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Creamy Bang Bang Shrimp

Category: Dinner Ideas That Actually Work

Fast, tasty pasta packed with crispy shrimp and a sweet-spicy creamy sauce. Just 30 minutes, serves 4, and simple ingredients needed!
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Clare Recipes
Created By Lily Chen
Updated on Sun, 23 Mar 2025 20:45:43 GMT
Creamy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Save
Creamy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta | lilicooks.com

Tasty Bang Bang shrimp pasta turns an average meal into something special by mixing crunchy, juicy shrimp with a well-balanced sweet-hot sauce poured over soft pasta. This clever mix brings together bold Asian sauce flavors with traditional Italian pasta, making an amazing dish you can whip up in half an hour.

I made this Bang Bang shrimp pasta for some friends who came over last weekend, and they couldn't stop talking about how perfectly the flavors worked together. They loved the sauce so much that many asked for extra to pour over their greens.

Key Ingredients

  • Big shrimp: Go for fresh ones or thawed frozen shrimp, with shells and veins removed for the best crunch
  • Cornstarch: Gives you that light, crispy outer layer that keeps shrimp juicy inside
  • Sweet chili sauce: Brings the right mix of sweetness and mild spice while making the sauce look shiny and appetizing
  • Mayonnaise: Forms the smooth base that sticks well to both the pasta and shrimp
  • Sriracha: Adds that needed heat which you can adjust up or down as you like
  • Fresh lime juice: Makes all the flavors pop and balances out the rich sauce
  • Good pasta: Pick shapes that grab sauce well, such as spaghetti or fettuccine

Cooking Instructions

Get Your Shrimp Ready
Add salt and pepper to these sea treats, then dust them evenly with cornstarch. Get your oil hot and bubbling, then carefully add each shrimp with space between them so they get nice and crispy. They'll turn a beautiful golden color in about 2-3 minutes on each side.
Mix Up Your Sauce
Put mayonnaise in a bowl first as your base. Then add in sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, and lime juice. Stir it all together until it's smooth and creamy with everything blended completely.
Cook Your Pasta
Get water really boiling with plenty of salt. Cook your pasta until it's just tender with a bit of firmness. Save some of the cooking water before you drain it. This starchy water helps make your sauce the right thickness later.
Put It All Together
Heat your pan again with some olive oil and fresh garlic. Toss in your cooked pasta so it gets coated in the garlicky oil. Pour your Bang Bang sauce over everything and gently mix until all the pasta is covered. Add your crispy shrimp and give it one last mix.
Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Recipe Save
Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Recipe | lilicooks.com

Delicious Sides

Make this meal even better with some buttery garlic bread with herbs. If you want something lighter, try making an Asian-style slaw with rice vinegar and sesame oil dressing that cuts through the creamy pasta. A simple arugula salad with citrus dressing also works great to balance out the richness.

Make It Your Own

Try adding seared scallops with the shrimp for a fancier seafood dish. If you don't eat meat, crispy cubes of tofu work great instead of shrimp and still give you that nice texture contrast. If you're watching calories, you can swap regular pasta for zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash but keep that yummy Bang Bang sauce the same.

Storage Tips

Put any leftover pasta in a sealed container and keep it in your fridge for up to three days. When you warm it up, add a splash of cream or some reserved pasta water to make the sauce smooth again. Heat it slowly on medium-low, stirring now and then so it doesn't stick. For best results, store your crispy shrimp apart from the saucy pasta, and heat them in a hot oven to get them crunchy again.

I've tweaked this dish many times in my kitchen and found that getting just the right amount of sauce on the pasta makes all the difference. My favorite part is watching friends take their first bite and seeing them smile as they taste how everything works together. This pasta really shows why cooking for people you care about is so rewarding.

Close-up Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Save
Close-up Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta | lilicooks.com

Recipe FAQs

→ How can I make this less hot?
Just cut back on the Sriracha, or leave it out! The sweet chili sauce alone adds great flavor.
→ Which pasta works best for this?
Spaghetti or fettuccine are excellent, but any noodle you’ve got will work fine. Long pasta grabs the sauce better.
→ Is the sauce okay to prep early?
You can make the bang bang sauce up to two days ahead and keep it in the fridge. Stir it well before using.
→ What if I don’t have shrimp?
Crispy chicken or even tofu can replace shrimp. Both pair perfectly with this sauce.
→ Why use cornstarch on shrimp?
It gives the shrimp a crispy texture when fried and helps the sauce stick really well.

Spicy Shrimp Pasta

Crunchy shrimp and noodles mixed with a creamy, sweet-spicy sauce. Quick and delicious, ready in half an hour for any night.

Preparation Time
15 min
Cooking Time
15 min
Overall Time
30 min
Created By: Lily Chen

Category: Main Dishes

Skill Level: Moderate

Cuisine Type: Fusion of Asian and American

Output: 4 Serves

Dietary Options: ~

Ingredients

→ Shrimp Prep

01 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
02 ¼ teaspoon optional smoked paprika
03 ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
04 ½ teaspoon salt
05 1 pound of deveined, peeled large shrimp
06 ½ cup of cornstarch to coat

→ Sauce Mix

07 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice
08 1 tablespoon honey
09 1-2 tablespoons of spicy Sriracha
10 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
11 ½ cup mayonnaise
12 ¼ cup sweet chili sauce

→ For the Pasta Base

13 8 ounces of fettuccine or spaghetti
14 Red pepper flakes, optional
15 2 tablespoons of olive oil
16 2 garlic cloves, minced
17 Green onions, chopped (about ¼ cup)
18 ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps

Step 01

Toss the shrimp in smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt in a bowl. Next, give them a good coating of cornstarch, then shake off what’s extra so the shrimp crisps up really well!

Step 02

Warm up vegetable oil in your skillet set to medium-high heat. Fry the shrimp for about 2-3 minutes on each side in small groups until golden perfection. Drain by placing them on paper towels.

Step 03

Grab a big pot and salt some boiling water. Cook pasta until it’s got a slight bite (around 8-10 minutes). Save ½ cup of that pasta water before pouring off the rest.

Step 04

Stir together mayo, spicy Sriracha, chili sauce, honey, lime juice, and chopped garlic. This mix ties it together! Tame the heat by cutting back Sriracha if you like.

Step 05

Cook garlic in olive oil, add your drained pasta, and pour in the creamy sauce. Gently mix in fried shrimp, then finish with green onion pieces, cheese, and a touch of red pepper flakes if you like. Serve it while it’s warm!

Tips

  1. Want veggies? Sauté some zucchini or bell peppers and toss them in.
  2. Swap shrimp for crispy tofu to keep it vegetarian.
  3. Dial back or increase the spice by changing the Sriracha amount.

Required Tools

  • Skillet, big enough for frying
  • Large pot for pasta cooking
  • Mix bowls
  • Paper towels for draining

Allergy Information

Always check each ingredient for allergens, and consult a medical professional if unsure.
  • Has shellfish (shrimp)
  • Includes dairy (Parmesan cheese)

Nutritional Information (per serving)

These details are shared for general guidance and don’t replace professional advice.
  • Calories: 620
  • Fats: 32 g
  • Carbohydrates: 52 g
  • Proteins: 30 g