Crispy Fried Buffalo Shrimp are coated in a simple two-ingredient buffalo sauce for a bold, flavorful bite. Start by cleaning, peeling, and deveining the shrimp if needed, then fry them to golden perfection before tossing in the rich, tangy sauce.
Before You Cook, Read This!
💬The Vibe: Crispy, spicy, and ready in minutes! If you love buffalo wings but want something lighter (and way faster), this shrimp is it.
🔑What You Gotta Know: Give your shrimp a little chill time. After coating, pop 'em in the fridge for 15-20 minutes. This helps the flour stick like glue so you get the perfect crispy crunch when they hit the oil. No floured shrimp left behind!
🍴Best Bite Alert: Fresh out the pan is top-tier, but if you want to level up, toss 'em in extra buffalo sauce and serve with ranch or blue cheese.
This recipe is perfect for the seafood lover craving bold flavors.
It's an easy recipe that requires a few simple ingredients and can be made in less time than it takes to go to a restaurant and order something off the menu.
Let's get started!
Ingredients You'll Need
- Raw Shrimp - Use large (21-25 count) or jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined. Tail-on or tail-off works. Wild-caught Gulf Coast shrimp are best, but frozen shrimp will work, just thaw before cooking.
- Butter - Needed for the buffalo sauce. Unsalted is used here, but salted works too.
- Hot Sauce - Forms the base of the buffalo sauce. Use your favorite. Frank's Red Hot or Texas Pete are great options.
- Eggs - Two large eggs mixed with water create the egg wash for coating the shrimp.
- All-Purpose Flour - Plain flour for dredging before frying.
- Seasoned Salt - Adds savory flavor and is mixed into the flour.
- Oil - Use hot, neutral oil for frying. Canola, vegetable, or peanut oil work well. If using olive oil, ensure it's pure and suitable for frying.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.
How to Make Buffalo Shrimp
Prepare the Shrimp. Clean/peel and devein the shrimp if needed. You may leave the shrimp tails on for presentation and easier eating.
Make the Buffalo Sauce. Using a small saucepan on the stovetop over low heat, combine the butter and hot sauce until combined.
Create the Dredge. In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour and seasoned salt. In a separate shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs and water.
Dip the Shrimp. Roll each shrimp into the egg mixture and then the flour mixture. Make sure that you coat them very well in the seasoned flour. Place the floured shrimp into the refrigerator to chill for about 15 to 20 minutes.
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Fry the Shrimp. Add the oil to a cast iron skillet or Dutch oven. Allow it to heat on the stovetop to 375 degrees F. Shake off any excess flour before carefully adding the coated shrimp in a single layer to the hot oil. Fry each shrimp for 2-3 minutes before carefully removing them from the oil.
Toss and Serve. Add the crispy shrimp to a large bowl and toss them in the buffalo sauce until fully coated. Serve warm and enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Do not overcook the shrimp. They will cook pretty quickly after being added to the hot oil. You'll know they're done once they are golden brown without any pink. Just a couple of minutes is all that is needed.
- Try not to crowd the pan. If you need to cook the shrimp in batches, then it's better to do that than to try to cook too many at a time. Crowding the pan will result in lower oil temperature and require more cooking time.
- Eat the fried shrimp immediately after cooking while they are still warm.
- For more spice flavor, season the raw shrimp with garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, cajun seasoning, or Old Bay seasoning before adding them to the egg and flour mixture.
Storage Tips
Storage. If you have any leftover cooked shrimp, allow them to cool to room temperature before placing them into an airtight container or plastic bag and storing them in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
Reheat. When ready to serve the shrimp again, reheat them on the stovetop in a skillet over medium-high heat and a little bit of oil for 1-2 minutes. They can also be reheated in the air fryer if you're short on time.
What To Serve With Buffalo Shrimp?
These tasty, crispy, and spicy shrimp are the perfect easy appetizer, snack, or game day option!
- Serve them with blue cheese dressing/blue cheese dip or creamy ranch dressing for dipping.
- Add some celery sticks or carrot sticks on the side, along with a lemon wedge to squeeze on top before serving.
- Pair them with Baked Potato Wedges or French Fries.
- Add them to a salad for a spicy protein option.
- Use them to make a main dish of buffalo shrimp tacos.
Want More Tasty & Delicious Shrimp Recipes? Try These:
- Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
- Easy Shrimp and Grits
- Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe
- Hibachi Shrimp
- Baked Shrimp Scampi
Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to enjoy this Fried Buffalo Shrimp Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!
📖 Recipe
Fried Buffalo Shrimp
Equipment
- 2 shallow bowls or containers
- 1 cast iron skillet or dutch oven
- 1 slotted spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup hot sauce
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup water
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
- 2 cups oil for frying
Instructions
- Peel and de-vein the shrimp if you have not purchased them already done. You may leave on the shrimp tails on for presentation. Set aside.
- Combine the 4 tablespoons butter and ¼ cup hot sauce in a small pot and heat on low until melted and combined. Keep warm.
- In a small shallow bowl, whisk together the 2 large eggs and ¼ cup water until thoroughly combined.
- In a separate shallow bowl, combine the 1 ½ cups flour and 1 tablespoon seasoned salt.
- While working with one shrimp at a time, dip them by the tail into the egg mixture, shake off the excess, and gently roll in the flour mixture. Be sure to coat all of the shrimp this way before leaving them in the flour bowl as they are coated.
- Place the flour bowl with the shrimp inside it in the refrigerator to rest while you heat the 2 cups oil in a deep pot or cast iron skillet. The oil should be 1½ – 2 inches deep and heated to at least 375 degrees F.
- Toss shrimp in flour once more to be sure all are thoroughly coated and carefully drop each into hot oil, frying about 6-8 shrimp at a time.
- Fry the shrimp until they become golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove carefully using a slotted spoon and let them drain on a cooling rack or paper towel.
- Add the fried shrimp to a large bowl and drizzle with the warm buffalo sauce from the saucepan that you have been keeping warm. Toss to fully combine and coat the shrimp in the sauce.
- Serve the buffalo shrimp right away while still warm with a lemon wedge and your favorite dressing for dipping. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Do not overcook the shrimp. They will cook pretty quickly after being added to the hot oil. You'll know they're done once they are golden brown without any pink. Just a couple of minutes is all that is needed.
- Try not to crowd the pan. If you need to cook the shrimp in batches, then it's better to do that than to try to cook too many at a time. Crowding the pan will result in lower oil temperature and require more cooking time.
- Eat the fried shrimp immediately after cooking while they are still warm.
- For more spice flavor, season the raw shrimp with garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, cajun seasoning, or Old Bay seasoning before adding them to the egg and flour mixture.
Original post date 06/27/2016. Updated 04/05/2024 and 03/14/2025.
Nicole says
I am going to making your shrimp tonight super excited
admin says
Awesome Nicole! Please let me know how it turns out for you.
Akaleistar says
Buffalo shrimp sounds delicious! Hope you're having a wonderful vacation 🙂
admin says
Thank you so much! I had a wonderful time 🙂
Tamara says
Oh, yum. There's nothing bad you can say about this, is there?
I'll be going to Alaska soon so you have inspired me to post in my absence. I generally do, but I was thinking of maybe not this time. I can't not, though!
admin says
No there really isn't 😉 Oooh Alaska! That is on my list of places to visit. Exactly! I was really glad that I took the time and scheduled everything out in my absence...It made a huge difference.
Sonya says
These look so yummy!!! I need to try making these one day. I'm sure my husband would like them a lot.
admin says
Thank you! This recipe is so easy and delicious...my son loves them!