Spicy Crispy Shrimp Salad (Printable)

Golden crispy shrimp with fresh greens, creamy avocado, and a zesty sriracha-lime dressing for a vibrant meal.

# What You Need:

→ Crispy Shrimp

01 - 1.1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
05 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
06 - ½ tsp garlic powder
07 - ½ tsp salt
08 - ¼ tsp black pepper
09 - ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
10 - Vegetable oil, for frying

→ Salad

11 - 1 large head romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
12 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
13 - 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
14 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - ½ cucumber, sliced
16 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish

→ Sriracha-Lime Dressing

17 - 3 tbsp mayonnaise
18 - 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
19 - 2 tbsp lime juice (about 1 lime)
20 - 1 tbsp sriracha sauce
21 - 1 tsp honey
22 - ½ tsp garlic powder
23 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Set up three shallow bowls: flour in one, beaten eggs in another, and panko combined with paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne in the third.
02 - Dredge each shrimp first in flour, dip in egg, then coat thoroughly with the seasoned panko mixture.
03 - Heat vegetable oil to ¾ inch depth in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry shrimp in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
04 - Whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, sriracha, honey, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
05 - Combine chopped lettuce, sliced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and cucumber in a large bowl or on individual plates. Arrange crispy shrimp over the salad.
06 - Drizzle the sriracha-lime dressing over the salad and garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The shrimp gets genuinely crispy, not just coated—there's a real textural contrast that makes you want another bite.
  • It comes together in 30 minutes flat, which means you can make something that tastes restaurant-quality without planning your whole day around it.
  • The sriracha-lime dressing walks that perfect line between creamy and bright, never tipping into one or the other.
02 -
  • If your shrimp is even slightly wet when it hits the oil, it will steam instead of fry—those paper towels aren't just a suggestion, they're your guarantee of crispiness.
  • Don't let the dressing sit on the lettuce for more than a few minutes or everything gets limp and sad.
  • The dressing gets thicker as it sits, so if you're making it ahead, thin it with a splash of lime juice right before serving.
03 -
  • Make the dressing first so the flavors have time to get to know each other while you're prepping everything else.
  • If avocado is your weak point, add it at the very last second so it stays whole and doesn't turn into guacamole.
  • Leftover shrimp is still good cold the next day, but the salad really sings when everything is assembled fresh.
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