Panko Shrimp – So Crispy! (VIDEO)
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These Panko Shrimp are the perfect appetizer or main dish to serve at your next get together or to enjoy yourself during the week! The shrimp are moist and flavorful on the inside, encased in a thin, super crunchy coating and pair perfectly with my homemade Thai Sweet Chili Sauce or Spicy Mayo for dipping. It’s easy to make your own at home with restaurant-quality results!
Watch the Panko Shrimp Recipe Video Below!
Key Tip
Shrimp Tips
For Panko Shrimp, I would recommend the largest shrimp you can buy. In the United States, shrimp are typically sold by the pound. I used U-12 shrimp for this recipe (12 shrimp per pound), and had amazing results! If you can’t find shrimp this large in your area, U-16 size shrimp will work for Panko Shrimp too.
You can use fresh or frozen shrimp, but make sure it is RAW! They will need to be deshelled/deveined; if frozen, make sure the shrimp has defrosted completely before cooking.
Ingredients for Panko Shrimp
This recipe for Panko Shrimp is very straightforward and simple, only requiring a few ingredients! Here is what you’ll need:
- Shrimp (deveined with tail on) – see note above.
- If you love shrimp, try making my Hawaiian inspired Coconut Shrimp!
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Eggs
- All-Purpose Flour
- Water
- Garlic Powder
- Panko Breadcrumbs – Panko Shrimp are extra crispy, and to do this I use Japanese panko breadcrumbs. Panko breadcrumbs differ from your regular breadcrumbs due to their light and flaky texture. You can find them at most Asian or Western grocery stores.This is a KEY ingredient (hence the name), so I do not recommend substituting this.
- Neutral Oil – My favorite neutral oil is avocado oil, but you can also use canola or vegetable oil! I don’t use olive oil when frying for two reasons: 1. It has a low burning point and 2. The flavor profile does not go well with the food.
Panko Shrimp Recipe Instructions
Prepare the Shrimp
The first step is to make small cuts along the underside of the shrimp. This is going to allow the shrimp to flatten out to get that restaurant-quality flat shape that you typically see in Japanese Izakayas. Once the shrimp are straightened, season them with salt and black pepper.
Mix the Wet Batter
Mix your wet batter ingredients until the combined. The consistency we’re after is something slightly looser than pancake batter. Dip your shrimp in the wet batter and let the excess batter drip off.
Coat the Shrimp in Panko Breadcrumbs
In a separate bowl, dredge the shrimp in panko breadcrumbs, using your hands to pack in the breadcrumbs so they are thoroughly coated on the shrimp. Make sure that the entire shrimp is coat and that there are no wet spots on the shrimp!
Once the shrimp are dredged in the panko breadcrumbs, let them rest on a tray while you heat up your oil for frying.
Fry Your Panko Shrimp Until Golden Brown
Once the Panko Shrimp are fried and golden brown, place them on a wire rack to cool and to allow the excess oil to drain off.
Serve Panko Shrimp with some freshly squeezed lemon! These are perfect for parties as a fun appetizer or served with rice for a main course!
Key Tip
Recipe Tips for Panko Shrimp
PAT YOUR SHRIMP DRY
After your shrimp are peeled and deveined, make sure to pat your shrimp dry with a towel prior to seasoning with salt and pepper. You want to make the shrimp as dry as possible and remove any excess moisture prior to seasoning and frying.
REST AFTER DREDGING
Once the shrimp are dredged in the seasoning mix, let them rest for 10-15 minutes while the oil heats up. This helps the batter stick to the shrimp when frying!
PREP YOUR STATION
Once you start, Panko Shrimp will come together very quickly! Set up your station with your bowls of batter and panko breadcrumbs, as well as a rack or plate to rest your dredged shrimp while heating up the oil.
OIL TEMPERATURE
I highly recommend you use a thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. Frying Panko Shrimp at a lower temperature will result in too much moisture (AKA SOGGY!) Make sure your oil stays between 325-350F; if needed, cook your Panko Shrimp in batches.
If you tried this Panko Shrimp or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Panko Shrimp (VIDEO)
Ingredients
Shrimp
- 1 lb shrimp, tails on, shelled & deveined
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Batter
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1 quart neutral oil, for frying; I like avocado oil or canola oil
Instructions
- Cut the shrimp horizontally in small cuts about 2 inches apart across the underside of the shrimp to straighten the shrimp out. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
- Set up your dredging station: In bowl 1, mix together eggs, flour, water, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until the wet batter is slightly looser than pancake batter. In bowl 2, set aside panko breadcrumbs.
- Dip shrimp in the wet batter (bowl 1) and let any excess batter drip off.
- Dredge shrimp in panko breadcrumbs (bowl 2). Coat the shrimp completely with the panko, using your hands to press the panko into the shrimp so it sticks. Repeat until all the shrimp are coated. Let the shrimp rest on a tray or rack while you heat up your oil.
- In a large wok or heavy bottomed pot, heat the oil to 350F. Fry for 2-3 minutes until deep golden brown and remove to a wire rack to drain the excess oil. Serve with optional fresh lemon and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- shrimp (deveined with tail on) – use the largest raw, deveined shrimp you can find (I used U12 and they were perfect; U16 would work great too!) Leave the tails on for easier eating! If using frozen shrimp, make sure they are completely thawed before seasoning.
- panko breadcrumbs – Panko breadcrumbs are lighter and flakier than regular breadcrumbs, which means less oil absorption when fried – resulting in light and crispy Panko Shrimp. This is a KEY ingredient for this recipe and I do not recommend using anything else.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Excellent recipe. I doubled the garlic.
I’m so happy to hear you loved it!
I like the recipe for the shrimp with panko breadcrumbs thanks.