croutons, crispy, crunchy shrimp can be added to salad.
2. Shrimp tacos – so delicious!
3. Bang bang shrimp pasta.

How to prevent cornstarch from clumping to the shrimp

Working one at a time, dip shrimp in buttermilk and then dredge in the cornstarch mix.

Use one hand to coat shrimp in liquid marinade and the other hand to coat in dry marinade. No more cakey hands! Make sure to shake off excess cornstarch before deep frying.

Useful tips

1. Select fresh juicy shrimp.
2. Pat dry shrimps completely to get golden brown fried shrimps. Also removing water will prevent oil from spluttering from hot oil.
3. Do not overcook shrimp.
4. Use one hand to coat shrimp in liquid marinade and the other hand to coat in dry marinade. No more cakey hands!
5. Fry shrimp in batches, do not crowd the pan.
6. To add more flavor to the dish, season cornstarch with garlic powder, and smoked paprika along with salt and pepper.
7. The shrimp sauce can be packed with more flavors if you like. Add garlic powder and honey along with Thai sweet chili sauce and Sriracha.

Recipe FAQs