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Honey Walnut Shrimp is a delightful dish that combines crispy shrimp with a sweet and creamy sauce, topped with crunchy candied walnuts. It’s quick and easy to prepare, making it perfect for both special occasions and weeknight dinners.

Walnut shrimp in a bowl with a pair of chopsticks.
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This homemade Honey Walnut Shrimp recipe is the perfect balance of sweet, savory and crunchy. The crunch from the walnuts adds a great mouthfeel and the leftover nuts are perfect for snacking. Serve it with steamed rice or fried rice and enjoy a restaurant-quality meal in the comfort of your home.

If you love the crunchiness that nuts add to savory dishes try my Chinese Szechuan Chili Chicken or Authentic Kung Pao Chicken recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Panda Express Takeout Recipe

  • It’s flavorful: The combination of crispy shrimp, sweet honey, and crunchy walnuts creates a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.
  • Restaurant-Quality Dish at home: This recipe replicates the beloved Panda Express Chinese takeout favorite, making it perfect for a gourmet meal at home.
  • Easy to make: With straightforward steps and simple ingredients, this dish can be prepared in just 40 minutes.

Honey Walnut Shrimp Ingredients

Ingredients needed for honey walnut shrimp.
  • Brown sugar: adds sweetness to the nuts.
  • Water: will help to create a glaze.
  • Walnuts: halves will be easier to work with and have more crunch than pieces. You can also substitute pecans if you prefer.
  • Shrimp: select small raw shrimp that have been peeled, deveined, and removed tails.
  • Seasonings: use a combination of onion powder, garlic powder, salt and black pepper to season the shrimp.
  • Cornstarch: will give the shrimp some crunch and help thicken the sauce.
  • Vegetable oil: used for frying.
  • Mayonnaise: for the sauce.
  • Sweetened condensed milk: gives the sauce a sweet and buttery flavor.
  • Honey: use good quality honey. You can also substitute real maple syrup. 
  • Lemon juice: a touch of acid will balance everything out.
  • Scallions: chopped green onions make a colorful garnish.

How To Make Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the glazed walnuts. Heat a medium pan with brown sugar, water, butter and walnuts. Bring them to a boil and allow the sugar to thicken up without burning.

How to make honey walnuts.

Step 2: Cool the walnuts.Transfer the candied walnuts to the parchment paper or mat and spread out into a single layer. Allow the walnuts to cool completely.

Coating shrimp with seasoning and cornstarch.

Step 3: Prep the shrimp. Season the shrimp with onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Coat them with cornstarch.

Lightly fried shrimp.

Step 4: Deep fry the shrimp in batches until curled and lightly golden. Set aside.

Process for making the honey walnut shrimp sauce.

Step 5: Prepare the honey walnut shrimp sauce. In a medium bowl, combine; mayonnaise, condensed milk, honey and lemon juice. Set aside.

Combining the sauce, shrimp and walnuts for honey walnut shrimp.

Step 6: Combine and toss. Add the fried shrimp, walnuts and pour the prepared sauce on top. Toss everything until well combined. Garnish with spring onions and serve.

A bowl of honey walnut shrimp.

What to Serve with Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe

  • Steamed Jasmine Rice: The simplicity of steamed jasmine rice balances the rich and sweet flavors of honey walnut shrimp while providing a comforting, fluffy texture.
  • Fried Rice: Fried rice, with its combination of rice, vegetables, and sometimes egg, adds an extra layer of flavor and texture. It pairs well with the sweet and creamy sauce of the shrimp, creating a satisfying meal.
  • Mixed Vegetables: Stir-fried or roasted vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli, snap peas, and carrots bring a variety of colors, textures, and flavors to the table. They add freshness and nutritional value to the meal.
  • Chili Garlic Noodles: Garlic noodles are savory, buttery, and slightly garlicky, making them a delicious companion to the sweet honey walnut shrimp.

Tips To Make this Honey Shrimp with Walnuts

  1. Dry the Shrimp: Ensure the shrimp are well-dried and patted dry before coating them to achieve maximum crispiness.
  2. Candy the Walnuts Properly: Don’t rush the candying process; make sure the sugar fully caramelizes for the best flavor.
  3. Toss Gently: When combining the shrimp with the sauce and walnuts, do it gently to keep the shrimp crispy.
  4. Serve Immediately: For the best texture, serve the dish right after tossing the shrimp with the sauce.
A pile of sweet honey shrimp with walnuts and green onions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze Walnut Shrimp?

I do not recommend freezing this dish.

What’s the best way to reheat leftovers?

Reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes to keep the shrimp crispy.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

It’s best served fresh, but you can prepare the candied walnuts and sauce ahead of time.

How do you keep honey walnut shrimp crispy?

To keep honey walnut shrimp crispy, serve it immediately after tossing the shrimp with the sauce. If making ahead, keep the fried shrimp and sauce separate until just before serving.

 

Chopsticks pick up a piece of copycat panda express walnut shrimp from a bowl.

Quick Shrimp Dinner Recipes

Crispy shrimp coated in a luscious honey sauce with candied walnuts offers a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors. This easy-to-make Honey Walnut Shrimp recipe is sure to impress your family and friends all in the convenience of your home.

If you try this recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave a star rating in the comment section below because I love hearing from my readers. Also follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.

4.81 from 21 votes

Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe

Honey Walnut Shrimp features crispy shrimp coated in a creamy honey sauce with candied walnuts. This dish offers a delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors and is perfect for a quick, gourmet meal at home.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 2 servings

Ingredients 

Candied Walnuts

  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 cup walnuts, halves
  • 1 tbsp butter

Shrimp

  • 1 lb small raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • vegetable oil, for frying

Honey Sauce

  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons scallions, chopped

Instructions 

  • Heat a medium pan with brown sugar, butter, water and walnuts. Bring them to a boil and allow the sugar to thicken up without burning.
  • Transfer the candied walnuts to the parchment paper or mat and spread out into a single layer. Allow the walnuts to cool completely.
  • Season the shrimp with onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Coat them with cornstarch and deep fry the shrimp in batches until curled and lightly golden. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, combine; mayonnaise, condensed milk, honey and lemon juice. Set aside.
  • Add the fried shrimp, walnuts and pour the prepared sauce on top. Toss everything until well combined.
  • Garnish with spring onions and serve.

Video

Notes

  • Dry the Shrimp: Ensure the shrimp are well-dried and patted dry before coating them to achieve maximum crispiness.
  • Candy the Walnuts Properly: Don’t rush the candying process; make sure the sugar fully caramelizes for the best flavor.
  • Toss Gently: When combining the shrimp with the sauce and walnuts, do it gently to keep the shrimp crispy.
  • Serve Immediately: For the best texture, serve the dish right after tossing the shrimp with the sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 1003kcal | Carbohydrates: 98g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 32g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 309mg | Sodium: 2132mg | Potassium: 686mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 70g | Vitamin A: 704IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 269mg | Iron: 3mg
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4.81 from 21 votes (17 ratings without comment)

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17 Comments

  1. Hi Miriam, this looks even better than takeout! I love shrimp so much, but sometimes, I worry about overcooking it. This recipe seems very easy, and I can’t wait to try it. I’ll bet these are delicious on top of a crunchy Asian salad!

  2. 5 stars
    This is really good. I had trouble with the candied walnuts so used another recipe (I think that was just me never having made these before), but they came out great. Everyone loved this!

  3. 5 stars
    Am I the only person who has never eaten at Panda Express? This dish however is reminiscent of a Chinese takeout kitchen in NJ. I’ve since moved out of state and Crispy Walnut Shrimp (or a Panda Express)is not found near me. As this recipe sounded much like what I remembered, I gave it a try. Wow! It’s not a complicated dish; easy to make and tastes delicious! Will now have my favorite Asian dish at home!