Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp

Crispy air fryer bang bang shrimp tossed in a creamy sweet-spicy sauce. Serve in lettuce cups, tacos, or rice bowls—ready fast.

When I’m in a hurry but still want something that tastes like a fun restaurant appetizer, I make bang bang shrimp. The air fryer is the shortcut here: shrimp cooks ridiculously fast, and it gets lightly crisp without deep frying or a big oil mess. Then I toss it in a creamy sweet-spicy sauce and serve it in crunchy lettuce cups for that fresh, satisfying bite.

I like lettuce cups because they’re fast and they automatically make the dish feel lighter. But you can absolutely turn this into tacos, rice bowls, or even a salad topper. The sauce is the star—sweet chili + mayo + a little heat—and it’s easy to adjust based on how spicy you want it.

If you’re cooking for someone who doesn’t love spice, just pull back on the sriracha. If you want it hotter, go the other direction. Either way, the whole recipe is done in about the time it takes to scroll on your phone and wonder what to eat.

Easy upgrades (choose 1–2):
• Add shredded cabbage for extra crunch.
• Mix a little honey into the sauce for more sweet balance.
• Add grated garlic or ginger to the sauce for bigger flavor.
• Finish with lime zest and cilantro for freshness.
• Sprinkle crushed peanuts for a “Thai-ish” crunch.

What to serve with it:
• Steamed rice or coconut rice
• Quick cucumber salad
• Edamame or roasted broccoli
• Tortilla chips + extra sauce for dipping

Meal prep + leftovers:
Shrimp is best right away, but leftovers still work. I store shrimp and sauce separately. To re-crisp, I pop shrimp back into the air fryer for 2–3 minutes at 400°F, then sauce it again. If you’re packing lunch, I recommend turning it into a rice bowl instead of lettuce cups.

12-Minute Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Lettuce Cups

Crispy air fryer shrimp tossed in a creamy sweet-spicy bang bang sauce, served in crunchy lettuce cups.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 22 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Quick

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Shrimp

• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined tails off
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

Bang bang sauce

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tbsp sweet chili sauce
• 1 tbsp sriracha more or less to taste
• 1 tsp lime juice

To serve

• 8 butter lettuce leaves or romaine hearts
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds optional

Method

 

1. Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
2. Toss shrimp with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, and salt.
3. Air fry shrimp 7–9 minutes, shaking the basket once, until pink and lightly crisp.
4. Meanwhile, whisk mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and lime juice.
5. Toss hot shrimp with just enough sauce to coat (save extra for drizzling).
6. Spoon shrimp into lettuce leaves and top with green onions and sesame seeds.
7. Serve immediately while shrimp is crisp.

Notes

Make it a meal: serve over rice or in tortillas as tacos.
Less spicy: reduce sriracha or use ketchup instead.
Storage: keep shrimp and sauce separate; re-crisp shrimp in air fryer 2–3 minutes.