This recipe for firecracker shrimp makes the best shrimp, with the right amount of heat, sweetness, and great flavor. It’s ready in minutes!
Firecracker shrimp is a popular appetizer or main dish featuring succulent shrimp in a sweet and spicy sauce. The name comes from the “pop” of spice that hits your tongue when you bite into these crispy, flavor-packed shrimp. I absolutely love this dish, and it has become one of my go-to recipes when I want something quick, easy and full of big, bold flavors.
In this article I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make perfect firecracker shrimp at home. We’ll cover
- Firecracker Shrimp Ingredients
- Tips for Preparing the Shrimp
- How to Make the Firecracker Sauce
- Frying Methods for Crispy Shrimp
- Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
- Serving Suggestions and Variations
So get ready to make some mouths water with this addictively good firecracker shrimp recipe!
Firecracker Shrimp Ingredients
Firecracker shrimp has a short ingredient list, but each component is important for building the flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:
For the Shrimp
- Shrimp – peeled, deveined and tails removed. Use large or jumbo shrimp.
- Salt and pepper – for seasoning the shrimp
- Cornstarch – helps coat the shrimp for frying
- Vegetable oil – for frying
For the Sauce
- Sweet chili sauce – for flavor, sweetness and thickness
- Sriracha – provides heat and chili flavor
- Soy sauce or tamari – for saltiness
- Rice vinegar or lime juice – for acidity
- Garlic – sautéed garlic adds richness
- Ginger – provides a little spicy kick
- Green onion – for garnish
Tips for Preparing the Shrimp
Prepping the shrimp properly before breading and frying is key:
- Peel the shrimp, leaving the tails on for presentation.
- Devein the shrimp by slicing down the back and removing the digestive tract.
- Pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Season with salt and pepper. This adds flavor and helps the coating stick.
- Coat with cornstarch. A light dredge in cornstarch will give you the crispiest results.
How to Make the Firecracker Sauce
The sauce is what gives firecracker shrimp its signature sweet heat. While store-bought sweet chili sauce works, I prefer to make it from scratch.
Here’s how:
- In a small saucepan, combine sweet chili sauce, sriracha, soy sauce, vinegar, minced garlic and grated ginger.
- Whisk together and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Let cook for 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Remove from heat and stir in sliced green onions.
- Set aside until ready to use.
This sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until needed.
Frying Methods for Crispy Shrimp
You can deep fry or pan fry the shrimp to achieve ideal crispy texture on the outside while keeping the interior juicy.
For deep frying:
- Heat at least 2 inches of vegetable oil to 375°F in a heavy pot or dutch oven.
- Fry shrimp in batches for 2-3 minutes, until golden brown.
- Drain on paper towel-lined plate.
For pan frying:
- Heat 1/4 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Fry shrimp in a single layer for 1-2 minutes per side, until crispy.
Pan frying requires frequent flipping to ensure even browning Deep frying is less hands-on,
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
Follow these simple steps for perfect firecracker shrimp every time:
- Pat shrimp dry and season with salt and pepper.
- Dredge shrimp in cornstarch, coating both sides.
- Heat oil to 375°F for deep frying or medium high for pan frying.
- Fry shrimp in batches until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
- Drain fried shrimp on paper towel-lined plate.
- In pan or wok, stir-fry sauce over medium heat 1-2 minutes.
- Add fried shrimp and toss until coated in sauce.
- Garnish with green onion and serve immediately.
It’s ready that quick! The shrimp fry up fast, then you simply toss them in the quick stir-fried sauce.
Serving Suggestions and Variations
Firecracker shrimp is delicious on its own, but try these serving ideas:
- Serve over steamed white rice or lo mein noodles.
- Stuff into Chinese steamed buns for shrimp tacos.
- Toss with salad greens for a main dish salad.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and scallions for garnish.
Some tasty variations include:
- Use coconut oil for frying instead of vegetable oil.
- Add garlic, ginger or lemongrass to the sauce.
- For more heat, add chili garlic sauce or red pepper flakes.
- Make it extra sweet by adding orange marmalade or honey.
- Use lime juice and cilantro for a Mexican-style twist.
No matter how you try it, firecracker shrimp always delivers bold, addictive flavors. It’s the perfect fast appetizer or main dish that I’m sure will become a regular in your dinner rotation.
Easy Spicy Firecracker Shrimp Recipe
Spicy shrimp in the house, my friends! Are you a fan of spicy shrimp? Of course you are. We love spicy food and put more heat and flavor into almost everything. Shrimp is one of our favorite foods to spice up.
So today, were making that very thing. Were talking Firecracker Shrimp, and I think youre going to love it.
Ive seen so many different recipes called “firecracker shrimp” floating around. There are so many different variations. Youll see them served at restaurants, printed on menus in the appetizer section, but everyone makes it differently.
One restaurant wraps them in spring roll wrappers, fries them, the douses them with soy sauce.
Another tosses grilled shrimp with sriracha alone and calls if firecracker shrimp. Another serves up what is essentially the famous Bang Bang Shrimp and gives it a new name. Say what?.
Since there doesn’t seem to be a clear agreement on what firecracker shrimp are, I’ve decided to do it my way. Ive tested various combinations and this is what I personally feel is the best firecracker shrimp out there.
I hope you agree! The end result is a nice mix of sweet and spicy, and it’s easy to change to suit your own spice-loving tastes.
Lets talk about how to make firecracker shrimp, shall we?
While there are other ways to make firecracker shrimp, this is my favorite. I’ll call it the “Madness Way” because it uses only a few simple ingredients and lets you decide how spicy it is.
FOR THE FIRECRACKER SHRIMP MARINADE/GLAZE
- Chili-Garlic Sauce. You can find this in most stores, but you can also use sweet chili sauce or make your own chili-garlic sauce.
- Chili Oil. Use a spicy version. You can use your favorite brand of chili oil, or you can make your own. Use canola oil or vegetable oil instead if needed. Sesame oil is good, too.
- Sriracha. Homemade sriracha is great, of course! Or use your favorite.
- White Wine Vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is great, too.
- Honey. Or try agave nectar or brown sugar.
- Cayenne. If you want it less spicy, use paprika. If you want it hotter, use ghost pepper flakes.
- Lime Juice.
- Salt and Pepper. To taste.
FOR THE SHRIMP
- Shrimp. Peeled and deveined. You can use fresh or frozen shrimp (thawed).
- Olive Oil.
FOR GARNISH
- Fresh chopped parsley
- Spicy chili flakes
- Sliced hot peppers
How to Make Firecracker Shrimp – the Recipe Method
First, lets make the firecracker sauce. This is less of a sauce and more of a double duty marinade and glaze. There are many different ways you can make this, with many possible substitutions.
Chili-garlic sauce, chili oil, sriracha, vinegar, honey, cayenne, lime juice, and a little salt and pepper are what I use. Add them to a small bowl.
Whisk! Get it nice and uniform. This is all of the flavor, my friends. Sweet and spicy, the perfect flavor combination.
Manage the Heat: If you’d rather have a milder heat, swap out the cayenne for paprika and cut back on the sriracha. Use more chili-garlic sauce. For spicier, use more cayenne or incorporate hotter chili powder. You can also use more sriracha or toss in some hot sauce.
Add the shrimp to a large bowl and add half of firecracker shrimp marinade. Toss to evenly coat the shrimp. Refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes, though you can cook immediately if desired. You can marinate longer if youd like to, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Cooking the Shrimp. Heat the olive oil in a large pan to medium high heat. Add the shrimp and cook 2-3 minutes per side, until the shrimp is pink and cooked through.
TIP: Shrimp cooks up very quickly, so keep an eye on them. Dont overcook the shrimp or they can become tough.
Brush on the remaining firecracker shrimp glaze. This will add that extra burst of flavor just before serving. Reserve any leftover marinade/glaze for serving.
Garnish and serve!
Such a quick and easy recipe, isn’t it? It’s ready in almost no time, even for someone like me who cooks slowly.
