Buffalo Shrimp

Buffalo Shrimp is incredibly flavorful and great for an appetizer or meal. Fresh shrimp are breaded, fried until crispy, and tossed in homemade buffalo sauce. It's tasty finger food for game day or a party or to use in tacos and lettuce wraps.

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What Makes Buffalo Shrimp So Good? 

You've had Buffalo Chicken, but what about Buffalo Shrimp? This unique spin on a classic barroom menu item is every bit as delicious as the original but is a bit lighter and a whole heck of a lot crunchier than the original.

Enjoy these batter-fried shrimp tossed with a spicy sauce as an appetizer, or check out below for more creative ways to serve these little beauties. 

Why This Recipe Is Perfect New Fried Shrimp Recipe To Try

Frying is one of the easiest ways to cook shrimp without drying them out, but regular fried shrimp can get a bit dull. This fried Buffalo Shrimp recipe is anything but boring and bland. If you love shrimp and can handle a little heat, you need to try this!

Ingredients to Make This Fried Buffalo Shrimp Recipe

For breading, you'll need:

• Shrimp, peeled and deveined
• All-purpose breading
• Dry mustard
• Kosher salt
• Cayenne pepper
• Garlic powder
• Egg
• Water

For the Buffalo Shrimp sauce, you'll need:

• Butter
• Hot sauce Franks Red Hot Sauce
• White vinegar

For frying, you'll need:

• Vegetable oil 

For serving, you'll need:

• Celery sticks
• Blue cheese dressing

Ingredient Notes

Use whatever size shrimp you have, but 31/40 shrimp are the perfect size for snacking.  

Go ahead and make your own breading mix if you prefer, but using a premade all-purpose breading like Golden Dipt or Flavor-Crisp can save you a lot of time and hassle. 

Franks Red Hot Sauce is the classic hot sauce for making Buffalo sauce; however, you substitute your favorite.

How To Make Buffalo Shrimp

To bread the shrimp:

1. Lay out a breading station.
2. Mix the egg and water in a large bowl or a flat and wide container to make an egg wash.

3. Place another container with the all-purpose breading, dry mustard, kosher salt, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder next to it.

4. At the end of the line, put a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.
5. Dip the peeled and deveined shrimp into the egg wash and coat well with the all-purpose breading. Shake off any excess.
6. Place the breaded shrimp on the baking sheet. 

To fry the shrimp:

1. Place a baking tray in a WARM oven.
2. Heat the vegetable oil to 350°F. Use a deep-fat fryer, if you have one, or a large, thick-bottomed pot with a deep-fry thermometer. 
3. Prepare a paper towel-lined wire rack and set it aside.
4. Fry the shrimp in batches until golden brown. Adjust the temperature to maintain a steady 350°F.
5. Use a spider to remove the fried shrimp from the oil and drain them on the paper towel-lined rack. 
6. Transfer the drained shrimp to the oven to keep warm.
7. Repeat with the remaining shrimp. 

To make the Buffalo Shrimp sauce:

1. Place the butter, hot sauce, and vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. 
2. Stir until the butter is melted and combined with the sauce.

To serve:

1. Toss the fried shrimp with the sauce and plate. 
2. Garnish with a side of blue cheese dressing and a few celery sticks.  

Substitutions

Not a fan of shrimp? Try using a firm white fish, clams, or scallops instead. Make this recipe vegetarian-friendly by replacing the shrimp with slices of cauliflower. 

Variations

Use a different wing sauce to coat the fried shrimp. Some good ones are:

• Honey Mustard
• Barbeque
• Spicy Peanut
• Sweet Chili
• Adobo

Equipment You Will Need 

If you don't have a deep-fryer and are frying the shrimp in a pot, you need to get a deep-fry thermometer. They are inexpensive and make frying foolproof.

You may also want to get a spider strainer to make transferring the fried shrimp easier and safer.

What To Serve With 

Buffalo shrimp makes a wonderful appetizer, or you can use the shrimp as a component of the main course. Try one of these delectable dishes:  

• Buffalo Shrimp Tacos. Serve the shrimp with pickled carrots and onions on a lightly grilled tortilla. 
• Buffalo Shrimp Lettuce Wraps Make a lettuce cup from Butter or Boston lettuce. Top the lettuce with shrimp, a few blue cheese crumbles, and pickled red onion. 
• Buffalo Shrimp Salad Serve the shrimp on a bed of crisp iceberg lettuce with carrots, shaved celery, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, avocado, blue cheese crumbles, and ranch dressing. 
• Buffalo Shrimp Pasta Add a few tablespoons of the Buffalo sauce to homemade Alfredo sauce and toss with linguine. Top with crispy Buffalo Shrimp. 
• Buffalo Shrimp Sandwich Pile the crispy Buffalo Shrimp onto a fresh sandwich roll slathered with mayo. Top with shredded lettuce, onions, and sliced tomatoes. 

How To Store

The breading of the fried shrimp won't stay crunchy for long after adding the sauce. You can store unsauced fried shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days.

Reheat them in a 300°F oven for about 20 minutes or until hot. Toss with warmed Buffalo Shrimp sauce and serve.