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Hot Honey Crispy Shrimp

Hot Honey Crispy Shrimp features perfectly fried shrimp with a golden, crispy two-stage coating finished with a silky sweet and spicy hot honey glaze that balances heat and sweetness beautifully.

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, and patted completely dry
  • 1 teaspoon salt (divided between seasoning and coating)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons paprika (divided between seasoning and coating)
  • 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder (divided between seasoning and coating)
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 0.5 cup cornstarch
  • 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • as needed oil for frying (vegetable or canola oil)
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons honey (or hot honey)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 0.5 to 1 teaspoon hot sauce (adjust to your spice preference)
  • 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)
  • 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, for depth)
  • as needed red chili flakes (optional)
  • as needed fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, combine 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Add the beaten egg and mix the shrimp until evenly coated and slightly sticky, about 1 minute.
  2. In another bowl, whisk together cornstarch, all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon paprika, 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder, and 0.5 teaspoon salt. Dredge each shrimp in the mixture, pressing lightly to adhere the coating and create a textured crust.
  3. Pour oil into a large skillet or deep frying pan and heat over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F, about 5 minutes. Test readiness by dropping a small piece of coating into the oil; it should sizzle immediately.
  4. Carefully place shrimp in the hot oil in a single layer, frying for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown and crispy, turning halfway through. Do not overcrowd the pan, as this will lower the oil temperature and make shrimp soggy.
  5. Use a slotted spoon to transfer cooked shrimp to a paper towel-lined plate. Pat gently to remove excess oil, about 2 minutes.
  6. Allow the oil to return to 350°F between batches, about 2 minutes, then repeat with remaining shrimp.
  7. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and add honey, hot sauce, cayenne if using, and smoked paprika. Whisk constantly until fully combined, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  8. Continue heating until the mixture bubbles gently and becomes smooth and glossy, about 2 more minutes. Do not let it boil rapidly or the honey will crystallize.
  9. Remove from heat and taste; add more hot sauce if you prefer more heat, or more honey if you want additional sweetness.
  10. For maximum crunch, lightly toss the crispy shrimp in the hot honey sauce using a gentle hand, or drizzle the glaze over the top and let diners coat each piece to their preference.
  11. Finish with a sprinkle of red chili flakes and fresh chopped parsley for color, aroma, and a hint of freshness that balances the richness.
  12. Plate and serve while the shrimp is still warm and the coating is at its crispiest, ideally within 5 minutes of assembly.
  • Author: Adriana
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: appetizer, main course
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 300
  • Sugar: 5
  • Sodium: 800
  • Fat: 15
  • Saturated Fat: 3
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 25
  • Fiber: 1
  • Protein: 20
  • Cholesterol: 150

Keywords: This easy appetizer or main course comes together in under an hour and delivers restaurant-quality results that will have guests asking for the recipe.