Description
Discover how to make Hot Honey Fried Shrimp with this delicious recipe! Get tips for crispy shrimp and spicy-sweet flavor. Try it today!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined (16–20 count)
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon (9g) garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon (9g) paprika
- 1 teaspoon (5g) salt
- ½ teaspoon (2g) black pepper
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
- Vegetable oil for frying (approximately 4 cups/950ml)
- ½ cup (170g) honey
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot or Sriracha work well)
- 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon (1g) red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon (1g) salt
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley or cilantro
- Lemon wedges
- Sliced green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Shrimp Start by patting the shrimp dry with paper towels – this crucial step ensures your coating adheres properly. If you purchased frozen shrimp, make sure they’re completely thawed and excess moisture is removed. For the tail-on versus tail-off debate, I recommend keeping tails on for appetizers (they make perfect handles) or removing for easier eating if serving as a main dish.
- Step 2: Set Up Your Dredging Station In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, mixing thoroughly to distribute the spices. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and buttermilk until smooth. Now arrange your station in order: flour mixture, egg mixture, and then flour mixture again. This organization makes the coating process much more efficient.
- Step 3: Coat the Shrimp Working with a few shrimp at a time (don’t overcrowd), dredge them first in the flour mixture, shaking off excess. Next, dip into the egg mixture, allowing extra to drip off. Finally, coat again in the flour mixture, pressing gently to ensure an even coating. Place the coated shrimp on a wire rack and let them rest for 5-10 minutes while you heat your oil.
- Step 4: Fry to Perfection Heat oil in a deep, heavy-bottomed pan to 350°F (175°C). Carefully add shrimp in batches (about 6-8 at a time) to avoid overcrowding, which would lower the oil temperature. Fry for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crispy. You’ll know they’re done when they float to the surface and have a beautiful amber color. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Step 5: Prepare Hot Honey Sauce While the shrimp fries, make your sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine honey, hot sauce, butter, apple cider vinegar, red pepper flakes, and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally until the butter melts completely and the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Step 6: Combine and Serve Transfer the fried shrimp to a large bowl and pour the hot honey sauce over them. Gently toss until each shrimp is well-coated. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve immediately with lemon wedges for an extra brightness that perfectly complements the sweet-spicy flavor of your Hot Honey Fried Shrimp.
- Pro Tips Achieving perfect Hot Honey Fried Shrimp requires attention to a few critical details that make all the difference. First, temperature control is essential for that ideal crispy exterior. Use a cooking thermometer to maintain your oil at 350-365°F (175-185°C). If the oil is too hot, the coating burns before the shrimp cooks through; too cool, and the shrimp absorbs excess oil, becoming greasy rather than crispy. Second, double dredging creates that professional-quality crunchy coating. After the initial flour-egg-flour sequence, let the coated shrimp rest for 5-10…
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 50mg