This 30-Minute Sweet Chili Shrimp recipe from Julia’s Album is a quick, flavorful dish that delivers a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory. Featuring a homemade sticky chili sauce with Sriracha, honey, soy sauce, and fresh ginger, it transforms shrimp into a bold and satisfying main course. Ideal for busy weeknights, this vibrant dish pairs beautifully with rice, noodles, or even a crunchy Asian salad.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

1 lb large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tbsp olive oil (or other cooking oil)

For the Sweet Chili Sauce:

3 tbsp Sriracha sauce
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (slurry)

Directions

Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix Sriracha, honey, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, and garlic. Set aside.
Cook Shrimp: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook for 1–2 minutes per side until just pink. Remove shrimp and set aside.
Make the Sauce: In the same pan, add the sauce mixture. Bring to a simmer, then stir in the cornstarch slurry. Simmer until thickened (about 2 minutes).
Combine: Return shrimp to the pan and toss to coat in the sauce. Cook for another 1–2 minutes until fully heated and coated.
Serve: Serve immediately over rice, noodles, or your favorite side. Garnish with green onions or sesame seeds if desired.

Nutrients (per serving, approx.)

Calories: ~290
Protein: ~26g
Fat: ~8g
Carbohydrates: ~24g
Sugar: ~17g
Sodium: ~750mg

The Inspiration Behind the Dish

This recipe combines the sweet-spicy tang of classic Asian chili sauces with the clean, briny richness of shrimp. Inspired by Thai and Chinese sweet chili dishes, it takes a simplified, homemade approach—no bottled sauces required. With everyday pantry ingredients like Sriracha, soy sauce, and honey, you get a sticky glaze that rivals your favorite takeout in both flavor and texture.

Sweet chili shrimp has gained popularity in modern Asian fusion cooking thanks to its fast preparation, photogenic appeal, and crowd-pleasing flavor profile. This version takes all the best elements of that trend and distills them into a weeknight-friendly, 30-minute dish.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This recipe excels in both taste and convenience. The shrimp cook quickly—just a couple minutes per side—while the sauce thickens in under five. You don’t need any special equipment, and the entire recipe is done in one pan, which means less cleanup. Despite its simplicity, the flavor is anything but basic: sweet from honey, spicy from Sriracha, umami-rich from soy sauce, and aromatic from fresh ginger and garlic.

The sauce is thick and glossy, clinging to every curl of shrimp without being overly heavy. And because the base is customizable, you can dial the heat up or down to match your taste. It’s equally ideal for impressing guests or satisfying your own craving for bold, takeout-style food at home.

A Flavor Profile That Pops

The balance of sweet, spicy, tangy, and savory makes this dish addictive:

Sweetness comes from honey, which also adds body to the sauce
Spiciness is delivered by Sriracha, a chili-garlic hot sauce with depth
Umami comes from soy sauce, grounding the dish with savory saltiness
Acidity from rice vinegar cuts through the richness for brightness
Aromatics like fresh ginger and garlic give the sauce its soul

The cornstarch slurry thickens everything to a sticky, luscious consistency that coats the shrimp perfectly without making it gloopy.

Healthy and Satisfying

Shrimp is one of the leanest, fastest-cooking proteins available—low in fat, high in protein, and full of nutrients like selenium, B12, and iodine. This dish is a great example of how you can eat well without sacrificing flavor. While the sauce does contain sugar from the honey, it’s far less than what you’d find in many restaurant or store-bought sauces. You can also reduce the honey or use a sugar-free alternative to lower the carb content without significantly changing the dish’s flavor.

Perfect Pairings for Sweet Chili Shrimp

This shrimp is super versatile and pairs well with a variety of sides and bases. Some delicious options include:

Jasmine or Basmati Rice: The sauce soaks in beautifully
Rice Noodles or Lo Mein: For a more indulgent, slurpable meal
Quinoa or Cauliflower Rice: For a lighter, grain-free option
Asian Slaw or Cucumber Salad: Adds crunch and freshness
Lettuce Cups or Wraps: For a fun, low-carb twist

A sprinkle of green onions or sesame seeds adds extra flavor and texture, while lime wedges bring a fresh finish.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t overcook the shrimp—this is the most important tip. Shrimp only needs about 1–2 minutes per side, depending on size. Overcooking makes them rubbery instead of juicy and tender.

Be sure to dry the shrimp thoroughly before cooking; excess moisture can cause them to steam rather than sear. Also, don’t skip the cornstarch slurry—it gives the sauce its clingy, glossy texture. Without it, the sauce will remain watery and won’t adhere properly to the shrimp.

Pro Tips for Success

Use large or jumbo shrimp (16–20 count or U-15) for the best texture and visual appeal. If using frozen shrimp, thaw completely and pat dry. Sauté the aromatics (garlic and ginger) briefly before adding the sauce ingredients if you want a deeper, roasted flavor.

To meal prep, cook the sauce and shrimp separately and combine right before serving to maintain the shrimp’s texture. You can also double the sauce and store it in the fridge for use with other proteins or stir-fry dishes.

Variations and Customizations

More heat: Add red chili flakes or a splash of chili oil
Less heat: Use only 1 tablespoon of Sriracha or substitute with sweet chili sauce
Extra veggies: Add bell peppers, snap peas, or shredded carrots during the sauté
Alternative proteins: Use tofu, tempeh, chicken breast, or even salmon for a twist
Vegan version: Swap shrimp for crispy tofu and use tamari instead of fish sauce if needed

The beauty of this dish lies in its flexibility—it’s a solid base recipe that can adapt to your dietary preferences or pantry availability.

Ingredient Spotlight: Sriracha

Sriracha is the hero of this recipe. This iconic Thai-style chili sauce is known for its garlicky, slightly sweet heat. Unlike hot sauces that only bring fire, Sriracha contributes depth and balance, making it an ideal base for glazes, dips, and marinades. It also thickens slightly when cooked, adding to the luscious texture of the sauce.

If you don’t have Sriracha, other chili pastes like sambal oelek or Korean gochujang can substitute—but be mindful of their different flavor and spice levels.

Conclusion

This 30-Minute Sweet Chili Shrimp recipe is a flavor bomb in every sense—quick to prepare, incredibly satisfying, and endlessly versatile. Whether you’re looking for a fast weeknight fix or a bold dish for entertaining, this recipe delivers. Sweet, spicy, and saucy with just the right amount of kick, it’s a celebration of bold flavor in a simple package. One bite, and it just might become a regular on your dinner table.