Easy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Recipe: Spicy, Creamy Comfort

Culinary adventures with bang bang shrimp pasta promise a delightful explosion of flavors that will make your taste buds dance.

Crispy shrimp coated in a creamy, spicy sauce create an irresistible combination of textures and sensations.

Zesty ingredients blend seamlessly to craft a meal that feels both indulgent and surprisingly simple.

Weeknight dinners never looked this exciting or tasted this incredible.

Sriracha and mayo form the magical base of this creamy sauce, delivering a perfect balance of heat and richness.

Each forkful brings a symphony of crunch and smoothness that keeps you coming back for more.

Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta That Packs a Punch

• Burst with Flavor: Experience a mouthwatering combination of spicy, creamy sauce and perfectly cooked shrimp that creates an explosion of taste in every bite.
• Quick Kitchen Magic: Prepare a restaurant-quality meal in just a few simple steps, making it perfect for busy weeknights or spontaneous dinner cravings.
• Customizable Heat Level: Adjust the sriracha to match your personal spice preference, ensuring everyone from mild-loving to heat-seeking diners can enjoy this dish.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: Impress family and friends with a restaurant-inspired pasta that brings together classic comfort food with exciting, bold flavors.

Ingredients to Gather for Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

• Spaghetti or Linguine: A classic pasta that provides a perfect base for the shrimp and sauce.

• Shrimp: Fresh seafood that adds a delightful tender and succulent element to the dish.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy base that creates a rich and smooth texture for the Bang Bang sauce.
• Thai Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds a sweet and tangy flavor with a mild heat.
• Sriracha: Provides a spicy kick to customize the heat level of the sauce.

• Garlic: Adds a deep, fragrant flavor to the pasta base.
• Green Onions: Fresh garnish that brings a mild onion flavor and crisp texture.
• Parsley or Cilantro: Bright herb that adds a fresh finishing touch.

• Olive Oil: Used for cooking shrimp and adding flavor to the pasta.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance the overall taste of the dish.
• Pasta Water: Helps to create a silky sauce and bind ingredients together.

How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Easily

Step 1: Boil Pasta

Fill a large pot with water and add salt. Drop spaghetti or linguine into boiling water.

Cook until pasta reaches perfect al dente texture. Drain pasta, keeping some water on the side for later use.

Step 2: Season and Sear Shrimp

Sprinkle salt and pepper over shrimp. Heat olive oil in a wide skillet on medium temperature.

Drop shrimp into hot pan. Cook each side for 2-3 minutes until shrimp turn pink and look translucent.

Transfer cooked shrimp to a separate plate.

Step 3: Whip Up Bang Bang Sauce

Grab a small mixing bowl.

• Mayonnaise
• Thai sweet chili sauce
• Sriracha

Blend ingredients until smooth. Adjust sriracha for desired spice level.

Step 4: Infuse Pasta with Garlic

Return skillet to stovetop. Toss minced garlic into pan.

Sauté for one minute until fragrant. Add cooked pasta to skillet.

Stir pasta to coat with garlic-infused oil. Pour reserved pasta water if mixture seems dry.

Step 5: Marry Shrimp and Sauce

Return shrimp to skillet with pasta. Pour Bang Bang sauce over entire mixture.

Toss ingredients until completely coated and well combined.

Step 6: Plate and Decorate

Transfer pasta to serving dishes.

Sprinkle chopped green onions and fresh herbs on top. Serve hot and enjoy immediately.

Tips to Nail the Perfect Balance of Flavors

• Pat shrimp dry before cooking to achieve a golden-brown exterior and prevent steaming, ensuring maximum flavor and crispy texture.
• Adjust sriracha quantity to match your heat preference, adding slowly and tasting to create the perfect balance of kick and flavor.
• Keep some starchy pasta water to help sauce cling better to noodles, creating a smoother and more cohesive dish.
• Cook shrimp just until pink and opaque to prevent rubbery texture, which typically takes 2-3 minutes per side over medium heat.
• Sprinkle freshly chopped green onions and herbs right before serving to add bright, crisp flavor and appealing visual contrast to the creamy pasta.

Variations to Add Excitement

• Coconut Curry Shrimp Pasta: Replace Bang Bang sauce with creamy coconut curry sauce using coconut milk, red curry paste, and ginger for a tropical-inspired version.
• Mediterranean Shrimp Pasta: Swap sauce with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and herbs like oregano and basil. Add feta cheese and sun-dried tomatoes for Mediterranean flair.
• Cajun Shrimp Pasta: Substitute sauce with Cajun seasoning, heavy cream, and white wine. Include bell peppers and onions for authentic Louisiana-style flavor.
• Pesto Shrimp Pasta: Replace Bang Bang sauce with homemade basil pesto, adding roasted pine nuts and extra parmesan cheese for a rich, herbaceous profile.

Pairings That Go Well With This Pasta

• Pair Zesty White Wine: Select a crisp, acidic white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to cut through the creamy, spicy sauce and complement the shrimp's delicate flavor.
• Serve Cooling Cucumber Salad: Create a refreshing side dish with thinly sliced cucumbers, rice vinegar, and a touch of sugar to balance the heat and richness of the Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta.
• Match Crunchy Garlic Bread: Toast French baguette slices with garlic butter and herbs to provide a crispy texture that contrasts with the creamy pasta and absorbs the spicy sauce perfectly.

Storing Your Shrimp Pasta for Later Enjoyment

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Separate sauce and pasta to prevent sogginess.

Place pasta in a microwave-safe dish, sprinkle a few drops of water, cover loosely, and heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even warming.

Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or olive oil to restore moisture and prevent sticking.

Skip freezing this dish as shrimp and creamy sauces tend to separate and lose texture when thawed.

FAQs

• What is Bang Bang sauce made of?

Bang Bang sauce is a creamy, spicy blend of mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, and sriracha. The combination creates a tangy, slightly sweet, and hot sauce that adds incredible flavor to the dish.

• Can I use a different type of pasta?

Absolutely! While spaghetti or linguine work great, you can also use other long noodles like fettuccine or angel hair pasta. The key is choosing a pasta that can hold the sauce well.

• How spicy is Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta?

The heat level depends on how much sriracha you add. Start with a small amount and gradually increase to match your spice tolerance. You can always add more sriracha to make it spicier or reduce it for a milder version.

Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Recipe

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4.5 from 25 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Spicy bang bang shrimp pasta delivers a flavor explosion that dances across your palate with crispy, tangy goodness. Creamy sauce and perfectly seasoned shrimp create a restaurant-worthy meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1/2 pound (226 grams) shrimp, peeled and deveined

Sauce Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
• 1 tablespoon sriracha
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Pasta and Seasoning:

• 8 ounces (226 grams) spaghetti or linguine
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

Garnish:

• 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
• Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped

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Instructions

1. Boil water in a large pot with salt to cooking point for spaghetti or linguine, following package instructions. Drain pasta, preserving 1/2 cup of pasta water for potential sauce adjustment.
2. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium temperature. Cook shrimp 2-3 minutes per side until turning pink and becoming translucent. Transfer cooked shrimp to a separate plate.
3. Create Bang Bang sauce by whisking mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, and sriracha together. Modulate sriracha quantity based on preferred spice intensity.
4. Use the same skillet to sauté minced garlic for approximately 60 seconds until aromatic. Introduce cooked pasta, tossing thoroughly to distribute garlic-infused oil. Add reserved pasta water if mixture appears dry.
5. Reintroduce shrimp into pasta mixture. Pour Bang Bang sauce over entire contents, gently mixing to ensure comprehensive coating of ingredients.
6. Plate pasta and shrimp mixture. Sprinkle freshly chopped green onions and herbs like parsley or cilantro across top. Serve immediately while warm and vibrant.

Notes

• Adapt the heat level by adjusting sriracha quantity, ensuring a perfect balance for different spice tolerances.
• Reserve pasta water helps create smoother, silkier sauce texture when mixing ingredients.
• Quickly cook shrimp to prevent rubbery texture, watching for pink and opaque color as doneness indicator.
• Gluten-free version possible by substituting regular pasta with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta alternatives.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 670 kcal
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 720 mg
• Fat: 32 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 58 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 33 g
• Cholesterol: 165 mg