• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Ebook!Subscribe to updates & get a recipe book!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

The Chunky Chef

Comforting Family Recipes

  • All Recipes
  • Learn to Cook
  • Shop
    • My eBooks
    • Favorite Products
  • About
  • Contact
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

    My Saved Recipe Box
  • Browse By:
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Healthy-ish
  • Ingredient
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Pork
    • Turkey
    • Seafood
    • Meatless
    • Pasta
  • Cuisine
    • Asian
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Hawaiian
    • Middle Eastern
    • Comfort Food
  • Method
    • One Pot
    • Crockpot
    • Instant Pot
    • Oven
    • Fried
    • Grilling/BBQ
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

Home / Main Dishes / Seafood

Southern-Style Fried Shrimp

4.86
/5
26 minutes
10 Comments
Jump to Recipe Print Pin
By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 03/01/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

These Southern-Style Fried Shrimp are so juicy and tender, with the crispiest crust. Deep fried in a buttermilk and flour/cornmeal batter, they're perfect with cocktail sauce as an appetizer, or a fun dinner! #shrimp #friedshrimp #popcornshrimp #seafood #southernfood
These Southern-Style Fried Shrimp are so juicy and tender, with the crispiest crust. Deep fried in a buttermilk and flour/cornmeal batter, they're perfect with cocktail sauce as an appetizer, or a fun dinner! #shrimp #friedshrimp #popcornshrimp #seafood #southernfood

These Southern-Style Fried Shrimp are so juicy and tender, with the crispiest crust. Deep fried in a buttermilk and flour/cornmeal batter, they’re perfect with cocktail sauce as an appetizer, or a fun dinner!

This is one of my Seafood recipes I know you’ll want to keep on hand!

holding a fried shrimp
Pin this recipe for later!

There’s something very fantastic and delicious about fried food. Obviously it’s an indulgence, and not something to enjoy every day, but as an occasional treat, it’s amazing.

That ultra crispy outer coating combined with the juicy tender shrimp inside is a match made in heaven!

I’ve titled this recipe Southern-style fried shrimp, because from what I can gather, it’s a more southern-style breading, but I make no claims to it’s authenticity as a Southern food.

This is just my take on a classic fried shrimp recipe 🙂

How to make Southern-style fried shrimp?

This is just an overview; the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card toward the bottom of this post.

step by step how to make fried shrimp
  1. Combine breading ingredients. I like to use a shallow bowl or square baking pan for this, so you can easily manipulate the shrimp.
  2. Add eggs and buttermilk. Again, a shallow bowl is best here.
  3. Heat oil. Use a heavy bottomed pot, so it heats evenly, and make sure to use a candy/frying thermometer so it doesn’t get too hot.
  4. Bread shrimp. One by one, add a shrimp to flour mixture, into the egg mixture, then back into the flour mixture again.
  5. Fry shrimp. Frying the shrimp in batches helps to not overcrowd the pan.
  6. Repeat with all remaining shrimp.

Helpful Tip!

Adding the cornmeal to the breading mixture adds crunch and the faintest sweet flavor that goes so well with the slightly sweet flavor of the shrimp.

pile of fried shrimp on white plate

Variations of this recipe

  • Seasonings â€“ feel free to play around with the seasonings in this recipe. I kept it pretty simple; with the flavors we enjoy, but we all have different tastes.
  • Oil â€“ for the best flavor, I prefer to fry in peanut oil. However, if you have allergies, vegetable, canola, or sunflower oil are great alternatives.
  • Deep fryer â€“ if you have a deep fryer, you can absolutely use it for this recipe. Just set the temperature to 350°F.
  • Other sizes of shrimp – you can absolutely use different sizes of shrimp for this recipe, just know that if the shrimp are larger, they’ll take a bit longer to fry. If they’re smaller, they’ll take a bit less time.
  • Hot sauce – try adding some hot sauce to the egg/buttermilk mixture to kick up the spice in this shrimp recipe.
  • Beer batter – for a twist on the breading, try using the beer batter from my beer battered fish!
These Southern-Style Fried Shrimp are so juicy and tender, with the crispiest crust.  Deep fried in a buttermilk and flour/cornmeal batter, they're perfect with cocktail sauce as an appetizer, or a fun dinner! #shrimp #friedshrimp #popcornshrimp #seafood #southernfood

FAQ’s

Can I bake these fried shrimp?

I’ve not tested this recipe in an oven, or air fryer, so I can’t speak to how the batter would hold up. For baking, I prefer a breadcrumb coating as opposed to a wet batter.

How can I keep fried shrimp crispy?

There’s nothing worse than something that’s supposed to be crispy, ending up soggy instead. Once the shrimp are fried, don’t add them to a paper towel or straight onto a plate. Those things will cause the shrimp to steam a bit, which makes the coating soggy. Adding the fried shrimp to a wire cooling rack is preferred, since it elevates the shrimp off the surface.

Making fried shrimp ahead of time

This recipe, like all fried foods, tastes best when made fresh.

However, the flour mixture can be whisked together ahead of time. This cuts down on some of the prep time involved.

fried shrimp to dip in cocktail sauce

Storage

Leftover fried shrimp should be stored in an airtight container and eaten within 3-4 days.

To reheat, bake in a preheated 350°F for 10-15 minutes. This should help it stay crispy during the reheating process.

Top Frying Tips!

These super handy tips will work for frying just about anything!

  1. Pat the meat very dry before adding it to the batter. The wet batter will slide right off a wet shrimp.
  2. Use a thermometer to ensure the oil is the right temperature. Guessing just isn’t the way to go here. If the oil is too hot, the shrimp will burn before they’re cooked through. If the oil is too low, the shrimp will take on too much oil and be oily and soggy. Around 350°F is the sweet spot.
  3. Drop the breaded food away from you when you add them to the oil. Hot oil is not fun to get on your bare skin – trust me!
  4. Don’t overcrowd the pot/pan. Every time you add anything to hot oil, it lowers the temperature a bit. So adding all your shrimp at once will drop the temperature too much, which leads to unevenly cooked, oily and soggy shrimp.
  5. Use a frying spider instead of tongs to handle fried food in the oil. Tongs have a tendency to rip off pieces of that delicious batter. Spiders are inexpensive and great for so many things.
  6. Drain the fried food of excess oil after frying by adding it to a wire cooling rack. This elevates the food and keeps the coating crisp.
  7. Serve with lemon wedges. That way you can add a little squeeze of lemon juice to the shrimp before eating – which brightens up the food and makes it taste even lighter.

Other Seafood Recipes:

piece of fried fish with bite taken of it
Beer Battered Fish
honey lime shrimp
Spicy Honey Lime Shrimp
honey garlic salmon
Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon
tuscan salmon
Creamy Tuscan Salmon
enameled cast iron frying pan

My Favorite Pan to Fry in!

I love using this enameled cast iron pan to fry in. It’s heavy bottomed, holds heat evenly, is shallow enough to be able to work in, yet deep enough so you don’t get splatters of oil all over your stove!

Get on amazon

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

holding a fried shrimp

Southern-Style Fried Shrimp

4.86 from 7 votes
Author: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 26 minutes
Calories: 276
Servings: 10 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
Print Rate Pin
These Southern-Style Fried Shrimp are so juicy and tender, with the crispiest crust.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. raw peeled and deveined shrimp with tails removed (medium size, roughly 40-50 count/lb)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp seafood seasoning (like Old Bay)
  • peanut oil for frying canola or vegetable oil are good substitutes

Dry Breading

  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal finely ground
  • 3 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 1/2 tsp seafood seasoning (like Old Bay)
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp ground cumin

Wet Breading

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Instructions

Prepare to fry

  • Add several inches of oil to a large heavy bottomed pot, like a dutch oven, and heat over MED heat until it reaches 350°F.
  • Line a rimmed baking sheet with wax paper, then set aside.  Line another rimmed baking sheet with paper towels and top with a wire cooling rack.  Set aside.
  • In a shallow mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder, salt, cornmeal, 2 1/2 tsp seafood seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cumin and whisk together.
  • In another shallow mixing bowl, add eggs and whisk, then whisk in buttermilk.

Bread Shrimp

  • Pat shrimp dry and season with 1/2 tsp seafood seasoning and black pepper and set aside.
  • Bread shrimp, one at a time, by adding to the flour mixture, then turning to coat all sides.
  • Next, add the shrimp to the egg/buttermilk mixture, turning to coat all sides and letting the excess drip off.
  • Next add the shrimp back to the flour mixture, turning and patting to thoroughly coat all sides.
  • Finally, add the breaded shrimp to the wax paper lined baking sheet.  Repeat with all remaining shrimp.

Fry Shrimp

  • Fry the shrimp in batches so as to not overcrowd the pot, for about 2-3 minutes, until golden brown.  Cooking time may change slightly depending on the size of the shrimp.  Adjust heat periodically, as needed, to maintain the 350°F frying temperature.
  • Remove shrimp using a frying spider or slotted spoon and transfer to the baking sheet topped with a cooling rack.
  • Repeat with remaining batches of shrimp, until all are fried. Serve immediately, with cocktail sauce and/or remoulade sauce.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

  1. Calorie count doesn’t include the oil, as that amount will vary from individual to individual.
  2. Prep time does not include the time for the oil to come up to temperature, as this will vary from individual to individual.
  3. Using a candy or frying thermometer (or even an instant read one) is highly recommended to ensure proper oil temperature.
  4. When adding shrimp to hot oil, gently lower the shrimp until the bottom end is in the oil a bit, then gently lay it down in the oil, moving your hand away from you.  This causes the shrimp to drop away from you as well, and saving you from any oil splashes that could potentially happen.
  5. Avoid overcrowding the pan when frying.  Overcrowding causes the oil’s temperature to drop too low, which means the shrimp will end up soggy, oily, and not cook evenly.
  6. To remove shrimp from the hot oil, I highly recommend a spider, but a slotted spoon will do.

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did You Make This?Tag @the_chunky_chef on Instagram and hashtag it #thechunkychef so I can see what you made!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Save for Later Saved!

You May Also Like...

  • Crispy and juicy fried popcorn shrimp, cooked in just 10 minutes in the air fryer!  Uses so much less oil than deep frying, but has all the amazing crunch you expect from fried shrimp! #shrimp #popcornshrimp #fried #airfryer #airfried #seafood #kidfriendly #dinner #lunch
    Air Fryer Fried Shrimp
  • A fast and easy shrimp fried rice recipe that tastes better than Chinese takeout, and you can get on the table in 20 minutes! Perfect for a weeknight meal!
    Easy 20 Minute Shrimp Fried Rice
  • Beer Battered Fried Green Beans | The perfect appetizer or snack food, these crispy green bean "fries" are tender, crispy, yet surprisingly light thanks to the beer batter!  Dipped in creamy ranch or wasabi mayo, they're a crowd-pleaser! | The Chunky Chef | #partyfood #appetizer #greenbeans #friedgreenbeans #greenbeanfries #beerbattered
    Beer Battered Fried Green Beans
  • This Fried Ravioli recipe is made with frozen ravioli (meat, cheese, or veggie) that are coated in Italian panko breadcrumbs and fried until perfectly crispy and golden brown. Dust them with Parmesan cheese and serve alongside some marinara sauce and watch them disappear! Perfect as an appetizer, game day food, or a fun family dinner!
    Crispy Fried Ravioli
Previous Post
Next Post

Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

Learn More

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question, comment, or review below.

Recipe Rating




  1. Boss5 says

    Posted on 5/21 at 7:39 am

    Definitely add that hot sauce, could have used the kick.

    Reply
  2. Domanique says

    Posted on 6/14 at 6:53 pm

    Delicious! I just made it and my husband says it’s a hit! He’s hard to please with food lol

    Reply
  3. Rakhinationwide says

    Posted on 3/16 at 1:37 am

    Thank you so much for the wonderful post.

    Reply
  4. Cathy says

    Posted on 3/8 at 10:07 am

    The crispy breading is perfection!

    Reply
  5. Beth says

    Posted on 3/3 at 11:18 pm

    How yummy! My daughter is going to love this! We love shrimp anything! So excited to make these!

    Reply
  6. Beti | easyweeknightrecipes says

    Posted on 3/3 at 11:43 am

    These Southern Style Fried Shrimp looks incredible! I bet it tastes amazing!!

    Reply
  7. katerina @ diethood.com says

    Posted on 3/3 at 11:42 am

    Oh my, this looks SO GOOD!! I can’t wait to try it! YUM!

    Reply
  8. Vikki says

    Posted on 3/3 at 12:53 am

    Looks delicious! Can’t wait to make this easy recipe

    Reply
  9. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    Posted on 3/2 at 11:51 pm

    These Southern-Style Fried Shrimp are appetizing! Gonna try this recipe for sure!

    Reply
  10. Anthony Montoya says

    Posted on 3/2 at 6:49 am

    Looks delicious, I’m going to use your recipe this weekend

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

welcome!

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

New! Save Recipes To Your Own Account!

Free eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

download now!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

Game Day Recipes!

These crowd-pleasing tender meatballs are smothered in a super flavorful honey garlic bbq sauce.  Perfect for parties, this crockpot meatball recipe couldn't be more simple to make! #meatballs #crockpot #slowcooker #honeygarlic #bbq #appetizer #party #honey #garlic #easyrecipe

Honey Garlic Crockpot Meatballs

2 hours 5 minutes

Smooth and silky queso dip, made using NO velveeta!  Packed with flavor, yet so easy to make, and party ready in just 20 minutes! #queso #dip #cheese #mexican #appetizer #party #cincodemayo #easyrecipe

Queso Dip Recipe

20 minutes

Creamy, cheesy, and oh so addicting, this bacon cheeseburger dip is just like your favorite gooey cheeseburger... but in a party-ready dip form! #bacon #gameday #cheesy #cheeseburger #party #appetizer #dip #easyrecipe

Creamy Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

32 minutes

Insanely tasty chicken wing recipe, dry rubbed, then hickory smoked to perfection.  And don't forget the homemade bourbon bbq sauce! #chickenwings #wingrecipe #smoked #smoker #smokedchickenwings #bourbon #bbq #crispy

Bourbon BBQ Smoked Chicken Wings

3 hours

This easy game day appetizer combines classic buffalo wing flavors with cool creaminess in an easy dip made in the crockpot. Perfect for any party, serve it up with chips or celery sticks and watch everyone go back for seconds!

Buffalo Chicken Dip (Crockpot Recipe)

2 hours 10 minutes

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels | These pinwheels are filled with a creamy chicken taco filling, which is easily customizable, and rolled up to make a perfect appetizer or party food! | http://thechunkychef.com

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels

15 minutes

More Holiday Recipes >

Who doesn’t love free stuff?

Who doesn't love free stuff? Get an ad-free ebook of my most popular recipes, plus be the FIRST to know about new things coming to the site!

Looking for something?

As Seen On…

Stay Connected

subscribe to get new posts via email:

Quick & Easy

Dinner Favorites

Hearty and positively soul-warming, this beef barley soup simmers all day in the slow cooker, which makes for an incredibly rich soup recipe! #beefbarley #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #comfortfood #barley #beefsoup #easyrecipe #dinner
M

Crockpot Beef Barley Soup

white bowl of chicken and dumplings
T

Instant Pot Chicken & Dumplings

HONEY GARLIC SALMON - Succulent and tender salmon filets cooked in a mouthwatering simple honey garlic sauce, then broiled until sticky and caramelized.  Made with simple ingredients, in one pan, and in just 20 minutes! #salmon #honeygarlic #onepan #easyrecipe #dinner #seafood #fish
W

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

Light and filling, this Italian Wedding Soup is perfectly delicious comfort food, all year round.  Made in one pan, and ready in 30 minutes, this recipe is great for a weeknight meal! #soup #souprecipe #Italianweddingsoup #onepot #30minutemeal #weeknight #dinner #easyrecipe #homemaderecipe
R

Italian Wedding Soup

This Honey Garlic Chicken is one incredible weeknight dinner idea. Juicy chicken coated and cooked with a glorious sauce made with soy, hoisin, garlic, honey and more! Toss it all in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you! #dinner #chicken #asian #honey #garlic #honeygarlic #easyrecipe #weeknight #slowcooker #crockpot
F

Honey Garlic Chicken

S

Swedish Meatballs

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
free e-book!

Download MY Free Recipe eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

get my copy!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

As Featured On:

Back to Top

Recipes

Dinners

Appetizers

Desserts

Slow Cooker

Learn to Cook

Start Here

Tips & Tricks

e-Cookbook

Easy Recipes

  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy
  • Contact
© 2023 The Chunky Chef
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top