This Spicy Bang Bang Shrimp Salad is topped with fresh vegetables, spicy shrimp, crisp lettuce, a and spicy tangy sauce. It's perfect for a quick meal or to make ahead for lunches.

If you've never had bang bang shrimp, you are in for a real treat! The sriracha sauce is the perfect balance between creamy and spicy. I love this sauce so much I could probably eat it with a spoon! We love making this bang bang bang shrimp and putting it on a salad for a quick weeknight meal or using the leftovers for lunch the next day. I must have a thing for spicy shrimp because honey sriracha shrimp seems to always be on our weeknight menu.
Come along as I show you how to make this easy bang bang shrimp recipe!
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Ingredients
Substitutions
Shrimp- If you don't have shrimp or dislike it, you can use chicken, steak, scallops, or even salmon.
Lettuce- I like to use romaine lettuce but you can use whatever salad mix you like. Iceberg, baby spinach, spring mix, or even napa cabbage or red cabbage would be great in this recipe.
Coconut aminos- You can use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari sauce.
Rice vinegar- If you don't have rice vinegar you can use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar.
Cherry tomatoes- You can use any variation of tomatoes that you like. Grape or champagne tomatoes would be great!
Red onion- White or yellow onion would work. I also like to top my salad with green onions.
Shredded carrots- I like using shredded carrots but you can use sliced, shaved, or diced carrots. Whatever your personal preference is!
Step by step
- Cut your cherry tomatoes in half and dice your red onion.
- In a small bowl combine the mayo, Sriracha, coconut aminos, and rice vinegar.
- Add avocado oil or olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat/medium high heat.
- Add the shrimp to the hot pan and cook for 4-5 minutes or until pink or opaque.
- Once the shrimp are cooked, transfer them to a large mixing bowl pour ⅔ of the sauce into the bowl, and coat the shrimp in the bang bang sauce. Save a little bit of the sauce to drizzle on top of the salads.
- Assemble your salads. In either a large serving bowl or separate serving bowls, lay down a bed of lettuce in the bowl, then layer in your veggies, and top with your shrimp and extra sauce. I like to also top mine with sesame seeds, green onions, and a squeeze of lime juice.
What is bang bang sauce made of?
Bang Bang sauce is typically made from mayonnaise, Thai chili sauce, and Sriracha hot sauce. I use blue agave sriracha in this recipe to add a bit of sweetness instead of sweet chili sauce.
What goes well with bang bang shrimp?
There are lots of ways/things to serve bang bang shrimp with. Here are a few of my favorites!
- On top of fried rice
- Make bang bang shrimp tacos
- With Asian noodles
- On skewers with your favorite vegetables
- With roasted vegetables
- Paired with cauliflower rice
Why is it called bang bang shrimp?
"Bang Bang Shrimp" comes from a popular dish served at Bonefish Grill restaurant. The name "Bang Bang" is believed to come from the spicy sauce that coats the shrimp, giving it a flavorful "kick" or "bang." The shrimp are typically coated in a spicy mayonnaise-based sauce, and when they are tossed or coated in this sauce, it creates a distinctive and bold flavor profile that packs a punch, hence the name "Bang Bang Shrimp."
Is bang bang the same as yum yum sauce?
Bang Bang sauce and Yum Yum sauce are similar in some ways but they are not the same. Both sauces are creamy and often used as condiments or for dipping, particularly with seafood or Asian-inspired dishes.
Bang Bang sauce typically consists of a mixture of mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha or other hot sauce, giving it a spicy and tangy flavor. It's usually used to coat shrimp or as a dressing for salads.
Yum Yum sauce is a popular condiment in Japanese steakhouse restaurants. It's a creamy and mildly sweet sauce made with mayonnaise, tomato paste, sugar, and other seasonings. Yum Yum sauce is commonly served with hibachi-style grilled meats, seafood, and vegetables.
Tips
- Traditional bang bang sauce is made with sweet chili sauce, which usually contains processed sugars. Since bang bang sauce is a mix of sriracha, sweet chili sauce, and mayo I use Yellowbird Blue Agave Sriracha which gives it the sweetness that would traditionally come from the chili sauce but without the processed sugars.
- An easy way to get the shrimp smell out of your shrimp is to place your peeled and deveined shrimp in a bowl, sprinkle a teaspoon of salt over your shrimp, and stir for one minute. Then rinse your shrimp in a colander under cold water, place it back in the bowl, and repeat that two more times.
Storing
Storing leftover shrimp
If you have leftover shrimp you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I love using the leftover bang bang shrimp to make shrimp skewers on the grill. Another way I use the leftover shrimp is to add it to a bowl of rice with some vegetables and make a stir-fry bowl.
Storing leftover sauce
If you have any sauce left over you can store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can use it to coat chicken, add it to other salads, as a dipping sauce for dumplings or egg rolls, or top scrambled or fried eggs with it.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and comment! Your feedback is so important to me.
Recipe
Bang Bang Shrimp Salad
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds Shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 6-8 cups Romaine
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cup Shredded carrots
- ½ cup Red onions (diced)
Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Sriracha I use Yellowbird
- 2 teaspoons Coconut aminos
- 2 teaspoons Rice vinegar
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- large skillet
- Small mixing bowl
Instructions
- Cut your cherry tomatoes in half and dice your red onion.
- In a small bowl combine the mayo, Sriracha, coconut aminos, and rice vinegar.
- Add avocado oil or olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat/medium high heat. Add the shrimp to the hot pan and cook for 4-5 minutes or until pink or opaque.
- Optional- top with sesame seeds, green onions, and a squeeze of lime juice.
Notes
- Traditional bang bang sauce is made with sweet chili sauce, which usually contains processed sugars. Since bang bang sauce is a mix of sriracha, sweet chili sauce, and mayo I use Yellowbird Blue Agave Sriracha which gives it the sweetness that would traditionally come from the chili sauce but without the processed sugars.
- An easy way to get the shrimp smell out of your shrimp is to place your peeled and deveined shrimp in a bowl, sprinkle a teaspoon of salt over your shrimp, and stir for one minute. Then rinse your shrimp in a colander under cold water, place it back in the bowl, and repeat that two more times.
Nutrition
*nutrition information is an approximate
Share this recipe on FacebookHi, I'm Kaleena!
I'm a 30-something wife and dog mom who shares mostly gluten-free, dairy-free, Whole30, and Paleo-friendly recipes. I love creating recipes made from real ingredients that are full of flavor and the whole family will love!
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