Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe | The Recipe Critic

Crispy shrimp tossed in a creamy sweet sauce with candied walnuts. This honey walnut shrimp is so much better than takeout and one of the best shrimp recipes that you will make!

Calling all shrimp lovers! Here are more recipes you need to add to the dinner lineup: bang bang shrimp, dynamite shrimp, and Hawaiian-style garlic shrimp!

Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe

Let’s talk shrimp. Do you love it or hate it? My husband LOVES shrimp! He asks me to make it all the time. I wasn’t the biggest fan of it before, but I am a firm believer in giving things a second try. I’m so happy I did because shrimp is so delicious and versatile! Since honey walnut shrimp is such a popular dish, I decided to try recreating it at home with fresh, simple ingredients. No need to make a trip to Panda Express this time!

This is a great recipe to start with if you aren’t a huge shrimp fan. (It will make you a believer!) First of all, the walnuts get a crunchy candied outside. Then, you pan fry the shrimp until the outside gets nice and crispy. But this honey glaze you guys… it is out of this world! It’s sweet, savory, creamy, and coats each piece of crispy shrimp perfectly. With honey walnut shrimp this good, you won’t be able to load enough onto your plate.

Ingredients for Honey Walnut Shrimp

The sauce is a combination of honey, mayonnaise, and sweetened condensed milk. Yes, you heard that right. Sweetened condensed milk! Just a little of this added to the sauce brings all of the flavors together and adds such a delicious and sweet glaze to the shrimp. And the candied walnuts throughout, so amazing!

• Water: Adjusts the consistency of the honey glaze.
• Sugar: Sweetens everything, making the walnuts sugary and giving a sweet taste to the shrimp.
• Walnuts: Makes the dish crunchy and nutty when coated with sugar, which pairs nicely with the shrimp and sauce.
• Vegetable Oil: Used to fry the shrimp, making them crispy and golden on the outside while keeping them soft inside.
• Egg: Helps the cornstarch stick to the shrimp.
• Cornstarch: The main coating for the honey walnut shrimp.
• Shrimp: I used large deveined shrimp, but you can use any size you want. You may just need to adjust the cooking times a bit.
• Mayonnaise: So the sauce is creamy and rich. Regular mayo and Japanese mayo (also known as kewpie mayo) both work!
• Honey: Adds sweetness to the sauce, making it tasty and blending well with the walnuts.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: The secret ingredient! This adds a wonderful creaminess to the sauce.
• Sliced Green Onions: Adds a little fresh onion taste and makes the dish look nice.

Let’s Get Cooking!

Honey walnut shrimp is the perfect 30-minute meal to impress your family with. Gather up your ingredients and get ready to make the most crispy and delicious shrimp ever!

1. Candy Walnuts: In a small saucepan stir together the water and sugar. Then bring to a boil and add the walnuts. Boil for about 2 minutes then drain and place on a cookie sheet to dry.
2. Fry Shrimp: Heat the oil in a heavy deep skillet over medium high heat. In a small bowl whisk the egg. Then add the cornstarch to another small bowl. Dip the shrimp into the egg and then the cornstarch. Fry the shrimp for about 5 minutes or until they turn pink and the outside is golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel.
3. Sauce Mixture: In a medium bowl whisk together mayonnaise, honey, and sweetened condensed milk. Add the fried shrimp and toss to coat. Sprinkle with candied walnuts and green onions. Serve honey walnut shrimp fresh with fried rice or any of your other favorite Chinese takeout recipes!