Description
This Buffalo Shrimp recipe offers a spicy, tangy twist on classic buffalo flavors with perfectly cooked shrimp coated in a buttery, smoky hot sauce. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s a quick and delicious appetizer or main dish served best with creamy blue cheese or ranch dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp Mixture
- 1 pound shrimp (peeled and deveined with tails on, about 16 per pound)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
Buffalo Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup Frank’s Hot Sauce
Optional
- Blue Cheese or Ranch dressing, for serving
Instructions
- Season the shrimp: In a large bowl, combine the shrimp with olive oil, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper. Toss everything together to ensure the shrimp are evenly coated with the seasoning. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld briefly.
- Prepare the buffalo sauce: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add Frank’s Hot Sauce and whisk continuously until the mixture is smooth and fully combined. Remove from heat and keep warm.
- Cook the shrimp: Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the seasoned shrimp to the pan in a single layer. Cook for about 3 minutes on one side until pink and slightly firm, then flip and cook for an additional 3 minutes on the other side.
- Toss shrimp with sauce: Pour the prepared buffalo sauce over the cooked shrimp in the pan. Toss thoroughly to coat each shrimp evenly with the spicy sauce. Remove from heat.
- Serve: Plate the buffalo shrimp and serve immediately with blue cheese or ranch dressing on the side for dipping, enhancing the rich and spicy flavors.
Notes
- Keep the shrimp tails on for easier handling and a prettier presentation.
- You can adjust the heat level by increasing or decreasing the amount of Frank’s Hot Sauce.
- Use fresh shrimp for best texture and flavor; thaw thawed shrimp completely before cooking.
- If you prefer less sauce, reserve some buffalo sauce for drizzling rather than tossing all shrimp in it.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with celery sticks or a light green salad for a balanced meal.
