Honey walnut shrimp is the best recipe. The shrimp are breaded in egg and starch then quickly pan-fried until crispy. Then they're coated in a sweet and creamy honey sauce and tossed with candied walnuts. This healthier than Panda Express version is refined sugar-free and absolutely delicious!

Turn this into a meal with some roasted broccoli and steamed basmati rice.

Honey walnut shrimp in a bowl with rice and broccoli.

5 reasons this is the best honey walnut shrimp recipe

  1. The shrimp are deliciously crispy.
  2. And the creamy and sweet sauce is ever so slightly tangy.
  3. Made with all real ingredients. Read: you won't find condensed milk and pounds of sugar in this recipe. But that can be our little secret. No one will guess that this is a healthier version.
  4. The honey candied walnuts are such a treat that you'll want to make extra to snack on. ā† please promise you'll make extra!
  5. It's a versatile recipe. Serve it as a hot appetizer or turn it into dinner with some rice and broccoli. Either way, you'll love it!

READ MORE: Healthier Bang Bang Shrimp

Honey walnut shrimp in a black pan.

How to make honey walnut shrimp

This is a simple recipe that involves 4 easy steps.

  1. Make the candied walnuts. All you have to do is simmer the walnuts in honey and water until all the liquid evaporates. Make sure to put them on parchment paper while they cool. They'll stick to each other or the plate they're on when they are hot.
  2. Make the sauce. Three ingredients mixed together. So easy!
  3. Bread the shrimp. First, the shrimp go into a bowl with a whisked egg. Then (all at once) they go into another bowl with some tapioca starch or cornstarch.
  4. Pan-fry the shrimp. Here you'll heat a shallow pan with some oil and let the shrimp sizzle for a few minutes until nice and crispy.

Once you've finished these steps all you have to do is mix the shrimp with the sauce and walnuts. See how easy it is to make honey walnut shrimp?

Full recipe in the recipe card below.

Can this recipe be made ahead of time?

Once the shrimp are fried, they're best eaten right away. But both the sauce and the candied walnuts can be made several days in advance.

If you'd like to serve this as an appetizer for friends, serve the sauce on the side. That way people can dip the shrimp and you don't have to worry about them becoming soggy if left out for a little while.

Is this a healthy recipe?

We put this in the healthier recipe category. It's refined sugar-free, which is great. And if you either make your own mayo or use a quality mayonnaise then you can feel good about the healthy fats you are getting.

Honey walnut shrimp on a serving plate.
Honey walnut shrimp in a bowl with rice and broccoli.

Honey Walnut Shrimp

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 6 mins
Total Time: 26 mins
Honey walnut shrimp is the best recipe. The shrimp are breaded in egg and starch then quickly pan-fried until crispy. Then they're coated in a sweet and creamy honey sauce and tossed with candied walnuts. This healthier than Panda Express version is refined sugar-free and absolutely delicious!

If you love this recipe as much as we do, let us know with a 5-star rating!

4.96 stars (45 ratings)
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Ingredients

The Candied Walnuts

  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • Ā½ cup walnut halves

The Sweet Sauce

  • Ā½ cup mayonnaise, can be light mayo
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons plain yogurt, thick yogurt works best

The Shrimp

  • Ā½ cup tapioca starch or cornstarch
  • Ā½ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
  • 1 large egg + 1 tablespoon water, whisked
  • 1 lb. uncooked peeled shrimp (about 30)
  • Neutral-flavored oil, such as avocado or canola for pan-frying (see notes)

Instructions 

  • Heat the honey and water in a small pan over medium-high heat. Once it starts to boil, add the walnuts and stir. Keep stirring until the liquid is mostly gone. Immediately spoon the walnuts onto a piece of parchment paper in a single layer.
    2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons water, Ā½ cup walnut halves
  • In a small-sized bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, honey, and yogurt.
    Ā½ cup mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the egg and water. Add the shrimp and toss to coat.
    1 large egg + 1 tablespoon water, 1 lb. uncooked peeled shrimp (about 30)
  • Whisk the starch with the salt and pepper in another bowl. Add the shrimp to the bowl – do not pour them from the egg bowl as you don't want the extra egg. Toss to coat the shrimp in the starch.
    Ā½ cup tapioca starch or cornstarch, Ā½ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
  • Heat Ā½ inch of oil over medium-high heat. When it is hot, add half of the shrimp. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Place the cooked shrimp in a bowl then repeat with the remaining shrimp.
    Neutral-flavored oil
  • Toss the shrimp with the candied walnuts and honey sauce and serve immediately.

Notes

We use a 10″ frying pan and use Ā½ cup of oil. After the shrimp are cooked, there is Ā¼ cup of oil left in the pan.Ā 

Pair with roasted broccoli and basmati rice

A serving bowl full of roasted broccoli Perfect basmati rice in a pot.
Serving: 7-8 shrimp with sauce and walnuts, Calories: 517kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 20g, Fat: 32g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 195mg, Sodium: 1165mg, Potassium: 251mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 304IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 98mg, Iron: 1mg
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Honey walnut shrimp in a bowl with rice and broccoli.