Craving that sweet, creamy, crunchy Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp? This air fryer version brings all that flavor without the deep frying — and it’s so easy to make at home! Juicy shrimp, a sticky honey-mayo glaze, and crunchy candied walnuts come together in one seriously satisfying dish.
As someone who watches WW points and loves comfort food with a lighter twist, I’ve tested this recipe with both traditional and lightened-up options. Whether you're making it for a takeout-fakeout night or a weekend treat, this one is a guaranteed favorite!
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📌 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy shrimp without the oil – The air fryer gives you that golden texture without deep frying.
- Shrimp are high in protein and take no time at all to defrost. I just add them to a bowl with water and they are ready in like 30 minutes.
- Sweet, tangy, creamy sauce – Just like the Panda Express version, but you can lighten it up.
- Easily customizable – Make it WW-friendly or go all-in with the original sauce.
- Better than takeout – Fresher, faster, and more affordable!
Ingredients Needed for Honey Walnut Shrimp
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 egg white (helps the coating stick)
- 1–2 tablespoon cornstarch (for crispiness)
- Cooking spray or a light mist of oil
- ¼ cup mayo (light mayo works great too)
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
WW-friendly swap: use Greek yogurt with a tiny splash of vanilla - ½ cup raw walnuts
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon water
🔄 Substitution Tips
- Dairy-free? Use dairy-free mayo and skip the condensed milk (use maple syrup or vegan yogurt).
- Low sugar? Reduce honey and replace sugar in the walnut glaze with a sugar-free alternative.
- No mayo? Use Greek yogurt or light sour cream for a tangier sauce.
How to Make Honey Walnut Shrimp in the Air Fryer
In a small pan over medium heat, combine 2 tablespoon sugar and 2 tablespoon water. Stir until bubbling. Add walnuts and stir until coated and sticky (about 3–5 minutes). Remove and cool on parchment paper.
Toss peeled shrimp in the egg white, then lightly coat with cornstarch. Spray the air fryer basket with oil and place shrimp in a single layer.
Cook at 400°F for 8–10 minutes, flipping or shaking halfway through. Shrimp should be golden and crispy.
In a small bowl, mix together mayo, honey, and sweetened condensed milk (or your Greek yogurt swap). Stir until smooth.
In a large bowl, toss the crispy shrimp in the honey sauce until coated. Top with candied walnuts and serve immediately!
Serving Suggestions
- Serve over steamed jasmine rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for a lighter option.
- Pair with Air Fryer Frozen Asparagus, green beans, or a simple Viral Cucumber and Sweet Pepper Salad.
- Garnish with green onions or sesame seeds for extra flair.
👩🍳 Pro Tips
- Don’t skip the egg white + cornstarch — it gives the shrimp that classic crispy coating.
- Cook in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding the air fryer.
- If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a splash of water or vinegar.
Recipe FAQS
Yes, just thaw and pat dry before coating and air frying.
You can prep the sauce and walnuts in advance, but the shrimp is best served fresh to keep it crispy.
It can be! Use light mayo, Greek yogurt instead of condensed milk, and limit candied walnuts. It’s easy to bring the points down with smart swaps.
Other Recipes to Try
25 Slow Cooker Recipes for Dinner- Maple Bacon Corn Bread Muffins
- Knock you Naked Brownies
- Baked Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
- Sour Cream Noodle Bake
If you’ve tried this Air Fryer Honey Walnut Shrimp or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out. Snap a picture and upload it to Pinterest.
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Air Fryer Honey Walnut Shrimp
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Easy
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Description
This honey walnut shrimp recipe just got a makeover for the air fryer. If you’ve never had honey walnut shrimp before it’s a crispy deep fried shrimp tossed in a sweet honey sauce and it gets served with candied walnuts
Ingredients
-
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
-
- 1 egg white (helps the coating stick)
-
- 1–2 tablespoon cornstarch (for crispiness)
-
- Cooking spray or a light mist of oil
-
- ¼ cup mayo (light mayo works great too)
-
- 2 tbsp honey
-
- 1 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
WW-friendly swap: use Greek yogurt with a tiny splash of vanilla
- 1 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
-
- ½ cup raw walnuts
-
- 2 tbsp sugar
-
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
In a small pan over medium heat, combine 2 tablespoon sugar and 2 tablespoon water. Stir until bubbling. Add walnuts and stir until coated and sticky (about 3–5 minutes). Remove and cool on parchment paper.
Toss peeled shrimp in the egg white, then lightly coat with cornstarch. Spray the air fryer basket with oil and place shrimp in a single layer.
Cook at 400°F for 8–10 minutes, flipping or shaking halfway through. Shrimp should be golden and crispy.
In a small bowl, mix together mayo, honey, and sweetened condensed milk (or your Greek yogurt swap). Stir until smooth.
In a large bowl, toss the crispy shrimp in the honey sauce until coated. Top with candied walnuts and serve immediately!
Notes
myWW points blue 8, purple 8, green 9 (¼ of the shrimp)
My WW Personal Points: 10 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)
Nutrition
- Calories: 367
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 806mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 33g
Jenna says
Glad you liked it!
Lisa Donovan says
Made this tonight! It was so tasty!! Everyone loved it!
Stephanie @CopyKat.com says
Oh my this looks simply delicious. I want to give this recipe a try. I am always looking for new ways to prepare shrimp.