Fried Shrimp

Southern Fried Shrimp is crunchy and delicious and so easy to make! Try this restaurant favorite that you can make at home in just minutes!

This crispy shrimp batter is made with a buttermilk and Old Bay seasoned flour for a flavorful and delicious coating for the best fried shrimp recipe you’ve ever tried. We prefer the texture using flour over a cornmeal or panko crust. It’s a favorite dinner or easy appetizer for any gathering.

Why You Will Love this Fried Shrimp Recipe

• The crispy coating takes the shrimp to the next level of delicious. 
• A quick and easy recipe for any night of the week or a great addition to fish fries. 
• Classic fried shrimp makes a great bite-sized appetizer and can be made with frozen or fresh shrimp.

Ingredients Needed for Fried Shrimp

• Jumbo Shrimp – we love Gulf shrimp if we can find it. Argentina red shrimp is also a great option.
• Buttermilk – substitute whole milk with 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar if you don’t have buttermilk on hand.
• All Purpose Flour
•  Old Bay Seasoning – A mix of seasonings that’s perfect for seafood it includes spices like celery salt, paprika, black pepper and cayenne pepper.
• Oil for frying

How to Make Southern Fried Shrimp

1. Peel and devein shrimp.
2. Pour buttermilk into a shallow bowl.
3. Mix flour and Old Bay Seasoning in a gallon zip top baggie or a bowl.
4. Dip shrimp in buttermilk and shake off excess.
5. Drop 4 or 5 shrimp into seasoned flour. Zip bag and shake to coat shrimp, or dredge through flour coating all sides.
6. Shake off additional flour and place battered shrimp on a clean baking sheet.
7. Heat oil into a dutch oven or heavy bottom pan over high heat until it reaches 350°.
8. Fry shrimp, a few at a time for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown and reaches at least 145° internal temperature.
9. Use a spider strainer or slotted spoon to remove shrimp from hot oil.

10. Drain on paper towels lining a wire rack placed over a baking sheet.

Can You Air Fry Shrimp?

Spray battered shrimp lightly with oil and air fry at 400° for 3-4 minutes or until cooked through and crispy.

What Goes with Crispy Fried Shrimp?

The best sides for shrimp are homemade coleslaw, hush puppies or onion strings.

If you are looking for the best shrimp batter for crispy fried shrimp, give this recipe a try. It is a tried and true favorite.

Have you tried this Fried Shrimp Recipe? Leave a comment and a star rating below to let us know how it turned out.

Print Recipe

4.63 from 148 votes

Southern Fried Shrimp

Easy Southern Fried Shrimp is a delicious dinner or appetizer for any occasion.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: crispy fried shrimp, fried shrimp batter, how to fry shrimp

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 525kcal

Author: Milisa

Ingredients

• 1 pound jumbo shrimp 21/25 count peeled and deveined
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 ½ tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning
• 4 cups vegetable oil for frying or peanut oil
• Cocktail Sauce for Serving
• Tartar Sauce for serving

Instructions

• Pour buttermilk in a bowl.
• Mix flour and Old Bay Seasoning together in a shallow dish.
• Dip shrimp in buttermilk and dredge in flour mixture. Shake off excess flour and place on a lined baking sheet.
• Place oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and heat to 350°.
• Fry shrimp a few at a time, 1-2 minutes or until golden brown. Use a digital thermometer to test shrimp is at least 145° internal temperature.
• Remove to a paper towel lined wire rack over a baking sheet to drain.
• Serve with cocktail sauce or white barbecue sauce for dipping.

Video

Notes

Air Fryer: Spray battered shrimp lightly with oil and air fry at 400° for 3-4 minutes or until cooked through and crispy.

Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 2 days.

To reheat shrimp, place on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in a 375° oven for about 5- 8 minutes until heated through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 525kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 242mg | Sodium: 1566mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g

Since we built our outdoor kitchen off of the pool area, we have been doing most of our deep frying outside. Best idea ever! All of the mess and the smell of the grease from frying is outside instead of in my kitchen.

• Peanut Oil is the best. It has a high smoke point and provides great flavor for deep frying.
• Vegetable Oil or canola oil also works well. It is less expensive and also has a good smoke point for deep frying. Lately we’ve been using beef tallow for frying and it adds delicious flavor.

More Shrimp Recipes to Try

• Shrimp is one of our favorite meals and this Easy Barbecue Grilled Shrimp is always a hit and this Jambalaya never fails to please.
• We love make this grilled pineapple shrimp has become one of our favorites and Shrimp and Grits is on the must-try list.
• Seafood Salad is the 10 minute recipe you will wish you had tried sooner!