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This Easy Firecracker Shrimp is sweet, sticky, spicy and crunchy – it's a perfect appetizer or main dish when served with broccoli and rice.
order:
- 7.5 Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven: https://amzn.to/4dcUqms
- Lodge Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Skillet: https://amzn.to/3TyyMSA
- Bamboo Seasonings Box with Mini Spoon: https://amzn.to/4dfHzA6
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This is one of my fave sauces of all time – it's so addictive and reminds me of a fancy restaurant so this is one of the dishes I serve when I'm trying to impress someone!
- Quick and easy: This firecracker shrimp is ready in just 30 minutes!
- Delicious sauce: The sauce has the perfect combo of spicy and sweet. You'll want to put it on everything!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Canola oil – swap out for another neutral cooking oil like olive oil or grapeseed oil.
- Shrimp – this is the star of the show but you could also swap it out for boneless chicken breasts or thighs to make firecracker chicken!
- Flour – whole wheat flour or gluten-free flour can be used instead.
- Eggs – coat the shrimp in mayonnaise or buttermilk instead.
- Chili flakes – ground cayenne would also work or you can leave this out.
- Sesame seeds – white or black sesame seeds can be used instead.
- Green onions – garnish with red onions or leave them off altogether.
Sauce
- Sweet chili sauce – use a combo of honey and hot sauce.
- Orange juice – fresh orange juice is best but bottled orange juice works too.
- Soy sauce – coconut aminos or tamari are the best substitutes for soy sauce.
- Sriracha – use any kind of hot sauce of your choice, just keep in mind the taste may vary.
- Garlic – freshly minced garlic is best but jarred minced garlic can be used in a pinch.
- Orange zest – leave this out if you don’t have any fresh oranges.
How to make firecracker shrimp
Step 1: Make the sauce.
Mix together sauce ingredients in a bowl. Microwave until the sauce thickens.
Step 2: Bread the shrimp.
Add flour to a bowl, then whisk eggs in another bowl. Dip shrimp in egg, then coat in flour.
Step 3: Add to a skillet.
Add the shrimp to a skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 4: Fry the shrimp.
Fry the shrimp on each side.
Step 5: Toss in the sauce.
Toss the cooked shrimp in the firecracker sauce.
Step 6: Garnish and serve.
Add garnishes and serve.
Recipe tips & variations
Here are some of my top tips for making this firecracker shrimp:
- Adjust the spiciness: Use more or less sriracha and red chili flakes, depending on the amount of spice you like.
- Try using chicken: If you want a different protein, try my firecracker chicken recipe.
- Skip the breading: To make this dish even healthier, fry the shrimp on its own without the breading.
- Make the sauce creamy: After microwaving the sauce, let it cool then stir in a bit of mayonnaise to make it creamy.
- Repurpose the shrimp: Make a shrimp cocktail, add it to tacos or quesadillas, or serve it on hoagie buns for a Po Boy sandwich.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is firecracker shrimp?
Firecracker shrimp is a popular breaded shrimp dish that’s sold at Panda Express, and is available at some other Asian restaurants as well. It has a delicious sweet and spicy flavour, but the spicy heat is adjustable.
What is firecracker sauce made of?
The firecracker sauce is the perfect finishing touch to the fried breaded shrimp. All you need to make it is sweet chili sauce, orange juice, soy sauce, sriracha, garlic and orange zest. You can adjust the level of spiciness to your liking depending on your spice tolerance.
Can you grill the shrimp instead?
To reduce the calories, you can skip the breading altogether, and simply grill the shrimp on the BBQ. This way, there will be fewer calories and less carbs! Grill on skewers for 2 mins per side at 400° F, then toss in the sauce.
What to serve with firecracker shrimp
Taking this firecracker shrimp recipe from an appetizer to a full meal is as simple as adding a healthy grain and veggies. Any of these would be great alongside firecracker shrimp:
- Grilled or steamed vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, green beans or bok choy
- Brown rice, white rice or cauliflower fried rice
- Rice noodles
- Serve it in lettuce wraps for a low-carb meal
Storing and reheating
Storing: Store for airtight containers in the fridge for 5 days.
Reheating: Broil in the oven for 2 mins to keep the crunchy exterior, or microwave on low for 1-2 mins.
Freezing: Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost and reheat as normal, or reheat in the oven from frozen for 10-15 mins at 400° F.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1 lb shrimp
- 1 cup flour
- 2 eggs
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Chili flakes, for garnish
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
- Green onions, for garnish
Sauce
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 tbsp orange juice
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sriracha
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp orange zest
Instructions
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Mix together sauce ingredients in a bowl. Microwave for 2-3 minutes until heated through and slightly thickened.
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Heat oil in a large skillet over med-high heat.
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Meanwhile, add flour to a bowl, then whisk eggs in another bowl. Dip shrimp in egg, then coat in flour.
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Add shrimp to skillet, cooking in two batches for 2-3 minutes per side. Add cooked shrimp to a paper towel lined plate to get rid of excess oil, seasoning with salt & pepper, then add cooked shrimp to a large bowl.
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Toss shrimp with sauce, then garnish with chili flakes, sesame seeds and green onions. Serve and enjoy!
