This recipe for Bang Bang Shrimp is as sure of itself as a restaurant classic that’s never been taken off the menu. Fried shrimp in a crispy breading and baked with that famous zesty sauce. They make your home kitchen taste like a restaurant.
When I think back to college, the Bonefish Grill restaurant brings back memories of when a friend’s parents would come to town and treat us to a dinner that wasn’t from the cafeteria.
We made the terrible mistake of ordering only one for a table of six, so it was followed right away by disappointment. Such Bang Bang rookies!.
Because my wallet and eating habits won’t let me go out to eat Bang Bang shrimp every week, I made this healthy recipe with the same legendary taste.
Bang bang shrimp is a popular appetizer found on many restaurant menus. This dish features crispy breaded shrimp drizzled with a sweet, spicy, and creamy sauce. The name comes from the “bang” of spicy chiles and the sweet and sour “bang” of the sauce ingredients.
While best when freshly made leftovers happen. Knowing how to properly reheat bang bang shrimp is key to preserving that signature crunch and enhancing those dynamic flavors. Through trial and error I’ve discovered some foolproof ways to revive refrigerated or frozen bang bang shrimp to taste freshly fried.
Why Proper Reheating is Essential
Reheating leftovers improperly can ruin textures and mute flavors. With bang bang shrimp inadequate reheating delivers soggy shrimp encased in a pasty breading. It transforms that craveable crunch into an unappealing mush.
Equally detrimental, improper reheating dulls the sweet and spicy pop of the bang bang sauce When the shrimp emerge from reheating limp and flabby, it prevents the sauce from adequately coating each piece Depriving your tastebuds of that sweet and spicy creaminess should be considered a reheating crime!
Follow these methods carefully to reheat bang bang shrimp to their original glory. Do justice to the dish you crave by recapturing the crisp-yet-tender shrimp and well-balanced sauce that made you fall in love.
Reheating Bang Bang Shrimp in the Oven
The oven allows you to reheat multiple servings of bang bang shrimp at once. Conventional or convection ovens yield the same reheating results.
You’ll need:
- Leftover bang bang shrimp, sauce separate
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Parchment paper or aluminum foil
- Cooking spray
Steps:
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Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Lightly coat with cooking spray.
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Spread shrimp in a single layer on prepared baking sheet without overcrowding.
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Bake for 5-7 minutes until heated through. Shrimp should sizzle and regain their crispiness.
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Remove sheet from oven. Drizzle crispy shrimp with the leftover bang bang sauce. Enjoy immediately!
Tips for best results:
- Don’t overbake. Shrimp can dry out and breading can toughen.
- Avoid overlapping shrimp so entire surface area crisps.
- Bake only unfrozen shrimp. Don’t reheat frozen shrimp in the oven.
Reheating in the Air Fryer
The air fryer reheats bang bang shrimp in a fraction of oven time. The circulating hot air crisps up the breaded shrimp exterior.
You’ll need:
- Leftover bang bang shrimp, sauce separate
- Air fryer
- Cooking spray
Steps:
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Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
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Coat air fryer basket with cooking spray. Add shrimp in a single layer, avoiding overlap.
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Cook for 2-3 minutes until heated through and crisp.
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Toss crispy shrimp in reserved sauce. Enjoy immediately!
Tips for best results:
- Don’t overfill air fryer basket. Cook shrimp in batches for even reheating.
- Periodically check and shake basket to expose all sides to hot air.
- Always cook previously frozen shrimp thawed. Don’t cook frozen.
Reheating on the Stovetop
For a quick reheat of just a few shrimp, the stovetop is your solution.
You’ll need:
- Leftover bang bang shrimp, sauce separate
- Nonstick skillet
- Cooking oil spray
Steps:
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Heat nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Give pan a light coat of cooking spray.
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Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer without crowding.
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Cook for 1-2 minutes per side, tossing frequently, until heated through and crisp.
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Transfer shrimp to a plate. Toss in reserved sauce. Enjoy immediately!
Tips for best results:
- Use metal tongs to carefully flip shrimp and avoid tearing breading.
- Don’t leave shrimp unattended while reheating. They can overcook quickly.
- Always reheat thawed shrimp. Don’t cook shrimp frozen.
Storing Leftover Bang Bang Shrimp
With some leftover bang bang shrimp in the fridge, proper storage is key to successful reheating later.
To store:
- Allow cooked bang bang shrimp to cool completely before covering.
- Place shrimp and sauce in separate airtight containers.
- Refrigerate for up to 2 days.
To freeze:
- Allow cooked shrimp and sauce to cool completely before freezing.
- Place shrimp and sauce in separate airtight containers.
- Freeze shrimp up to 2 months. Freeze sauce up to 3 months.
- Thaw shrimp overnight in refrigerator before reheating.
What not to do:
- Don’t store shrimp and sauce mixed together. This causes the shrimp breading to become soggy.
- Don’t store at room temperature over 2 hours. This allows bacteria to multiply.
More Handy Tips for Reheating Bang Bang Shrimp
- If reheating sauce separately, stir occasionally to prevent scorching.
- For food safety, reheat shrimp to an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Bang bang shrimp taste best reheated on the same day as initially cooked. Reheating next-day shrimp is still tasty but texture and flavor will decline.
- When reheating, aim to revive the shrimp within 10 minutes before quality suffers.
- Frozen shrimp that are reheated always have a softer texture than fresh-cooked shrimp.
Satisfy Your Bang Bang Shrimp Craving
I love recreating a restaurant favorite like bang bang shrimp at home. With the obstacle of reheating leftovers solved, you can enjoy this crave-worthy appetizer any night of the week without the bill!
Use these methods to revive refrigerated or frozen bang bang shrimp to their original glory days. Crisp, spicy, tangy and sweet bang bang shrimp are worth a second round. Just be prepared for any leftovers to disappear fast once more!
Other Yummy Shrimp Recipes
- Baking Sheet. These are the best tools to use if you’re cooking the shrimp in the oven.
- Pie Dish. A wide, shallow pie dish is ideal for dredging.
- Air Fryer. The tool you’ll need to use the air fryer to cook shrimp
If you’ve ever eaten Bonefish Grill’s Bang Bang shrimp, you know that one order never lasts.
Don’t be surprised when this disappears just as quickly at home!
What to Serve with Bang Bang Shrimp
If you make Bang Bang shrimp for a dinner party, everyone will talk about how great you are.
Not so with Bang Bang shrimp! Most of the time, we eat them as a main dish. Here are a number of other ways to adapt the rich flavor of Bang Bang shrimp:
- Pasta. As a main dish, you could put them on top of Spicy Shrimp Pasta or Cajun Shrimp Pasta. Just substitute Bang Bang shrimp for the sautéed shrimp. Do not add them to the pasta while it is cooking. The Bang Bang shrimp should be added after the pasta is done and served. It goes well with any long pasta noodle, like linguine, bucatini, fettuccine, or spaghetti.
- Tacos. Check out my recipe for Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos if you like this idea. The slaw from these Shrimp Tacos with Creamy Taco Slaw would make them taste even better.
- Stir Fry. You could mix them with rice and any other vegetables you like in a stir-fry. With the Bang Bang shrimp, you should wait to add them until the stir fry is cooked and ready. If you put it on any earlier, the crunchy, baked-on top might get too wet. You could even use them instead of the shrimp in this Healthy Shrimp Pad Thai.
- Lettuce Wrap. Wrap Bang Bang shrimp in a lettuce leaf for twice the crunch. You can use the shrimp in this recipe instead of the other ingredients in these Asian lettuce wraps.
- Quinoa, Rice, or Cauliflower Rice. Serve it with protein-rich quinoa like this Healthy Garlic Shrimp with Quinoa shows you how to do it. Or, swap whole grain brown rice or low-carb cauliflower rice.
How to reheat shrimp in pan on stove
FAQ
How do you reheat boom boom shrimp?
What is the best way to reheat cooked shrimp?
How do you reheat fried shrimp without drying it out?
How to reheat breaded shrimp in an air fryer?
Can You reheat Bang Bang Shrimp?
The texture of the shrimp and the crispiness of the batter are likely to be compromised upon thaw. Reheat Instructions: This shrimp dish, is best eaten fresh, but if you’d like to enjoy your bang bang shrimp again, reheat it in a skillet over medium heat. Be careful not to overheat as this can make the shrimp tough.
How do you reheat fried shrimp?
To reheat, just place them on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit — to really keep them crispy you can place them on a wire rack over the baking sheet in the oven. Make-Ahead: You can make the Bang Bang sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container until you are ready to make the shrimp.
Can you air fry Bang Bang Shrimp?
Yes, you can air fry Bang Bang Shrimp. Spread the shrimp on a wire rack over a baking sheet and bake them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. In the air fryer, large shrimp should cook for 9 minutes at 400 degrees. Alternatively, you could try grilling the shrimp. What to eat with Bang Bang Shrimp?
How do you cook hot shrimp in Bang Bang sauce?
Remove the shrimp from hot oil, placing on a wire rack over a paper towel lined baking sheet. Allow to drip for 1-2 minutes before tossing in the hot shrimp in the bang bang sauce. If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.