• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Grilling 24x7
  • Grilling 24×7
  • About
  • Recipes
    • By Food Type
      • Beef
        • Pellet Grill
        • Charcoal Grill
      • Poultry
        • Chicken
        • Turkey
      • Pork
        • Pork Ribs
        • Pellet Grill
        • Charcoal Grill
      • Seafood
        • Crab
        • Shrimp
        • Lobster
        • Fish
      • Veggies
        • Appetizers
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups and Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
      • Lamb
      • Keto Diet
    • By Course
      • Appetizers
        • Beef
        • Poultry
        • Pork
        • Seafood
      • Soups and Casseroles
      • Salads
      • Side Dishes
      • Main Dishes
        • Beef
        • Poultry
        • Pork
        • Seafood
        • Pizza
      • Dessert
      • Sauces/rubs
    • By Method
      • Cast Iron Recipes
        • Appetizers
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups and Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
      • Tailgate Recipes
        • Grilled Appetizers
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
          • Veggies
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups And Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
          • Veggie
  • Reviews
  • Tips
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Grilling 24x7 » Recipes » Best Crispy Deep Fried Shrimp

Best Crispy Deep Fried Shrimp

by Frank Campanella Leave a Comment

This crispy deep-fried shrimp recipe will have you feeling like a chef in no time and better than any restaurant fried shrimp around!

Bite into flavor with this perfectly crispy fried shrimp recipe! The shrimp is made with Old Bay seasoning, flour, cornstarch, milk, and hot sauce making it incredibly tasty and something you won’t stop eating!

Craving seafood? Don’t miss out on my Seafood Mac and Cheese with Old Bay, Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Crispy Skin, and Tailgate Seafood Recipes!

large pile of crispy deep fried shrimp

I am going to tell you right now… the secret to making the best shrimp is not to overcook the fried shrimp and not use too much breading!

When cooking fried shrimp, the goal is always to get a perfectly cooked juicy piece of fish with the perfect breading ratio.

In order to achieve that you will need a light coat of flour and cornstarch combined with old bay seasoning. If you can do that and I promise you, it will give you crispy and delicious fried shrimp every time!

Frying seafood at home ensures the freshest crispiest final product and no waiting 45 minutes for a table at a crowded restaurant.

Crack open a beer, get yourself a bunch of shrimp and fry up some golden crispy fried shrimp at home.

fried shrimp dunked into cocktail sauce

Fried Shrimp Ingredients

Shrimp: My recommendation is to buy 2 lbs of raw, fresh, never-frozen Shrimp.

If you are getting them from the fish counter at your local grocery store, you can ask them to peel the shrimp and devein the shrimp for you.

Pro-Tip: If you are going to have them clean them for you, ask them to also leave the tail on.

Dry Ingredients: Your batter will consist of 1.5 tbsp Old Bay, 1 cup flour, and ¼ cup of cornstarch.

Wet Ingredients: Get those dry ingredients to stick to the shrimp, you will also need fresh ingredients like ½ cup of milk, 1 large egg, and 2 tbsp of hot sauce.

For cooking: 3 quarts of Canola oil to deep fry the shrimp.

scooping out fried shrimp out of the hot oil

Cooking Instructions

Heat oil. Heat oil to 350 degrees F.

Prep and marinate the shrimp. Whisk together milk, egg, and hot sauce along with half tbsp of old bay seasoning. Place cleaned shrimp in the mixture and place it in the fridge while you prepare your dry ingredients.

Combine dry ingredients. In a large container with a lid shake together the remaining old bay, cornstarch, and flour until well combined.

Shake up the shrimp. Place a few handfuls of shrimp at a time in the container, seal tight and shake to completely coat the shrimp

Shake off excess. Before you drop the shrimp in the oil, shake off any excess flour then gently place it into the oil.

Deep fry the shrimp. Fry for 4-6 minutes until golden brown then scoops the shrimp out and transfer to a pan lined with paper towels to absorb the excess oil.

Season and enjoy! Season lightly with old bay and serve.

picking up fried shrimp of a tray

Cooking Tips and Variations

Storing Leftovers: If you find yourself with any leftover fried shrimp you can store them in a sealed container for about 3 days in the fridge.

Reheating Fried Shrimp: I find the best method for reheating fried shrimp is to cook them in your oven or air fryer for about 10 minutes at 425 degrees F.

These shrimp have already been cooked so we are cooking just until they are hot and crispy.

Dipping Sauce: Looking for a great sauce to pair with your friend shrimp? Cocktail sauce and Remoulade sauce are the classic dipping sauces for fried shrimp. If you want to try something a bit more exotic try my Spicy Hoisin Vinaigrette or even my Southwestern Ranch!

Equipment You’ll Need For Fried Shrimp

Fryer: You don’t need a fancy fryer to make fried shrimp! Grab a tabletop electric fryer or even a dutch oven with a candy thermometer and use your stovetop.

Strainer or Spider: You will want something to help you scoop up all the shrimp quickly once they are fully cooked. If you have a tabletop fryer it most likely will come with a basket.

If not, you will want to make sure you have a strainer handy because we don’t want to overcook the shrimp!

Tongs: If you are worried about getting hot grease splashed on you I recommend placing the shrimp in the fryer with a pair of long tongs.

Paper Towels: After the shrimp are fully cooked I like to place the shrimp on a few paper towels so any excess grease can drain off and I can season the shrimp before serving.

fried shrimp in a basket served with cocktail sauce

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of shrimp should I buy?

I recommend getting the biggest shrimp you can find and afford. Something like a 21/25 count or a 16/20 count shrimp would be ideal.

Can I fry already cooked Shrimp?

You can. The cook time will be cut in half since the shrimp just need to be warmed through since they are already cooked. The breading tends to fall off cooked shrimp easier though so keep that in mind.

How do I keep the breading from falling off?

After breading the shrimp in the flour mixture let the shrimp sit on a plate for 5-10 minutes before dropping them into the oil. This will give the shrimp time to absorb the breading allowing the breading to stick to the shrimp better. This tip works with anything you’re coating with flour.

How Long do fried shrimp take to cook?

Cooking time on fried shrimp will vary depending on size but a good rule to go by is when the shrimp turn a golden color and start to float to the top. This should take somewhere in the 4-6 minute range.

pile of crispy deep fried shrimp on paper towels

What to Serve With Fried Shrimp

I love a great side and I love to keep it simple. Serve up your crispy fried shrimp with classic coleslaw and some thick-cut steak fries!

Did you know, that fried shrimp is also commonly served over cheesy grits or salads as well? That makes it healthy right?

Pair the fried shrimp with lemon wedges and a few tasty dipping sauces like the ones I mentioned above and you have yourself a fantastic seafood dinner.

fried shrimp with lemon wedges, cocktail sauce and coleslaw

More Recipes You Will Love

  • New Orleans BBQ Shrimp
  • Deep Fried Oysters
  • Grilled Shrimp with a Coconut Milk Marinade
  • Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Hoisin BBQ Sauce
  • Beer Braised Shrimp w/ Sriracha Cocktail Sauce
dipping crispy fried shrimp in cocktail sauce

fried shrimp dunked into cocktail sauce
Print Pin

Best Crispy Fried Shrimp

These are some of the best crispy deep fried shrimp you will ever try and you can make them at home better than at a restaurant
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Fried Shrimp
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 275kcal

Equipment

  • Deep fryer or large pot with thermometer

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs Shrimp Raw, peeled and deviened, tail on

Dry Ingredients

  • 1.5 tbsp Old Bay
  • 1 cup Flour
  • ¼ cup Cornstarch

Wet Ingredients

  • ½ cup Milk
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 2 tbsp Hot Sauce

Additional Ingredients

  • 3 quarts Canola Oil

Instructions

  • Heat oil to 350 degrees F.
  • Whisk together milk, egg and hot sauce along with half tbsp of old bay seasoning. Place cleaned shrimp in mixture and place in the fridge while you prepare your dry ingredients.
  • In a large container with a lid shake together remaining old bay, cornstarch and flour until well combined. Place a few handfulls of shrimp at a time in the container, seal tight and shake to completly coat the shrimp
  • Shake off any excess flour then gently place into the oil. Fry for 4-6 minutes until golden brown then scoop the shrimp out and transfer to a pan lined with paper towels to absore the excess oil. Season lightly with old bay and serve.

Notes

Serving size is ¼ pound of shrimp. Amount of shrimp will vary depending on size.

Nutrition

Serving: 4oz | Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 308mg | Sodium: 982mg | Potassium: 145mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 195mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition Facts
Best Crispy Fried Shrimp
Amount Per Serving (4 oz)
Calories 275 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 308mg103%
Sodium 982mg43%
Potassium 145mg4%
Carbohydrates 13g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Protein 26g52%
Vitamin A 79IU2%
Vitamin C 7mg8%
Calcium 195mg20%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook188
  • Twitter
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Frank Campanella

If you love grilling, smoking and searing then you have come to the right place. Grilling 24x7 is your home for everything BBQ, Grilling and more. 

You'll find unique grilling recipes as well as a collection of bbq sides and sauces to make your next backyard cookout or tailgate a success.

Read More →

Cover of The Complete Guide to Grillin Steak - Preorder Now

Most Popular Recipes

  • Smoked Eye of Round with Beef Au Jus
  • Cast Iron Cuban Casserole – Leftover Pulled Pork Recipe
  • Smoked Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings with Spicy Sriracha Onion Rings
  • Bacon Burnt Ends Using Slab Bacon

Sign Up For The Best BBQ Recipes



Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2021 Grilling 24x7