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A blue basket of crispy fried shimp with a small bowl of tartar sauce.
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5 from 1 vote

Deep Fried Shrimp

Perfectly battered and fried to a golden crisp, these succulent shrimp make for a mouth-watering appetizer or main dish. Deep-fried shrimp are crispy and delicious, and pair perfectly with homemade tartar sauce.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Cajun, Southern
Keyword: crispy fried shrimp, deep froed shrimp
Cooking Method: Deep Fryer
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 441kcal
Author: Kari

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat your deep fryer to 350-375°F and get the oil warming. I usually heat mine to 375°F as the oil temperature will drop as the shrimp cook. (See below for stovetop instructions.)
    3 cups peanut oil
  • Toss the shrimp in the hot sauce in one of the shallow bowls and let them sit for a few minutes.
    1 ½ pounds large or jumbo shrimp, 3-4 tablespoons Crystal Hot Sauce
  • In the second bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, salt, pepper, and Creole seasoning to make the seasoned flour.
    1 ¾ cups White Lily self-rising flour⁠⁠⁠⁠, ¼ cup yellow cornmeal, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
  • Toss the marinated shrimp in the flour mixture until fully coated, then grab them by the tail to shake off any excess breading.
  • Lay the shrimp out on a baking sheet and repeat until they are all coated.
  • Carefully drop the shrimp in the hot oil, a few at a time.
  • Cook for 1-2 minutes, just until the shrimp are golden brown.
  • Remove the shrimp from the fryer and shake off any excess oil (I hang the basket on the side of the deep fryer for a minute or two) before dumping the shrimp out onto paper towels to cool. Sprinkle a pinch of Creole or Cajun seasoning over the cooked shrimp.
  • Serve the crispy shrimp with tartar sauce, french fries, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the top.
  • *To use a pot on the stove, heat a few inches of oil in a dutch oven to 375°F. Fry the shrimp a few at a time, then remove with a slotted spoon to cool on paper towels.

Notes

How to Store Leftover Fried Shrimp

Once cooled, store leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 2-3 days.

How to Reheat Fried Shrimp

Reheat fried shrimp in an air fryer - this will get the breading really crispy again, just like when they were first cooked.

Can You Bake or Air Fry Breaded Shrimp?

Baked Fried Shrimp: You can bake these southern fried shrimp instead of deep frying them by coating them with an oil-based cooking spray and baking them on a sheet pan at 425° F until golden brown and crispy. You can flip them halfway through if desired. It should take about 15 minutes.
Air Fried Shrimp: You can air fry these shrimp as well! Preheat your air fryer to 400°F and spray the breaded shrimp with an oil-based cooking spray. Air fry for 4 minutes, then flip the shrimp, spray again, and cook for 2-3 more minutes until the shrimp are brown and crispy.

What is a Substitute for Self-Rising Flour?

Use all-purpose flour. 1 cup Self-Rising Flour = 1 cup of all-purpose flour mixed together with 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder and ¼ teaspoon of salt.
Note: Most of the oil will not be absorbed by the shrimp, but it is needed by the fryer. Nutrition facts are calculated assuming about ½ cup of oil is used.

Nutrition

Calories: 441kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 214mg | Sodium: 2966mg | Potassium: 292mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 844IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 2mg