Fried Shrimp Recipe

Making crispy fried shrimp at home is far simpler than it sounds, and the results are absolutely worth it. With just a handful of pantry staples, this pan-fried shrimp recipe delivers golden, crunchy shrimp that rival anything from a restaurant. It is an easy dinner option that comes together quickly and pairs surprisingly well with steak for a hearty, satisfying meal.

What makes this recipe especially appealing is how approachable the breading process is. Frying can feel intimidating or messy, but this method keeps things simple and stress free. In under 20 minutes, shrimp are coated, cooked, and ready to serve, making this a far better option than store-bought frozen breaded shrimp.

The secret to that irresistible crunch lies in the batter. A combination of flour and cornmeal creates the perfect texture, with the cornmeal adding bold crispness and the flour helping the coating cling beautifully to the shrimp. This duo produces a crust that fries up light, crunchy, and full of character.

Flavor is built right into the coating with a blend of onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and a touch of cayenne pepper for gentle heat. The ingredient list may be short, but every component pulls its weight, resulting in fried shrimp that are crispy on the outside, tender inside, and packed with flavor in every bite.

Fried Shrimp Recipe

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Making crispy fried shrimp at home is far simpler than it sounds, and the results are absolutely worth it. With just a handful of pantry staples, this pan-fried shrimp recipe delivers golden, crunchy shrimp that rival anything from a restaurant.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 6 minutes

Total Time 6 minutes

Ingredients

• Canola oil for frying
• 24 ounces large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

Egg Wash:

• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk (or milk)
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Batter:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 2 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Dipping Sauce:

• ¾ cup mayo
• ½ cup sweet chili sauce

Instructions

Step-By-Step Instructions

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Notes

Breading the shrimp with less mess:

• Set up your breading station using two pie plates. (Bowls can be used but the wide, shallow shape of pie or cake pans makes the process much easier.
• One cake pan will have the liquid ingredients and the second pan will hold the dry ingredients, flour, cornmeal, and spices.
• Use one hand to coat the shrimp in the egg mixture. Pick up the shrimp with the wet hand and place it in the flour mixture. Now use your other hand to gently coat the shrimp. Because you aren’t going back and forth with both hands they aren’t getting goopy and gross. One hand will have egg and one hand flour but not a big lumpy mess.

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