Zesty Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Recipe: Spice Up Dinner Tonight

Sizzling flavors dance across your plate with this bang bang shrimp pasta that promises a delightful culinary adventure.

Creamy, spicy, and utterly irresistible, the dish combines tender shrimp with a zesty sauce that tingles every taste bud.

Crispy breaded shrimp nestled among perfectly cooked pasta create a texture symphony that’s hard to resist.

The magic lies in the tangy, slightly sweet sauce that coats each morsel with mouthwatering intensity.

Weeknight dinners never looked so exciting or tasted this incredible.

Restaurant-quality goodness awaits you right in your own kitchen.

Grab your ingredients and get ready to indulge in a meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Calories: 500 kcal

Servings: 5

What’s Inside Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

• Mayonnaise: Silky base that adds richness and helps bind the tangy sauce together.
• Sweet Chili Sauce: Delivers a sweet-hot kick with vibrant Thai-inspired flavor.
• Lime Juice: Bright citrus element that cuts through richness and heightens overall taste.
• Sriracha: Introduces fiery depth and complexity to the sauce.

• Shrimp: Quick-cooking seafood star that provides tender, succulent protein.
• Garlic: Aromatic foundation that deepens savory notes in the dish.
• Paprika: Adds subtle smoky warmth and beautiful reddish color.
• Salt: Essential flavor enhancer that balances all ingredients.
• Black Pepper: Brings gentle heat and traditional seasoning profile.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Introduces extra spicy dimension for heat lovers.

• Spaghetti: Classic pasta shape that perfectly captures creamy sauce.
• Olive Oil: Provides smooth cooking medium and subtle fruity undertone.
• Parsley or Cilantro: Fresh herb garnish that adds vibrant color and bright herbal note.

Kitchen Tools for Shrimp Pasta Goodness

• Skillet (12-inch): Large, non-stick pan essential for cooking shrimp and mixing pasta.
• Whisk: Helps blend sauce ingredients smoothly and quickly.
• Mixing bowls (small): Perfect for preparing sauce and seasoning shrimp.
• Cutting board: For chopping herbs and preparing ingredients.
• Sharp knife: Needed for precise herb chopping and ingredient preparation.
• Measuring spoons: Ensures accurate seasoning and sauce measurements.
• Wooden spoon or tongs: Great for stirring shrimp and mixing pasta evenly.

Cooking Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta the Simple Way

• Sauce Preparation

Create a zesty, creamy sauce by blending tangy mayo, sweet chili sauce, zesty lime juice, and spicy sriracha until silky smooth. Let the sauce sit and develop its rich flavors.

• Shrimp Seasoning

Lovingly coat fresh shrimp with aromatic garlic, smoky paprika, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. Drizzle with olive oil to help the spices cling and enhance the seafood’s natural taste.

• Shrimp Cooking

Heat a skillet to medium temperature and gently sauté the seasoned shrimp. Watch carefully as they transform from gray to vibrant pink, stirring frequently to prevent burning and ensure even cooking.

• Final Blend

Combine the perfectly cooked shrimp with warm spaghetti, then generously drench everything in the prepared sauce. Toss until each strand and morsel is beautifully coated with the creamy, spicy mixture.

• Serving

For a fresh finish, scatter chopped herbs over the dish. Serve immediately while the pasta is steaming and the shrimp are succulent, promising a flavor explosion in every bite.

Tips to Spice Up Shrimp Pasta

• Explore Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Secrets
• Adjust sriracha and red pepper flakes to match your heat tolerance, creating a personalized flavor profile that suits your palate perfectly.
• Replace shrimp with chicken, tofu, or salmon for a versatile dish that keeps your meal exciting and accommodates different dietary preferences.
• Toss in roasted bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach to add extra nutrition and create a more substantial meal with vibrant colors and textures.
• Substitute regular spaghetti with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta to make the recipe accessible for those with dietary restrictions without compromising taste.
• Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, perfect for quick meal prep or unexpected flavor cravings.

Presenting Shrimp Pasta with Bang Bang Style

• Pair with Crisp Salad: Complement the spicy shrimp pasta with a light, refreshing green salad dressed in a zesty vinaigrette to balance the rich, creamy sauce.
• Chill with Chardonnay: Serve alongside a chilled glass of unoaked chardonnay to enhance the tangy and slightly spicy flavors of the dish.
• Sprinkle Fresh Herbs: Top with additional chopped parsley or cilantro just before serving to add a burst of color and fresh, bright flavor that cuts through the creamy sauce.
• Add Crunchy Garnish: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds or chopped green onions over the pasta to introduce a delightful textural contrast and nutty undertone.

How to Store Shrimp Pasta the Right Way

• Maximize Freshness: Store leftover Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Seafood dishes are best consumed quickly to maintain optimal taste and texture.
• Reheat with Care: Gently warm the pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of olive oil to prevent drying. Microwave sparingly to avoid rubbery shrimp and soggy noodles.
• Freeze Wisely: While possible, freezing isn't recommended due to the creamy sauce and delicate shrimp. Pasta tends to become mushy when thawed, compromising the dish's original delightful texture.
• Prep Ahead Strategy: Prepare sauce and chop ingredients in advance. Keep shrimp and sauce separately refrigerated until ready to cook. This approach ensures maximum freshness and quick meal assembly.

Spicy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Recipe

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5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Creamy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta delivers a spicy-sweet explosion of flavors from Southeast Asian cuisine. Crispy shrimp, zesty sauce, and perfectly cooked noodles guarantee a memorable dining experience you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 12 oz (340 g) shrimp, medium, peeled and deveined
• 8 oz (226 g) spaghetti noodles, cooked and drained
• 1½ tablespoons (22 mL) olive oil, divided
• 1 tablespoon garlic, fresh, minced
• ½ cup (120 mL) mayonnaise
• ½ cup (120 mL) sweet chili sauce
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1½ teaspoons sriracha sauce
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper, fresh cracked
• 1 lime, juiced
• ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• parsley or cilantro, fresh, chopped (optional)

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Instructions

1. Sauce Creation: Whisk mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, lime juice, and sriracha together in a bowl until smooth and fully integrated, creating a vibrant, tangy base for the pasta.
2. Shrimp Preparation: Toss shrimp with olive oil, garlic, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, ensuring each morsel is evenly seasoned and ready for cooking.
3. Searing Seafood: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then introduce seasoned shrimp, stirring constantly to prevent burning and cook until they turn pink and develop a slight char, roughly 8-10 minutes.
4. Pasta Integration: Remove skillet from heat and combine cooked spaghetti with the perfectly seared shrimp, generously coating the noodles with the prepared zesty sauce, mixing thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
5. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley or cilantro over the dish, adding a final layer of brightness and aroma before presenting the bang bang shrimp pasta hot and ready to devour.

Notes

• Spice Intensity Control: Adjust sriracha and red pepper flakes based on personal heat tolerance, ensuring a balanced flavor profile without overwhelming the palate.
• Shrimp Cooking Precision: Watch for color and texture changes when cooking shrimp; overcooking leads to rubbery, tough texture, so remove from heat immediately once they turn pink and curl.
• Sauce Consistency Tip: Whisk sauce ingredients thoroughly to prevent separation and achieve a smooth, creamy blend that clings perfectly to pasta and shrimp.
• Garlic Burning Prevention: Keep heat at medium and continuously stir shrimp to prevent garlic from burning, which can introduce bitter notes and ruin the dish’s delicate flavor balance.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 500
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg