Buffalo Shrimp

Crispy, fried Buffalo shrimp is a bar food favorite that you can make at home! It’s simple to fry up raw shrimp and toss them in buffalo sauce to make the tastiest appetizer.

I can’t wait to share my Buffalo Shrimp recipe with you! I had this dish at a bar with friends some time ago, and I’ve been working to perfect the recipe ever since.

It’s based on my recipe for Fried Shrimp, but I’ve spiced up the breading to add lots of savory, flavorful heat. A toss in homemade buffalo wing sauce makes these spicy shrimp absolutely amazing!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe for Buffalo Shrimp

1. Crispy Breading– I say, go big or go home! You might find recipes for buffalo shrimp that skip the breading and frying steps, but for the most authentic flavor, frying the shrimp so that they are nice and crispy is a must.
2. No Deep Fryer Needed – If you have a deep fryer, feel free to use it, but I have found that it’s super simple to make fried foods on the stovetop in a heavy Dutch oven.
3. Big Buffalo Flavor – A delicious spicy breading and a homemade buffalo sauce made with Frank’s hot sauce give these Buffalo Shrimp the perfect amount of heat.

If you love Buffalo-style recipes, you’re in luck! I have an amazing Buffalo Chicken Pasta recipe, plus Buffalo Chicken Sliders, Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, Buffalo Chicken Pizza, a healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad, and Air Fryer Buffalo Wings for you to try.

Ingredients In This Buffalo Shrimp Recipe

Raw shrimp are turned into something really special with these ingredients!

• Shrimp: This recipe makes a pound of shrimp. I’m using large shrimp (31-40 count per pound), but you can use shrimp that are slightly larger or smaller if you’d like. Your shrimp must be raw, deveined, and without shells. You can leave the tails on or take them off if you prefer.
• Seasonings: Start by seasoning the shrimp with salt and pepper, then season the breading with garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, dried oregano, and dried thyme.
• Flour: No breadcrumbs are needed to make super crispy fried shrimp. Simple all-purpose flour plus the above seasonings are all it takes.
• Buffalo Sauce: A balanced sauce is made from Frank’s Red Hot sauce, honey, and melted butter. Once you learn how to make this tasty stuff you’ll want to put it on everything!
• Oil: You’ll need oil for frying. The amount will depend on the size of your pot. Fill a dutch oven with about 2 inches of canola, vegetable, or peanut oil. If you’re using a deep fryer, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to know how much oil to add.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

How To Make Buffalo Shrimp

1. Prep the Shrimp: Clean and peel the shrimp if needed, then season them with salt and pepper.
2. Mix with Seasoned Flour: Add flour and seasonings to a large Ziplock bag. Then add the shrimp to the bag, seal, and shake to coat the shrimp.
3. Chill: To get the flour to stick well, and allow the seasonings to mingle, place the breaded shrimp on a wire rack and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes. Be sure not to toss out the Ziploc bag with the flour! We’ll need it later.
4. Make Buffalo Sauce: While the shrimp chill, mix together melted butter, hot sauce, and honey. Set aside.

1. Heat Oil: Add 2 inches of oil to a dutch oven, and heat the oil to 350°F/180°C.
2. Fry Shrimp: Remove the shrimp from the fridge, and place them back into the Ziplock bag. Shake again with the flour mixture to give them a double coat of breading. Working in batches, shake off any excess flour from the shrimp, and carefully drop them into the hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes, or until done.
3. Toss and Serve: Add the hot shrimp to a boil and toss with the buffalo sauce until well coated. Serve immediately with Blue Cheese Dressing for dipping.

Recipe Tips

• Don’t overcook shrimp: You’ll know that the fried buffalo shrimp have cooked too long when they curl up into a circle rather than a U shape. Overcooked shrimp are tough and chewy, and we want to avoid that.
• Eat right away: Like most fried foods, fried shrimp are at their best right after cooking. Serve them hot – they are the most crispy right after removing them from the oil.
• Buy the right shrimp: For this recipe, be sure to buy raw shrimp, and avoid any that have been pre-cooked. Frozen raw shrimp work well, just be sure to thaw them completely before breading and frying.
• Adjust for size: This recipe was developed using Large shrimp. You can cook other sizes using this recipe, but you will need to adjust the frying time. For jumbo shrimp, add at least 30 additional seconds to the frying time. For medium shrimp, reduce the time by 30 seconds or more.

Storing Tips

Fried Buffalo shrimp is best enjoyed immediately after cooking while it’s hot and crispy. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

To reheat buffalo shrimp, I suggest using an air fryer. Heat at 350°F/180°C for 1-3 minutes, until warm.

What To Serve With Buffalo Shrimp

These tasty, spicy, crispy shrimp are an amazing appetizer or snack. Serve them with blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing for dipping, along with celery and carrot sticks.

Make Buffalo shrimp into a meal by adding some homemade french fries and your favorite veggie side dish. If you are going to fry french fries, I suggest doing them first, then frying the shrimp. This way, you won’t have any of the flour from the shrimp burning at the bottom of the pan while you’re cooking fries!

Use these delicious Buffalo Shrimp to top a Shrimp Cobb Salad, or make Buffalo Shrimp tacos by wrapping them in warmed tortillas or yogurt flatbreads with shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, and blue cheese.

Recipe FAQs

If you like Buffalo Wings, you are going to love these spicy, fried Buffalo Shrimp! Be sure to Pin the recipe so you can find it easily.