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Home » Cuisines » Asian » Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp

Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp

5 from 8 votes
Rate this Recipe
Total 40 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Serves 4

By: Mariam Ezzeddine  |  March 13, 2022This post may contain affiliate links, read my disclosure policy for details

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Crispy Honey Walnut Shrimp in a sweet and creamy honey sauce is better than take-out. Cornstarch gives the shrimp a delightful crunch, and the caramelized nuts take this walnut shrimp recipe over the top. It’s finger-licking good and makes the perfect meal when paired with fried rice. If you love Panda Express Walnut Shrimp, this recipe is for you. 

Walnut shrimp in a bowl with a pair of chopsticks.

This honey shrimp is the perfect balance of sweet, savory and crunchy. The sauce is sweet but not overly sweet. The crunch from the walnuts adds a great mouthfeel and the leftover nuts are perfect for snacking.

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 Walnut Shrimp Recipe

  • It’s affordable. This is the perfect way to really jazz up a pound of shrimp using ingredients you have in your pantry. 
  • It’s flavorful. Slightly sweet and delightfully crunchy, you will love the flavor of this walnut shrimp recipe.
  • It’s Fast. You can make this honey shrimp in under 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 Panda Express Walnut Shrimp

  • Prepare the glazed walnuts. Heat a medium pan with brown sugar, water and walnuts. Bring them to a boil and allow the sugar to thicken up without burning.
How to make honey walnuts.
  • Cool the walnuts. Spoon the walnuts over parchment paper and allow them to cool down and dry. Set aside.
Coating shrimp with seasoning and cornstarch.
  • Fry the shrimp. Season the shrimp with onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Coat them with cornstarch.
Lightly fried shrimp.
  • Deep fry the shrimp in batches until curled and lightly golden. Set aside.
Process for making the honey walnut shrimp sauce.
  • 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.
  • Combine and toss. Add the fried shrimp, walnuts and pour the prepared sauce on top. Toss everything until well combined.
  • Serve. Garnish with spring onions and serve.
A bowl of honey walnut shrimp.

Tips To Make this Honey Shrimp

  • Make the nuts first as they will become more crunchy as they cool. 
  • The cooking times for this recipe include the time it takes to make the nuts. You can prepare the nuts in advance and store in an airtight container. The rest of the recipe comes together in about 20 minutes. 
  • Thaw the shrimp ahead of time. 
  • Thoroughly dry the shrimp with paper towels before coating and frying. 
  • Fry in batches so the oil stays hot. This will keep the shrimp nice and crispy. 
  • The cornstarch coating will not turn very golden but the shrimp will be crunchy. 
  • This recipe has a light coating of sauce to reduce calories. You can double the sauce ingredients if you prefer.
A pile of sweet honey shrimp with walnuts and green onions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Honey Walnut Shrimp an authentic Chinese dish?

This flavorful walnut shrimp recipe originated in Hong Kong. This staple Cantonese dish can be found on menus in Chinese and American Chinese restaurants. 

Does this taste like Panda Express Walnut Shrimp?

The honey shrimp at Panda Express is coated in a slightly thicker batter. This version is based more closely on the classic version of the dish and tastes even better!

Can I use precooked shrimp?

Fresh or frozen and thawed shrimp is ideal for this recipe. You will be coating and frying the shrimp so do not select precooked shrimp. 

How do I store and reheat Walnut Shrimp?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat on a sheet pan in a 350 degrees F oven for 4-6 minutes. You can also microwave but the shrimp and walnuts may become rubbery.

Can I freeze Honey Shrimp?

I wouldn’t recommend freezing this dish. The shrimp will not be very crispy and the sauce may separate when reheat. 

What to serve with Honey Walnut Shrimp?

Serve this tasty sweet and crunchy shrimp with steamed rice, fried rice, cauliflower rice and steamed veggies like broccoli or green beans.

 

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

More Take-Out Style Recipes

  • Chinese Lemon Chicken
  • Asian Beef Lettuce Wraps
  • Easy General Tso’s Chicken
  • Authentic Kung Pao Chicken
  • Easy Chicken Lo Mein

I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, including this delicious Honey Walnut shrimp recipe. I hope you try it, enjoy it, rate it, and share it with your friends and family!

If you try this recipe and liked it, please leave a star rating and comment below. Use my hashtag to share it with me on Instagram so I can see your delicious recreations! Also, follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.

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

Crispy Honey Walnut Shrimp

5 from 8 votes
Created by Mariam E.
Crispy Honey Walnut Shrimp in a sweet and creamy honey sauce is better than take-out. Cornstarch gives the shrimp a delightful crunch, and the caramelized nuts take this walnut shrimp recipe over the top. It’s finger-licking good and makes the perfect meal when paired with fried rice. If you love Panda Express Walnut Shrimp, this recipe is for you.
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4

Ingredients

To make glazed walnuts

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup walnuts halves

To fry 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

To make 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, water and walnuts. Bring them to a boil and allow the sugar to thicken up without burning.
  • Spoon the walnuts over parchment paper and allow them to cool down and dry. Set aside.
  • 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.

Notes

  • Make the nuts first as they will become more crunchy as they cool. 
  • The cooking times for this recipe include the time it takes to make the nuts. You can prepare the nuts in advance and store in an airtight container. The rest of the recipe comes together in about 20 minutes. 
  • Thaw the shrimp ahead of time. 
  • Thoroughly dry the shrimp with paper towels before coating and frying. 
  • Fry in batches so the oil stays hot. This will keep the shrimp nice and crispy. 
  • The cornstarch coating will not turn very golden but the shrimp will be crunchy. 
  • This recipe has a light coating of sauce to reduce calories. You can double the sauce ingredients if you prefer.

Nutrition

Calories: 581kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 1064mg | Potassium: 379mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 62g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 158mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Rate the recipe below and mention @cookinwithmima and tag #cookinwithmima so I can see your recreations.
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  1. Suri says

    January 26, 2023 at 3:49 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious recipe! Came out exactly like Panda Express. And so easy to make and my whole family loves it.

    Reply
    • Mariam Ezzeddine says

      February 6, 2023 at 3:40 pm

      Happy you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for leaving a review.

      Reply
  2. Linda K says

    January 10, 2023 at 5:07 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Mariam Ezzeddine says

      January 18, 2023 at 12:20 pm

      Happy you enjoyed it Linda! Thanks for leaving a review.

      Reply
  3. Mike says

    November 9, 2022 at 5:18 pm

    You never said what temp to fry shrimp at II did 350 degrees

    Reply
    • Mariam Ezzeddine says

      November 22, 2022 at 12:29 pm

      You got it right, usually its medium heat.

      Reply

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Welcome, I'm Mariam!

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