This Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta is sweet, spicy, and tangy, with tender shrimp and al dente pasta. You won’t be able to get enough of the amazing sauce in this dish.
If you love shrimp dishes, you should try this Baked Shrimp and Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
I love this recipe for Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta because it’s so easy to make and packs in tons of flavor. With just a handful of pantry basics, I can whip this dish up in no time at all. You’re going to love serving this to your family!
- TASTE: Spicy, sweet, and tangy, this dish is smothered in rich bang bang sauce. The shrimp is seasoned with dried herbs and spices for extra flavor.
- TEXTURE: The shrimp are tender and juicy. The pasta is cooked al dente so that it adds the perfect amount of chew to this dish.
- TIME: It only takes 25 minutes to make this.
- EASE: This is a really easy pasta dish to make and it looks so scrumptious.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Shrimp- Large shrimp are used in this recipe. They will need to be peeled and deveined.
- Butter- This is used to cook the shrimp and add flavor. You can also use olive oil or coconut oil.
- Pasta- I used spaghetti, but any type will do.
- Sriracha sauce- This spicy chili sauce adds a nice touch of heat to the Bang Bang shrimp.
- Thai sweet chili sauce- Sweet and spicy, this Asian sauce gives a little sweet heat to the dish.
- Mayonnaise- This is the base of the sauce and is rich and creamy. Use full-fat mayo for the best flavor.
- Garlic- Fresh garlic cloves add great flavor and aroma.
- Lime- This ingredient adds fresh and zesty citrus notes. Fresh juice is best.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Substitute different pasta- In place of the spaghetti, try this recipe with angel hair, penne, linguine, fettucine, cavatelli, gluten-free pasta, or whatever your favorite type is.
- Adjust the heat level- Add more or less of the sriracha and red pepper flakes to make this dish spicier or a little more mild.
- Substitute different proteins- Besides shrimp, you can also make this with chicken, tofu, scallops, clams, or pork.
- Substitute the mayonnaise- To make this a little healthier and add some more creaminess, you can use Greek yogurt (plain) or heavy whipping cream in place of the mayo.
How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta
- Make the sauce. In a saucepan, add the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, lime juice, and sriracha.
- Simmer. Bring the sauce to medium heat until it comes to a slight simmer. Give it a quick whisk and then set it aside for later.
- Season the shrimp. Then add the shrimp to a large bowl and add the pressed garlic, garlic powder, dried parsley, paprika, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (optional). Mix everything together thoroughly.
- Cook the shrimp. Add the unsalted butter to a large skillet and bring it to medium high heat. Then cook the shrimp in the skillet for about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Cook the pasta. While the shrimp cooks, cook the spaghetti noodles in a pot of well salted boiling water. Drain and set aside.
- Combine the pasta and shrimp. Now add the cooked pasta to the skillet of shrimp along with the reserved sauce. Toss together and serve.
Pro Tip: You’ll know when your shrimp is cooked because it turns pink and opaque, curling into a tight C shape.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overcook the sauce- You don’t want the sauce to reduce and thicken, so only simmer it gently and then take it off the heat.
- Mix the seasonings well- Either pre-mix the seasonings before adding them to the shrimp or mix them thoroughly so that the shrimp are coated evenly with each one.
- Use shrimp that is already prepped- Choose shrimp that is already deveined and peeled to save yourself lots of time prepping.
- Cook the pasta al dente- The pasta will cook a little as it sits in the hot sauce, so cook it al dente so that it doesn’t overcook when combined with the sauce and shrimp.
FAQs
Bang bang sauce is made of mayonnaise, Sriracha sauce, sweet chili sauce, and an acid, usually vinegar or lime juice. Together they make a creamy sauce that is sweet, spicy, and tangy.
Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta is a delicious dish that works with cucumber salad, soups, bread for sopping up the sauce, stuffed mushrooms, fried rice, or vegetables.
Serving Suggestions
This Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta is a versatile dish that is full of sweet and spicy flavor. Enjoy it with vegetables, salads, bread, or soups.
- Bread: This pasta dish is great with toasted bread and butter or herb dipping oil, to sop up the yummy sauce. Try it with Focaccia Bread, Sourdough Bread, or Rustic Bread (overnight).
- Salad: Serve it with a Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad, Spinach Salad, Warm Broccoli Salad, or Couscous Arugula Salad.
- Soup: Enjoy this dish alongside a bowl of Potato Leek Soup, Chicken Gnocchi Soup, Cream of Mushroom Soup, or Shrimp Tempura Udon Soup.
- Vegetables: Serve this pasta recipe with some Keto Stuffed Mushrooms, Roasted Air Fryer Vegetables, Sauteed Garlic Asparagus, or Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: You can make the bang bang sauce in advance and cook the shrimp, too. Just keep them in the fridge for a day in airtight containers. Then make the pasta, warm them up, and combine.
Storing: Store this Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Freeze: I don’t advice freezing this because the sauce will not thaw well and the shrimp, if already frozen and thawed, cannot be safely refrozen.
More Delicious Pasta Dishes!
Full Recipe Instructions
Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 3 garlic cloves pressed
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 tsp salt or to taste
- Pinch black pepper
- red pepper flakes optional
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 16 oz spaghetti
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
- 1/2 lime juice
- 2 teaspoon sriracha sauce
Instructions
- Make the sauce first: in a saucepan add the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, lime juice, and sriracha.
- Bring the sauce to medium heat until it comes to a slight simmer. Give it a quick whisk and set aside for later.
- Then add the shrimp into a large bowl and add the pressed garlic, garlic powder, dried parsley, paprika, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (optional).
- Mix everything together thoroughly.
- Add the unsalted butter to a large skillet and bring it to medium high heat.
- Then cook the shrimp in the skillet for about 2-3 minutes per side. In the meantime, cook the spaghetti in a pot of well salted boiling water. Drain and set aside.
- Now add the cooked pasta to the skillet of shrimp along with the reserved sauce.
Notes
- Don’t overcook the sauce- You don’t want the sauce to reduce and thicken, so only simmer it gently and then take it off the heat.
- Mix the seasonings well- Either pre-mix the seasonings before adding them to the shrimp or mix them thoroughly so that the shrimp are coated evenly with each one.
- Use shrimp that is already prepped- Choose shrimp that is already deveined and peeled to save yourself lots of time prepping.
- Cook the pasta al dente- The pasta will cook a little as it sits in the hot sauce, so cook it al dente so that it doesn’t overcook when combined with the sauce and shrimp.
Nutrition
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