🍤🍝 Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta
Creamy, spicy, sweet, and totally irresistible.
This dish takes the beloved Bang Bang flavor combo—creamy heat with a hint of sweetness—and pairs it with tender shrimp and perfectly cooked spaghetti or angel hair pasta. It comes together in under 30 minutes and tastes like a restaurant-quality meal made right at home.
⭐ Ingredients
Pasta & Shrimp
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¾–1 lb thin spaghetti, angel hair, or gluten-free pasta
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1 ½ lbs medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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1 teaspoon paprika
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½ teaspoon garlic powder
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½ teaspoon salt
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½ teaspoon black pepper
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Optional: ¼ teaspoon cayenne for extra heat
Bang Bang Sauce
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½ cup mayonnaise
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¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
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2–3 tablespoons sriracha (adjust heat to taste)
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2 tablespoons honey
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1 tablespoon lime juice (optional, adds brightness)
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2–3 tablespoons hot pasta water (to loosen the sauce)
Garnish
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Chopped green onions
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Red pepper flakes
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Lime wedges
🥘 Instructions
1. Cook the Pasta
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
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Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
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Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
2. Prepare the Shrimp
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Pat shrimp dry and season with paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
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Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 1–2 minutes per side, until pink and opaque.
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Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
3. Make the Bang Bang Sauce
In a bowl, whisk together:
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mayonnaise
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sweet chili sauce
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sriracha
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honey
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lime juice
Add 2–3 tablespoons hot pasta water to thin the sauce into a pourable consistency.
4. Assemble the Dish
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Add cooked pasta to the skillet (off the heat).
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Pour the Bang Bang sauce over the pasta and toss until evenly coated.
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Add shrimp and gently mix to combine.
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If needed, add more pasta water to achieve a silky, glossy sauce.
5. Serve
Plate the pasta and shrimp, then garnish with:
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chopped green onions
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a squeeze of lime
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red pepper flakes (optional)
🌶 Adjust the Heat
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Mild: Reduce sriracha to 1 tbsp
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Medium: Keep 2–3 tbsp
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Hot: Add extra sriracha OR ¼ tsp cayenne to the shrimp seasoning
📦 Storage
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Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
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Reheat gently in a skillet with a splash of milk or broth to restore creaminess.