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Mouth-watering Bang Bang shrimp pasta turns a regular meal into an unforgettable treat by mixing crunchy, juicy shrimp with a well-balanced sweet-hot sauce drizzled over soft pasta. This creative mix brings together bold Asian-inspired flavors with traditional Italian pasta, making an amazing dish you can whip up in just half an hour.
I made this Bang Bang shrimp pasta for some friends who came over last weekend, and they couldn't stop talking about how perfectly the flavors worked together. Everyone loved the sauce so much that a few friends asked for extra to pour over their side salads.
Key Ingredients
- Large shrimp: Go for fresh ones or thawed frozen shrimp, and make sure they're peeled and deveined to get them extra crispy
- Cornstarch: Gives you that light, crunchy coating that keeps all the shrimp juice inside
- Sweet chili sauce: Brings the right mix of sweetness and mild spice while making the sauce look shiny and appealing
- Mayonnaise: Forms the smooth base that sticks perfectly to your pasta and shrimp
- Sriracha: Adds that must-have spicy kick you can make stronger or milder based on what you like
- Fresh lime juice: Wakes up all the flavors and balances out the richness
- Good pasta: Pick shapes that hold onto sauce well, such as spaghetti or fettuccine
Cooking Steps
- Get Your Shrimp Ready
- Sprinkle salt and pepper on these sea treasures, then dust them with cornstarch all over. Get your oil hot and shiny, then carefully drop each shrimp in the pan with space between them so they get crispy. They'll turn golden and delicious in about 2-3 minutes on each side.
- Mix Up Your Sauce
- In a bowl, start with the mayo as your foundation. Pour in sweet chili sauce, then add Sriracha, honey, and a squeeze of lime juice. Stir everything together until it's smooth and creamy with all ingredients fully mixed.
- Cook Your Pasta
- Get your water boiling with plenty of salt. Cook the pasta until it's just right with a little bite to it. Before you drain it, scoop out some of the cooking water. This starchy water helps thin out the sauce if needed later.
- Put It All Together
- Put your pan back on medium heat with a splash of olive oil and fresh garlic. Toss in your cooked pasta and coat it in the garlicky oil. Pour your Bang Bang sauce over everything and gently mix until all pasta is covered. Add your crunchy shrimp and toss once more to bring it all together.
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Tasty Side Dishes
Make your meal even better by serving it with some fresh garlic bread slathered with herby butter. If you want something lighter, try a crisp Asian-style slaw with rice vinegar and sesame oil dressing that nicely balances the creamy pasta. A simple arugula salad with citrus dressing also works great to cut through the richness.
Make It Your Own
Try new flavor combos by adding some seared scallops alongside your shrimp for a fancier seafood dish. Make it vegetarian by swapping the shrimp for crispy tofu chunks that still give you that wonderful texture contrast. If you're watching your carbs, try zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash instead of pasta, but keep that amazing Bang Bang sauce exactly the same.
Storing Leftovers
Put any leftover pasta in a container with a tight lid and keep it in your fridge for up to three days. When you want to eat it again, add a little splash of cream or saved pasta water to make the sauce smooth again. Warm it up slowly over medium-low heat, stirring now and then so it doesn't stick. For best results, store your crispy shrimp separately from your saucy pasta, and heat the shrimp in a hot oven to get them crunchy again.
I've tweaked this dish many times in my kitchen and found that getting just the right amount of sauce on the pasta makes all the difference. My favorite part is watching friends take their first bite and seeing their faces light up as they taste how everything works together. This dish really shows what's so great about sharing good food with people you care about.
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Common Recipe Questions
- → How do I make it less spicy?
- Just cut back on the Sriracha or skip it. The sweet chili sauce has enough flavor on its own.
- → Which pasta shape works best?
- Long noodles like spaghetti or fettuccine are ideal, but use any type you enjoy.
- → Can I prepare the sauce early?
- You can mix the sauce up to 2 days ahead, then store it in the fridge. Stir well before using.
- → What can I swap for shrimp?
- Crispy chicken or tofu are great substitutes. Both pair nicely with the sauce.
- → Why is cornstarch used on the shrimp?
- It gives the shrimp a light crisp when fried, plus helps the sauce stick better.