This 20-Minute Firecracker Shrimp features succulent shrimp smothered in a sweet and spicy firecracker sauce. Serve it over rice for a quick, 20-minute weeknight dinner! This restaurant-quality meal is even better than takeout!
If you love sweet and spicy dishes, then try my Asian cucumber salad or the firecracker salmon recipe next!
👉 This spicy firecracker shrimp recipe has been a family favorite and was first shared in 2022. It was updated with new photos and a short video in April 2025.
What is firecracker shrimp? It’s a bold and spicy dish with shrimp coated in a sweet and fiery sauce that packs a punch. Think of it as shrimp stir-fry taken to the next level, with the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors—absolutely lip-smacking good!
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Why Our Recipe
- Absolutely irresistible fire crackers sauce!
- Quick and easy weeknight dinner ready in 20 minutes.
- One of the best stir fry recipes you'll make!
- Adjust the spiciness based on your tolerance.
- Perfect for meal prep for the week.
Ingredients you'll need
- Shrimp: For this 20-minute firecracker shrimp recipe, you'll need one pound of shrimp. Be sure to pat the shrimp dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, allowing them to crisp up perfectly in the pan.
- Garlic: Mince 2 cloves of garlic for the recipe. If you're short on time, simply skip the fresh garlic and add one teaspoon of garlic powder to the firecracker sauce instead. Check out more garlic recipes!
- Sriracha sauce: It adds thickness and an addictive spicy flavor as in the honey sriracha chicken recipe.
- Brown sugar: Use light or golden brown sugar for the best flavor. Dark brown sugar contains too much molasses, which can alter the taste of the firecracker sauce. If you only have dark brown sugar, combine it with some white sugar to balance the flavor.
- Rice vinegar: To balance the sweet and spicy flavors!
- Red pepper flakes: Add as much as you like, depending on your heat tolerance. Feel free to skip it entirely if you prefer a milder flavor!
- Soy sauce: Just 2 teaspoons of soy sauce to balance the sweet and spicy flavors.
- Corn starch: Helps to thicken the firecracker sauce!
Is firecracker shrimp spicy?
Yes, firecracker shrimp is typically bold and spicy, known for its sweet, tangy, and fiery sauce. Made with sriracha sauce, red pepper flakes, soy sauce, and rice vinegar, it delivers a bold, spicy kick with a tangy twist. However, you can easily adjust the spice level. If you prefer less heat, be sure to reduce the amount of brown sugar as well, or it may turn out too sweet!
Recipe tips
- Use a large pan to ensure the shrimp fit in a single layer. Overcrowding will steam them and may cause overcooking. If using a smaller pan, cook in batches.
- Use light or golden brown sugar and not dark brown.
- Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels to ensure a crispy texture.
- Adjust the heat to your spice tolerance by reducing sriracha and skipping red pepper flakes. If you do, also cut back on the brown sugar to avoid making it too sweet.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave when ready to enjoy.
👩🍳 Meal prep for the week: I like to prepare firecracker shrimp and cooked rice in meal prep containers, so we have ready-to-eat dinners stored in the fridge.
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Serving suggestion
This sweet and spicy firecracker shrimp makes a delicious 20 minute dinner, perfect with just cooked rice. I love pairing it with steamed broccoli for a quick and easy weeknight meal.
Looking for more spicy shrimp dishes? Check out the spicy shrimp sandwich or the buffalo shrimp tacos recipe.
More 20-minute dinner ideas
20-Minute Firecracker Shrimp
Ingredients
- ¾ cup light brown sugar not packed
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 large garlic cloves minced
- 3 scallions chopped
Instructions
- Make firecracker sauce by mixing brown sugar, sriracha, rice vinegar, soy sauce and red pepper flakes together until sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
- Pat dry shrimp well with paper towels and toss with cornstarch.
- Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet, over medium-high heat.
- Arrange the shrimp in a single layer and cook for about 2 minutes, until golden. Flip and cook for another minute, until nearly cooked through. Transfer the shrimp to a plate.👉 If using a small pan, cook in two batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Reduce the heat to medium, sauté the garlic for a few seconds, then pour in the sauce. Bring to a boil and cook until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Stir in the cooked shrimp, along with any accumulated juices and scallions. Top with toasted sesame seeds and serve over cooked white rice.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
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