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Home » Recipe » Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos (Whole30 & AIP)

Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos (Whole30 & AIP)

Published July 19, 2019. Last modified July 27, 2020 By Anne Marie 6 Comments

4872 shares
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This Paleo Bang Bang Shrimp Taco recipe is going to be an easy weeknight staple at your dinner table! These can be paired with various sauces and are perfect with slaw as a topping. The recipe is versatile enough to fit different dietary restrictions, from gluten free to keto. These are the ultimate healthy restaurant copycat!

White bowl with 3 lettuce wrapped Bang Bang Shrimp tacos inside with a few lime slices.

Are these Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos healthy?

I’ve got you covered! These fit a variety of different diets, but taste like the real deal (just without all the inflammatory breading or oils!) To make sure everyone at the table can enjoy, I’ve included variations for those following Paleo, Whole30, and AIP diets.

How do you make Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos?

These Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are actually super easy to make. There’s no deep frying involved to make the shrimp extra crispy, since pan frying gets the job done with less mess! And there’s no need to pull out your blender for the sauce–simply whisking all the ingredients together will do. 

This quick meal is just a matter of coating the shrimp, pan frying, tossing in the sauce, and building your taco. It’s very likely that you already have all these ingredients in your pantry!

Depending on your personal preference or how much time you have on your hands, there’s some shortcuts you can take. Frozen shrimp work great in a pinch, since they can be quickly defrosted in warm water or the fridge. These pair wonderfully with my plantain tortillas, but my Paleo friends can pick up some Siete tortillas for even quicker prep! Butter lettuce leaves work for a low-carb option.

White bowl filled with Bang Bang Shrimp on a bed of lettuce

What’s in these shrimp tacos?

‘Breaded' Shrimp

The backbone of these shrimp tacos is, of course, the crispy breaded shrimp! No gluten-filled breadings or inflammatory restaurant oils here–just pure goodness like coconut flour and arrowroot powder. I have included a recipe for Whole30 compliant breaded and fried shrimp, and another that is AIP compliant. These are fried in coconut oil, but you could sub with avocado oil or an animal fat like lard if needed!

Bang Bang Sauce 

The Bang Bang Sauce is what takes these shrimp tacos to the next level. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and spicy! There’s only six ingredients, and each are pantry staples in my opinion. Even if you don’t have compliant mayo or ketchup on hand, they’re pretty easy to whip up from scratch! I have included a recipe for Whole30 compliant Bang Bang Sauce, and another that is AIP compliant. Both versions pack oodles of bold flavor!

Taco Shells

Depending on your personal preference and dietary restrictions, there are 2-3 different options for your soft taco shells. My Paleo pals will love using my plantain tortillas or Siete tortillas for taco shells (bonus–the plantain tortillas are also AIP!) Even if you choose butter lettuce leaves (the best choice for Whole30 dieters!) you won’t lose any flavor. Promise!

What toppings can you use for these Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos?

Stick with a simple veggie slaw for these Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos. Some great complementary flavors would be:

  • Red cabbage, raw for a nice crunch or sauteed for a subtle sweetness.
  • Onion, caramelized ‘til crispy and sweet.
  • Lime juice (impress your guests with a simple lime wedge for presentation!)
  • Cilantro, which adds a unique flavor profile to your tacos.
  • Mango, for a sweet and tart taste!

Check out these slaw recipes Note: all slaw recipes are Paleo, but not all are AIP or Whole30. Be sure you’re looking at the labels or necessary alterations next to each one before beginning!

  • Coconut Mango Slaw (Paleo) (AIP, omit bell pepper and sub extra carrot)
  • Spicy Cabbage Slaw (Paleo, use a compliant mayonnaise) (Whole30, omit honey)
  • Avocado Cilantro Slaw (Paleo) (AIP, omit cayenne and ancho chile powder) (Whole30, omit sweetener)
White bowl with 3 lettuce wrapped Bang Bang Shrimp tacos inside with a few lime slices.

Can I use an air fryer to make the Bang Bang Shrimp?

I haven’t tried using an Air Fryer for these, but I’m sure it would work well! If you want to use an Air Fryer, I’d suggest the following tips to make sure they turn out just as crispy as the pan-fried version. If you use an Air Fryer, be sure to let me know how they turn out!

  • Lay the shrimp in a single layer on the Air Fryer tray–no overlap!
  • Spritz the shrimp with some coconut oil or avocado oil cooking spray first.
  • Turn shrimp at the halfway mark to make sure both sides get crispy.

Other recipes you'll also love:

  • Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole (Whole30 & AIP)
  • Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken (Whole30 & AIP)
  • Chicken Salad (Whole30 & AIP)

 

White bowl with 3 lettuce wrapped Bang Bang Shrimp tacos inside with a few lime slices.
Print Recipe
4 from 11 votes

Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos (Whole30 & Paleo version)

This Paleo Bang Bang Shrimp Taco recipe is going to be an easy weeknight staple at your dinner table! These can be paired with various sauces and are perfect with slaw as a topping. The recipe is versatile enough to fit different dietary restrictions, from gluten free to keto. These are the ultimate healthy restaurant copycat!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time12 mins
Course: Main Dish
Keyword: bang bang shrimp tacos, paleo bang bang shrimp, Whole30 bang bang shrimp
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Anne Marie

Ingredients

  • For the Shrimp, Paleo and Whole30 version
  • 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup coconut flour
  • 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 Tbsp coconut oil
  • sliced green onions for garnish, optional
  • sesame seeds for garnish, optional

Bang Bang Sauce (Whole30 & Paleo version)

  • 1/3 cup Whole30 mayonnaise
  • 2 tsp Whole30 compliant hot sauce
  • 2 Tbsp Whole30 ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp coconut aminos
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp sea salt

Options for the Taco Shells

  • Butter lettuce leaves
  • Plantain Tortillas, these are Paleo, but not Whole30 compliant
  • Siete Cassava Flour tortillas, these are Paleo, but not Whole30 compliant

Instructions

  • Break egg into a shallow, wide bowl and whisk until scrambled. Set to the side.
  • Stir together coconut flour, arrowroot powder, and salt in a large bowl. 
  • One at a time, coat shrimp in the egg then dredge in flour mixture. Place on a baking sheet. 
  • Over medium heat, melt coconut oil in a large skillet. Fry shrimp in a single layer, adding more oil as needed. You’ll likely need to cook the shrimp in batches depending on the size of your skillet. 
  • Let the bottom of the shrimp brown before you flip (about 2-3 minutes) and cook through on the other side. Once fully cooked and crispy, remove the shrimp from the skillet and onto a towel or paper towel to absorb excess oil.
  • Whisk together the ingredients for the sauce in a large bowl. Add fried shrimp to the sauce and toss. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
  • Place shrimp into your taco shell of choice, wrap, and enjoy.

Notes

See the recipe below for AIP modifications!
Did you try this recipe?Tag me @GrassFedSalsa so I can send you some love!
White bowl with 3 lettuce wrapped Bang Bang Shrimp tacos inside with a few lime slices.
Print Recipe
4.41 from 10 votes

Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos (AIP version)

This AIP Bang Bang Shrimp Taco recipe is going to be an easy weeknight staple at your dinner table! These can be paired with various different sauces and are perfect with slaw as a topping. The recipe is versatile enough to fit different dietary restrictions, from gluten free to keto. These are the ultimate healthy restaurant copycat!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time12 mins
Course: Main Dish
Keyword: AIP bang bang shrimp, bang bang shrimp tacos
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Anne Marie

Ingredients

For the Shrimp (AIP Version)

  • 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/3 cup coconut flour
  • 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 Tbsp coconut oil
  • sliced green onions for garnish, optional

For the Bang Bang Sauce (AIP Version)

  • 1/3 cup AIP mayonnaise, I used the "light and fluffy" mayo recipe here
  • 2 Tbsp AIP ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp coconut aminos
  • 1 tsp organic horseradish powder, optional to add heat or spice to the dish
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • Options for the Taco Shells
  • Butter lettuce leaves
  • Plantain Tortillas

Instructions

  • Pat the shrimp dry. Stir together coconut flour, arrowroot powder, and salt in a large bowl.
  • One at a time, coat shrimp in flour mixture. Place on a baking sheet. 
  • Over medium heat, melt coconut oil in a large skillet. Fry shrimp in a single layer, adding more oil as needed. You’ll likely need to cook the shrimp in batches depending on the size of your skillet. 
  • Let the bottom of the shrimp brown before you flip (about 2-3 minutes) and cook through on the other side. Once fully cooked and crispy, remove the shrimp from the skillet and onto a towel or paper towel to absorb excess oil.
  • Whisk together the ingredients for the sauce in a large bowl. Add fried shrimp to the sauce and toss. Garnish with green onions.
  • Place shrimp into your taco shell of choice, wrap, and enjoy.

Notes

See recipe above for Whole30 and Paleo version!
Did you try this recipe?Tag me @GrassFedSalsa so I can send you some love!

Anne is a certified Integrative Nutritional Health Coach and Interior Designer who is passionate about whole home and body detox, as well as personalized nutritional therapies tailored to the individual. She's the creator of several online programs and ebooks including Ditch Your Nutritionist, Autoimmune Accomplice, and Detox Your Life.

When she's not creating content for her wellness business and website Grass Fed Salsa, you can find her snuggled up to her daughter GG, her husband James, and their pups Cohen and Kiki.

Previous Post: « Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole (Whole30 & AIP)
Next Post: Chick Fil A Keto Cobb Salad »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bernadette

    April 16, 2021 at 10:00 pm

    Tried this recipe for the first time tonight and oh my goodness! It’s absolutely delicious! I’m a huge taco fan and I didn’t think this could quench the urge, but it went above and beyond expectations! If you get a chance, I highly recommend this recipe.

    Reply
  2. Ashley

    March 12, 2021 at 8:54 pm

    How is this AIP if it includes eggs?

    Reply
  3. Nichole

    October 18, 2020 at 9:31 am

    Does the coconut flour make them slightly sweet? I’ve noticed that in savory recipes, but it’s not my fav. Looking forward to making these regardless!

    Reply
  4. Cathy

    July 30, 2020 at 7:23 pm

    5 stars
    It really is easy and it’s the best shrimp I’ve ever made at home. Hard to believe it is allowed on while 30 is absolutely true!

    Reply
  5. Laura

    July 13, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    5 stars
    This was excellent. I did not toss the shrimp in the sauce, but rather had it for a dipping sauce and offered as an appetizer. It was SCRUMPTIOUS!!! I have this recipe in my go-to arsenal… and man, that sauce! WOW!

    Reply
    • Anne Marie

      July 13, 2020 at 4:08 pm

      Thank you so much for the rave review!

      Reply

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