Hot Honey Fried Shrimp is large shrimp, deep-fried until nice and crispy, then tossed in homemade hot honey for a sweet and spicy kick to each bite! Serve as an appetizer with more hot honey for dipping. Or, enjoy the shrimp as the main course with a side dish or two. Any way you serve it, the shrimp will be a hit! It all starts with my crispy Fried Shrimp, which are delicious on their own, too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Shrimp: Look for a pound of large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, with the tail on. You can use shrimp with tails off, but I like the tails for easy grabbing and dipping into more hot honey! If frozen, let the shrimp thaw before starting the recipe.
Buttermilk: Letting the shrimp marinate in buttermilk for 15 minutes helps tenderize them and give them a bit of tanginess. The buttermilk also helps the flour mixture stick to the shrimp for frying. If you don’t have any on hand, make homemade buttermilk.
Flour: All-purpose flour works just great in this recipe. I tested the fried shrimp with self-rising flour (which you could also use), but there wasn’t enough of a difference. So, use the more common all-purpose flour, which most people have on hand. Season the flour with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper.
Oil: When frying the shrimp in oil, ensure it is at a temperature of 350°F. Before each batch, let the oil heat back up to 350°F, which will give you the crispiest texture.
Hot Honey: The fried shrimp are amazing as-is, but the star of the recipe is the hot honey! It is a sweet and spicy condiment or dip that you can easily make at home. Making it at home allows you to control the spice level. You can also use store-bought hot honey. Add more red pepper flakes (crushed red pepper). for more heat.
Ensuring Crispy Fried Shrimp
For the crispiest shrimp, here a few ways to ensure each shrimp is crispy and golden:
- Check that the oil temperature is 350°F with a deep-fry or candy thermometer before frying each batch.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan. Work in batches if needed.
- When frying, don’t flip the shrimp too soon. Flipping too soon may cause the coating to come off.
Can I Make Fried Shrimp In An Air Fryer?
Yes, you can get the shrimp cooked in an air fryer. However, when tested, the shrimp did not have the appearance we were looking for in fried shrimp. If you decide to try it, air fry the breaded shrimp for 8-10 minutes at 400°F, flipping halfway through cooking time. I do have a wonderful air fryer shrimp recipe you may want to try. It is not breaded, but still amazing! And that would be delicious with hot honey, too!
How To Serve Hot Honey Fried Shrimp
There are many ways to serve hot honey fried shrimp. Here are some options:
- Appetizer: Set out a platter of fried shrimp with toothpicks for easy grabbing. Add some extra hot honey for dipping, too!
- Main Dish: Serve the shrimp with a side dish like coleslaw, roasted vegetables, rice, or a salad.
- Tacos or Wraps: Fill a taco shell or tortilla with hot honey fried shrimp and add your favorite toppings.
- Salad: Top a bed of mixed greens with hot honey fried shrimp to create a flavorful salad. Add additional toppings like cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, croutons, and a dressing of your choice.
- Rice or Noodle Bowl: Serve the hot honey fried shrimp over cooked rice or noodles along with steamed or stir-fried vegetables for a quick and tasty meal.
How To Store Fried Shrimp
Hot honey fried shrimp is best served hot and fresh, and that is when it is the crispiest. The longer it sits, the soggier it can become, so enjoy it right away if possible! If you do have leftovers, first, let them cool to room temperature. Then, store the shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to 2-3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer; using the microwave may not give them their crispy texture.
Hot Honey Fried Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp, thawed, peeled, deveined, tail-on
- 1 cup (245 g) buttermilk
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- vegetable oil, for frying
- ½ cup (170 g) hot honey (homemade or store-bought)
- parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- To a medium bowl, add shrimp. Pour the buttermilk over the shrimp, making sure to coat each one. Marinate at room temperature for at least 15 minutes.
- To a separate medium bowl, add flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix to combine. Set aside.
- Working one at a time, remove the shrimp from the marinade, allowing any excess liquid to drip off. Dredge the shrimp generously in the seasoned flour mixture, making sure to coat the entire surface of each shrimp. Place on a large baking sheet, and repeat with the remaining shrimp.
- To a large pot over medium heat, add about 2 inches of vegetable oil. Using a candy or deep-fry thermometer, bring the oil to a temperature of 350°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- When ready, tap off any excess flour and carefully transfer coated shrimp into the hot oil, frying in batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry for 2-3 minutes, turning occasionally, until the shrimp are golden brown and crispy. (Please note: You may have to let the oil heat up to 350°F again after each batch of fried shrimp.)
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the fried shrimp from the oil and place onto the lined baking sheet. Drizzle shrimp with hot honey.
- Garnish with parsley. Serve hot.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
I couldn't stop eating these! Crispy, sweet, and a little spicy and SOOO good!
Elizabeth
Wow, just wow! The fried shrimp with hot honey is so good! I dipped my shrimp into even more hot honey with extra red pepper flakes for a little extra kick.
Annabelle
I'm admittedly not a fan of hot honey, but I really liked it with shrimp! This is a great combination, especially if you aren't sure about hot honey yet!
Selena
Not only is the fried shrimp perfection, but the hot honey is the perfect complement. Just the right amount of heat and sweet! Love this!
Rachael
Hot honey goes so well with shrimp! The fried shrimp are wonderful on their own, but with the hot honey it brings it to a whole other level.
Bella
I am not a fan of Hot Honey, but I tried it on this fried shrimp, and it actually pairs very well! I would even like it spicier!
