Description
This crispy Cajun shrimp with creamy sauce is bold, crunchy, and irresistibly flavorful. Juicy shrimp are coated in a golden, spiced crust and paired with a silky sauce for the ultimate weeknight dinner or party appetizer.
Ingredients
1 lb large shrimp, peeled & deveined (fresh or thawed frozen, patted dry)
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1½ tbsp Cajun seasoning
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1–2 cups oil, for frying (canola, vegetable, or peanut oil)
Creamy Sauce:
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
Prep Shrimp: Pat shrimp dry with paper towels and set aside.
Set Up Coating Station: In one shallow bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. In a second bowl, beat eggs. In a third bowl, add panko breadcrumbs.
Coat Shrimp: Dip shrimp into flour mixture, then egg wash, then panko. Press crumbs gently so they stick.
Fry Shrimp: Heat 1–2 inches of oil in a skillet over medium-high. Fry shrimp in batches, 2–3 minutes per side, until golden and crispy. Transfer to paper towels or a wire rack.
Make Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, and hot sauce. Adjust flavors to taste.
Serve: Drizzle sauce over shrimp or serve on the side for dipping. Enjoy immediately for best crispiness!
Notes
For less heat, use mild Cajun seasoning and skip the hot sauce.
For more crunch, double-coat shrimp (flour → egg → panko → repeat egg & panko).
Air Fryer: Cook at 400°F for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway.
Oven-Baked: Bake at 425°F for 12–14 minutes until golden.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Cajun / Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 380kcl
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 215 mg
Keywords: Cajun shrimp, crispy shrimp recipe, shrimp appetizer, easy shrimp dinner