Easy Crispy Fried Shrimp
Ever since I created this crispy fried shrimp recipe, I’ve not gone back to take-out. Seriously. I’ve saved tons of money, impressed my family and enjoyed as many shrimp my money can buy.
This pan-fried shrimp recipe is so easy to make and deliciously flavourful that it has become my family’s favourite seafood appetizer or dinner!
If you’re a shrimp-lover, then this is the perfect shrimp recipe for you. You’ll learn all my secrets to getting the best-tasting crispy fried shrimp at home.
Here you’ll find – the best type of shrimp to use for this recipe, how to make the best crispy shrimp batter from scratch, and how to fry shrimp so that it’s plump, juicy and perfectly cooked.
Cooked shrimp vs Raw shrimp – What type of shrimp is best for frying?
Both types of shrimp may be used for this recipe, but I prefer to use large or jumbo raw shrimp. I say – “The bigger the shrimp are the better.” This is because I find larger shrimp to be juicier, more flavourful and have a nicer texture when fried. Also, when you use cooked shrimp instead of raw shrimp when frying, there is a greater chance of overcooking it.
How to make the best crispy shrimp batter from scratch
Making the best shrimp batter from scratch is quite easy! The great thing is all the steps are listed in the recipe below. Just remember these three steps when coating the shrimp in batter – Dry, Wet, Dry. First coat the shrimp in the dry mixture, then the wet mixture, then finally in the dry. Coating your shrimp this way is how you’ll get perfectly crispy shrimp.
How long does it take to fry raw shrimp?
Raw shrimp takes about 4 – 6 minutes to fry. To ensure the shrimp is properly cooked, fry the shrimp on medium heat, turning it every 2 minutes. Remove the battered shrimp from the pan when the outside is golden brown and the inside is opaque.
What goes best with fried shrimp?
Most people believe fried shrimp goes best with potatoes. However, fried shrimp pairs nicely with a variety of side dishes. So enjoy your crispy fried shrimp with festivals, rice, in a sandwich, or with a salad! A refreshing beverage to try with my Crispy Fried Shrimp recipe is Pineapple Ginger Drink. Try them and come back to let me know what you think.
Easy Crispy Fried Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients
- 400 g raw jumbo shrimp, deveined (21-25 shrimp per lb)
- 1 - 2 cups cooking oil for deep frying
Shrimp Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp white pepper or black pepper
- 1/4 tsp allspice powder
- 1/4 tsp oregano, dried and finely crushed optional
- 1/2 tsp thyme leaves, dried optional
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp hot sauce (optional) for spicy shrimp
Dry Mix
- 4 - 5 tbsp flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, powdered (optional) for spicy shrimp
Wet Mix
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp milk optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, rinse the shrimp and pat dry.
- Season the shrimp with the shrimp seasoning.
- In a small lidded container, prepare the dry mixture, cover and shake to combine.
- Add the shrimp to the dry mixture, cover the container and shake to coat the shrimp.
- In another small bowl, prepare the egg mixture and whisk together. If you choose to omit the milk, whisk the egg and set aside.
- Add the shrimp to the wet (egg) mixture, then stir with a large fork until the shrimp is fully coated.
- Return the shrimp to the dry mix container, cover and shake once more.
- Heat the cooking oil in a large wide frying pan or wok. To know when the oil is ready, sprinkle a pinch of flour in the oil. When bubbles form around the flour, the oil is at the right temperature.
- Add the shrimp to the oil one by one, lightly shaking off the excess flour before.
- When you have added all the shrimp to the pot, reduce heat to medium.
- Turn each shrimp every 2 minutes until cooked and golden brown all over.
- Remove the cooked shrimp onto a plate, lined with a thick paper towel.
- Let the shrimp cool for a few minutes, then bless up and enjoy it!
- My Peeps, I'd love to get your feedback. As soon as you've tried my recipe, please come back and leave your review and rating. Thanks much!
*Please note that this page may contain Amazon affiliate links (highlighted links to products on Amazon). I get a small commission each time you purchase through my Amazon links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks in advance for making all your Amazon purchases through my product links..
Easy recipe great taste! My husband seldom comments on my cooking! This got rave reviews! I did not follow the first step. I simply patted the shrimp dry and sprinkled them with a bit of salt and pepper. Followed recipe after that! Enjoyed every bite!
Hey Cora, thank you for your feedback. Congrats on a job well done. I’m happy to hear that your husband was thrilled, that must have made your day. I’m looking forward to you trying more of my recipes and letting me know how they go.
I’ll be trying your shrimp tonight. I’m taking it to my daughter’s for dinner. I’ll let you know how they liked it.
Hey Barbara that’s awesome!
I’m excited to hear how your shrimp turned out.
If it was a hit (and I really hope it was:) ) then please give this recipe a 5-STAR rating and let me know all the details.
Turned out amazing even with gf flour and ripple ilo milk!! I did go heavy on the cayenne and they weren’t overly spicy.
Hi CJ, that’s awesome! I LOVE how you tweaked my Crispy Fried Shrimp recipe (especially the cayenne pepper part lol :), and that it turned out amazing. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave me a review. Bless up!
Looks so delicious, I and my kids are fans of shrimp, especially fried shrimp, you’ve stimulated my appetite, can’t wait anymore, I will definitely try it your way, step by step looks seems easy to make :D. Thanks so much for this guide. Looking forward to seeing more.
I spent hours looking for a recipe that did not require yellow cornmeal and thank God I found this one. It was really good! Evenly Crispy, added a bit more spices as I like spice but it didn’t take away from the recipe. 10/10 would recommend!
I love this recipe very crunchy.
William in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
This was easy to follow and as one other user commented, I just dried the shrimp well, sprinkled salt and pepper on them instead of the first spice mixture. Then I proceeded with the recipe to which I added prepared flour mix to which I added 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper and 1/2 tsp. allspice. I like spice and although it was still mild, it was quite delicious and crunchy.
Will keep this recipe and make again. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Edie! I love how you customized my recipe! Thank you so much for commenting and giving it a 5-star rating. Looking forward to your feedback on other recipes.
Bless up!
Thank you for this recipe. My shrimps came out amazing
I’m thinking that this recipe would work great with Scallops as well !!
This recipe is a keeper, I would recommend it to others.