Bang Bang Shrimp Skewers are juicy grilled shrimp drizzled with a lightened-up sweet and spicy bang bang sauce, made with only 4 ingredients!
Grilled Shrimp with Bang Bang Sauce
Now that the weather is warmer, we’ve been grilling almost every night. Bang Bang Shrimp Skewers are one of my favorite ways to cook shrimp in the summer because they’re quick, packed with flavor, and perfect for grilling season. Inspired by my popular Bang Bang Shrimp recipe, the shrimp are threaded onto skewers, grilled until lightly charred, then drizzled with a lightened-up bang bang sauce that’s creamy, sweet, and just a little spicy. They make an easy weeknight dinner, a fun appetizer for entertaining, or a great addition to rice bowls, and tacos. Best of all, they cook in minutes, making them ideal for busy nights when you want something that feels special without much effort.
Why These Bang Bang Shrimp Skewers Works
Inspired by Bonefish Grill’s dish, these bang bang shrimp are made without breading and are not fried. I also used light mayo, resulting in a deliciously creamy sauce with a hint of spice and sweetness.
- Minimal prep: If you buy your shrimp prepped, all you have to do is skewer them and mix the 4 sauce ingredients.
- Fast: The shrimp skewers grill in just 8 minutes.
- No heating the kitchen: Perfect for summer!
- Delicious: My family loves bang bang shrimp. We enjoy it over rice, salad or in tacos.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Since the sauce is very flavorful, black pepper is the only seasoning needed for the shrimp. See the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Shrimp: Buy large shrimp, then peel and devein them. Or better yet, buy them already prepped from the supermarket. You can also use frozen shrimp (thaw them first), which are usually cheaper and easier to find.
- Freshly ground black pepper for seasoning
- Oil spray prevents the shrimp from sticking to the grill.
Bang Bang Sauce
- Light mayo makes it creamy.
- Scallions for texture and fresh onion flavor
- Thai sweet chili sauce adds sweetness. A Taste of Thai and Thai Kitchen are widely available at most grocery stores.
- Sriracha for spiciness
How to Make Bang Bang Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Brushing the bang bang sauce on after the shrimp cooks prevents it from burning. See the recipe card at the bottom for printable directions.
- Make the bang bang sauce by combining the 4 ingredients in a small bowl.
- Soak the skewers if using wood in a pitcher or large baking dish of water for at least 20 minutes.
- Make the skewers: Season the shrimp with pepper and place 5 shrimp on each skewer.
- Grill the shrimp: Heat the grill to medium, then cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Once the shrimp are opaque and form a “C” (not an “O”–that means they’re overcooked), they’re done.
- Serve: Place the cooked shrimp on a platter and brush with the bang bang sauce.
Customize It
- Shrimp allergy? Use the bang bang sauce on diced chicken thighs/ breasts or scallops. You can also skip the skewers and brush the sauce on any kind of fish.
- Make it spicier: Double the sriracha, or if you prefer milder heat, reduce it to ¼ teaspoon.
- Scallions: If you don’t have scallions, substitute with chives.
Serving Suggestions
These bang bang shrimp skewers are a fantastic appetizer for any party or an easy main dish for a weeknight dinner. You can also serve the shrimp over cabbage or romaine with extra sauce as the dressing, or stuff them in corn tortillas and top with slaw for tacos. Serve them over rice with your favorite veggie for a weeknight dinner.
Storage
Meal prep tip: Prepare the sauce, soak the skewers, and skewer the shrimp the day before grilling.
- Refrigerate shrimp for up to 3 days.
- Reheat them in the microwave or in a skillet over medium-low heat.
FAQ
Bang bang shrimp sauce is made with mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and scallions.
The easiest way to grill shrimp is on skewers. They make flipping and serving easier without any shrimp falling through the grates. However, you must soak the wooden skewers in water for at least 20 minutes before grilling to prevent the skewers (and the food) from burning. If you use metal skewers, you can skip this step.
If you don’t have a grill, you can cook the shrimp on a grill pan or in a cast-iron skillet on your stove over medium heat. You can even skip the skewers if you want. Just make sure to flip the shrimp halfway through so they cook evenly.
You can also cook the shrimp in the oven at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes or air fry them at 400°F for 5 to 6 minutes.
More Shrimp Recipes You Might Enjoy
Check out these five healthy shrimp recipes to inspire your next dinner!
Yield: servings
Serving Size: 2 skewers
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Combine the mayo, scallions, sweet chili sauce and sriracha sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
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Soak wooden skewers in water at least 20 minutes (or use metal ones to avoid this step).
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Season shrimp lightly pepper. Place 5 shrimp on 8 skewers.
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Heat a clean, lightly oiled grill to medium heat, when the grill is hot add the shrimp, careful not to burn the skewers.
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Grill on both sides for about 6 – 8 minutes total cooking time or until the shrimp is opaque and cooked through.
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Set shrimp aside on a platter and quickly brush sauce onto the shrimp. Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds and serve immediately.
Last Step:
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Serving: 2 skewers, Calories: 115 kcal, Carbohydrates: 6 g, Protein: 18 g, Fat: 4 g, Saturated Fat: 0.5 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 128 mg, Sodium: 752 mg, Potassium: 125 mg, Sugar: 5 g, Vitamin A: 218 IU, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 57 mg, Iron: 0.3 mg
