This crispy sesame shrimp recipe is coated in a delicious sweet and savory Asian-style sauce. Serve it over rice for the perfect easy weeknight meal !

You can never go wrong with Asian food recipes for dinner, whether it’s bang bang shrimp , chicken lettuce wraps , teriyaki meatballs or this simple yet satisfying sesame shrimp.

A pan of crispy sesame shrimp tossed in an Asian style sauce. - 1

I am always looking for new ways to incorporate seafood into my family’s diet. My kids love popcorn shrimp, so I took their favorite shrimp and tossed them in an Asian sauce to create sesame shrimp!

  • Sesame Shrimp Ingredients
  • How Do You Make Sesame Shrimp?
  • Tips For The Perfect Shrimp
  • Quick Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Flavor Variations
  • More Great Shrimp Recipes
  • Love This Recipe?
  • Sesame Shrimp Recipe

Sesame Shrimp Ingredients

To make this recipe, you will need frozen breaded shrimp, vegetable oil, garlic, honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, corn starch, sesame seeds and green onions.

How Do You Make Sesame Shrimp?

Start by preheating your oven and coating a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place your favorite breaded frozen shrimp on the sheet pan, and cook until the shrimp are crispy and golden brown. While the shrimp cook, prepare the sesame sauce. Place the honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar and corn starch in a bowl and whisk to combine. Heat the oil in a small pan, then add the garlic. Pour the honey sauce mixture into the pan, then simmer until the sauce is thick.

When the shrimp come out of the oven, toss them with the sauce, then add sesame seeds and green onions. Serve immediately and enjoy!

A pan of cooked popcorn shrimp. - 2

Tips For The Perfect Shrimp

  • I use frozen breaded shrimp to cut down on prep time. You can use popcorn shrimp or butterfly shrimp, whatever you prefer! It’s also fine to make your own popcorn shrimp or fried shrimp if you want everything to be homemade.
  • It’s best to use low sodium soy sauce , as prepared fried shrimp tend to have salt added already.
  • Serve your sesame shrimp immediately , as the crispy coating can get soft when it absorbs the sauce.
  • I like to offer my shrimp with a side of sushi rice , along with Asian cucumber salad for a complete meal .
  • The sauce can be prepared up to 2 days in advance . Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and reheat it before use.

Quick Tip

Toast your sesame seeds for even more flavor!

A pan of popcorn shrimp in an Asian sesame sauce. - 3

Sesame shrimp contains crispy shrimp in a sauce of honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic and sesame oil. This recipe may also contain shrimp that are not crispy, or other ingredients in the sauce including rice vinegar, ketchup and corn starch.

Sesame oil and toasted sesame oil do not taste the same. Regular sesame oil has a light, neutral flavor. Toasted sesame oil has a much stronger sesame flavor, and is commonly used in Asian style dishes for that characteristic sesame flavor.

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A bowl of Asian style crispy sesame shrimp over rice. - 4

Flavor Variations

This recipe is great as written, but you can easily change some of the ingredients to customize the flavor to your tastes.

  • Protein: Feel free to use sauteed shrimp instead of breaded shrimp. This recipe also works well with cooked cubed chicken, or frozen popcorn chicken.
  • Sauce: Stir in some extra flavor with minced fresh ginger or sriracha.
  • Add-Ins: Feel free to add some cooked vegetables to your shrimp and sauce. Some great options include broccoli, carrots, snap peas, cabbage or mushrooms.

Sesame shrimp is a must-have for those busy nights when you’re craving take out flavor!

More Great Shrimp Recipes

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This recipe for shrimp tempura roll is crispy shrimp with avocado and cucumber, all wrapped up in seasoned rice. Making sushi at home is actually quite fun and easy to do! - 7

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This sweet and sour shrimp recipe is made with crispy shrimp, colorful veggies and pineapple, all tossed in a homemade sweet and sour sauce. The perfect quick and easy summer dinner that's perfect for entertaining! - 8

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This recipe for shrimp pesto pasta is spaghetti tossed in a flavorful pesto sauce, then topped with sauteed shrimp and tomatoes. A fresh and easy dinner that's quick to make and packed with flavor! - 9

Shrimp Pesto Pasta

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Ingredients1x2x3x

  • ▢ 16 ounces frozen breaded shrimp
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • ▢ ¼ cup honey
  • ▢ ¼ cup soy sauce low sodium
  • ▢ 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • ▢ 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • ▢ 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • ▢ 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • ▢ 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • ▢ 2 tablespoons green onions sliced
  • ▢ cooking spray

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven and coat a sheet pan with cooking spray. Place the breaded shrimp on the pan. Bake the popcorn shrimp according to package directions.
  • While the shrimp are in the oven, make the sauce.
  • Place the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil and cornstarch in a bowl.
  • Heat the oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Pour in the honey mixture and bring to a simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until just thickened.
  • Remove the shrimp from the oven. Drizzle the sauce over the shrimp and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle the sesame seeds and green onions on top of the shrimp and serve.

Notes

  1. I use frozen breaded shrimp for convenience. You can also make your own popcorn shrimp or fried shrimp if you prefer everything to be homemade.
  2. This recipe is best when served immediately, as the crispy coating on the shrimp will start to soften as it sits in the sauce.

Nutrition

This crispy sesame shrimp is coated in a delicious Asian-style sauce. - 10 A pan of crispy sesame shrimp tossed in an Asian style sauce. - 11

Sesame Shrimp

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces frozen breaded shrimp
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ cup soy sauce low sodium
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons green onions sliced
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven and coat a sheet pan with cooking spray. Place the breaded shrimp on the pan. Bake the popcorn shrimp according to package directions.
  • While the shrimp are in the oven, make the sauce.
  • Place the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil and cornstarch in a bowl.
  • Heat the oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Pour in the honey mixture and bring to a simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until just thickened.
  • Remove the shrimp from the oven. Drizzle the sauce over the shrimp and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle the sesame seeds and green onions on top of the shrimp and serve.

Notes

  1. I use frozen breaded shrimp for convenience. You can also make your own popcorn shrimp or fried shrimp if you prefer everything to be homemade.
  2. This recipe is best when served immediately, as the crispy coating on the shrimp will start to soften as it sits in the sauce.

Nutrition