Bang Bang Sauce is a quick, easy, and spicy chili and mayo dip that you probably already have in your kitchen. It goes well with shrimp, seafood, fries, burgers, and more. Check it out! Plus, it’s a dead ringer for the Bonefish Grill namesake appetizer Bang Bang Shrimp!.
Dip your shrimp in something so much more exciting than cocktail sauce, like Bang Bang Sauce !
I love great dipping sauce recipes like barbecue sauce and ranch dressing, but bang bang sauce is something else. Different recipes call for mayonnaise, chili sauce, rice vinegar, and sriracha, but those are the ones that work best.
This homemade sauce is a copy of the sauce that comes with the Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer at Bonefish Grill.
You may want to double the recipe because you’ll be going through this delicious sauce in no time.
Crispy, golden fried shrimp is hard to resist, but the right dipping sauce takes it to the next level. Whether enjoying a shrimp po’ boy, coconut shrimp, or a classic shrimp basket, having a flavorful dip on hand enhances the experience. But with so many options, how do you choose?
In this article, I’ll suggest 15 delicious dipping sauces to try with fried shrimp. From spicy to savory, classic to creative, you’ll find sauces to satisfy all tastes. Let’s dive in to find your new favorite fried shrimp pairing!
Classic Choices
You can’t go wrong with a few tried-and-true fried shrimp dipping sauces. These traditional accompaniments have stood the test of time for good reason.
1. Cocktail Sauce
This tangy tomato-based sauce adds a nice acidic punch to balance the richness of fried shrimp. Many recipes include horseradish for extra bite. For an easy homemade version, combine ketchup, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce horseradish, and hot sauce.
2. Tartar Sauce
Creamy tartar sauce helps cut through the crispy batter coating with its blend of mayonnaise, pickles, onions, and herbs. I love whisking in some Dijon mustard and lemon juice for extra flair.
3. Remoulade
This New Orleans-style emulsion has a similar base to tartar sauce but draws inspiration from French cuisine. Creole mustard capers, pickled vegetables, and herbs give it a more robust flavor profile.
Spicy Sauces
If you like heat with your fried food, try one of these fiery, flavor-packed dipping sauces. Feel free to adjust the spice level to your personal tastes.
4. Sriracha Mayo
For a quick and easy spicy dip, combine a few spoonfuls of sriracha into mayonnaise. The mayo nicely balances out the heat Add a squeeze of lime for extra zing.
5. Bang Bang Sauce
This sauce takes its cues from Asian flavors like sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and rice vinegar. The creamy base comes from mayo or Greek yogurt. It’s sweet, tangy, and fiery!
6. Thai Chili Sauce
You can find this sauce ready-made, but whipping up your own allows you to control the heat level and flavors. Sauté garlic, Thai chilies, vinegar, sugar, fish sauce, and lime juice for an irresistible blend.
Global Flavor Dips
Take your fried shrimp on a world tour of flavors by dipping into one of these internationally-inspired sauces.
7. Mexican Crema
Mix sour cream with lime juice, cilantro, and chili powder for a quick Mexican-style crema. The lime brightens up the rich shrimp, while the slight heat from the chili powder balances nicely.
8. Japanese Ponzu
Ponzu’s bracing blend of soy sauce, lemon, rice vinegar, ginger, and orange brings a lovely salty-sour umami flavor. Dip the shrimp or drizzle it over the top.
9. Caribbean Jerk Sauce
Jerk sauce’s blend of fiery Scotch bonnets, aromatic allspice, cloves, thyme, and citrus makes a deliciously fiery pairing for fried shrimp. You can find it bottled or make your own.
Savory Sauces
For those who love deep, savory flavors, you can’t go wrong with these umami-rich dipping sauce options.
10. Lemon Garlic Butter
Buttery, garlicky, and bright, this easy sauce comes together by melting butter with lemon juice, minced garlic, parsley, and a touch of red pepper flakes. Drizzle it over piping hot fried shrimp.
11. Browned Butter Sage
For an upscale twist, brown the butter before mixing in fresh sage and lemon juice. The nutty browned butter with earthy sage makes a gourmet pairing.
12. Cheesy Bacon Ranch
Everything is better with bacon and cheese! Mix shredded cheddar or American cheese into ranch dressing along with cooked, crumbled bacon. It’s perfect for dipping or drizzling.
Creative Sauces
These unique sauce creations offer surprising yet incredible flavors with fried shrimp. Open your mind and give them a try!
13. Blue Cheese Buffalo
Of course buffalo sauce is fantastic on shrimp, but take it up a notch by mixing in crumbled blue cheese. The spicy, buttery, and pungent flavors marry beautifully.
14. Honey Chipotle
Who knew sweet honey and smoky chipotle would make such a great shrimp pairing? The sweet balances the heat perfectly.
15. Peanut Mango
For a tropical twist, blend together fresh mango, peanut butter, lime juice, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. It’s creamy, nutty, and fruity.
Make It a Meal
Fried shrimp on its own makes a great entree, but I love rounding it out into a full meal. Here are some tasty sides to serve alongside your shrimp and dipping sauce:
- French fries or onion rings
- Coleslaw, potato salad, or macaroni salad
- Corn on the cob
- Hush puppies
- Rice pilaf or grits
- Biscuits or cornbread
- Baked beans
With so many mouthwatering dipping sauce options, you could try a new one every time you make fried shrimp. The possibilities are endless, so get creative and take your shrimp to the next flavor level. Just don’t forget the wet naps – these sauces can get messy!
How to make it
It’s easy! Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl, stir to combine, and you’re done.
You can use the creamy dipping sauce right away or store it in the fridge for later.
Ways to use bang bang sauce
- To make it vegan, just use your favorite plant-based mayo instead of the mayonnaise.
- Add one more tablespoon of spicy sriracha if you don’t mind the heat.
- Take out one tablespoon of the hot sauce if it’s too spicy.
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What to serve with shrimp dipping sauce?
Shrimp. Of course, shrimp is the natural choice to serve with shrimp dipping sauce. My grilled shrimp recipe is quick & easy to make. Also try blackened shrimp , margarita grilled shrimp, or air fryer shrimp! Fried things. Dip all sorts of fried deliciousness into this sauce, like fried pickles, truffle fries, or chicken fries.
What is the best dipping sauce for shrimp?
Blue Cheese Sauce Tangy blue cheese sauce is bold and flavorful, making it the perfect dipping sauce to enjoy with shrimp. This cool and creamy dip is fresh, savory, and easy to make with only a few ingredients.
How do you make shrimp dipping sauce?
Typical Sauce Ingredients: Butter, garlic, parsley, and lemon juice. Quick Recipe: Melt 1/2 cup butter, stir in 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Serving Suggestion: Drizzle over steamed shrimp or use as a dipping sauce for a comforting feel.
What do you serve fried shrimp with?
Serve – Allow the shrimp to cool a bit and serve! Serving sauces – If you enjoy dipping your shrimp in a sauce, you can serve these fried shrimp with honey mustard, tartar sauce, sriracha mayo, etc. I served it with honey mustard.