Deep Fried Shrimp

A blue basket of crispy fried shimp with a small bowl of tartar sauce.

5 from 1 vote

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

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Servings: people

Calories: 441kcal

Author: Kari

Equipment

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds large or jumbo shrimp 10-15, 16-20, or 21-25 count per pound, peeled and deveined
3-4 tablespoons Crystal Hot Sauce
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
3 cups peanut oil

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