Honey walnut shrimp is a delicious Chinese-American dish that perfectly balances crispy, creamy, and sweet flavors. This restaurant favorite features lightly battered shrimp tossed in a silky honey mayo sauce and topped with crunchy candied walnuts. It’s rich, slightly sweet, and absolutely irresistible.
The star of the dish is the shrimp – large, plump, and lightly coated in a cornstarch batter that fries up beautifully crisp and golden. What sets honey walnut shrimp apart from other shrimp dishes is its signature sauce. A blend of mayonnaise, honey, and sweetened condensed milk creates a creamy glaze that’s both sweet and tangy, coating the shrimp without making it soggy.
But the real magic happens with the candied walnuts. They add the perfect crunch and a subtle caramelized sweetness that balances the rich sauce. Making them is simple – walnuts are simmered in sugar water, then dried and lightly toasted until crisp and glossy.
Honey walnut shrimp comes together surprisingly quickly, making it a great choice for a weeknight dinner that still feels special. It’s typically served over steamed white rice, allowing the sauce to soak into every bite. For a little extra color and balance, you can add steamed broccoli or a side of stir-fried vegetables.
While it’s a popular takeout item, making honey walnut shrimp at home means you can control the sweetness and customize it to your liking. Some versions swap the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt to lighten it up or add a splash of lemon juice for extra brightness.
This dish delivers on every level – crunchy, creamy, sweet, and savory all at once. Whether you’re looking to impress guests or simply want to indulge in a homemade version of your favorite takeout, honey walnut shrimp never disappoints.
Pair this summer meal with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a chilled glass of sparkling wine, or enjoy it with light cocktails or jasmine tea to balance the richness of the dish.
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp water
- oil for frying
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, sweetened condensed milk, and honey. Stir until well combined.
- In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in water to make a slurry.
- Heat oil in a deep pan or pot for frying. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper, then coat them in the cornstarch slurry.
- Fry the shrimp in the hot oil until they turn golden brown and crispy. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels.
- In a separate pan, toast the walnuts until they become fragrant and slightly browned.
- Add the cooked shrimp and toasted walnuts to the honey mixture. Stir to coat the shrimp and walnuts.
- Serve the honey walnut shrimp hot with steamed rice or vegetables.
Nutrition
I don’t know about that honey and mayo combo… Seems kinda weird to me. Gave it a try though and it wasn’t terrible.
Hoo boy, I burned the walnuts… but somehow it still tasted good!
Burnt walnuts can happen to the best of us! Glad to hear it still turned out tasty. Makes me want to try this recipe myself!
How can it taste good? Ovens do have timers for a reason! Maybe I’ll stick to the microwave.
Yummy! 😋 The walnuts add such a nice crunch. Will make again!
This recipe is flawed. The shrimp were too soggy after frying! Maybe it’s just me, idk.
This honey walnut shrimp is to die for! I made it for dinner and my family loved it!
I’m so glad your family enjoyed it! This recipe is a favorite in my household too. Just made it last week with some broccoli on the side!
Yum! This recipe is spot on, I added a pinch of cayenne for a kick 🔥
Too much mayo for my taste! Gonna try it without next time.
Used pecans instead of walnuts cuz that’s all I had. Still turned out nice! Can’t complain.
Pecans sound good too! Glad it worked out for you! 🍤
This was absolutely delicious! The honey sauce was perfect. Will definitely make again!
I don’t know, my shrimp turned out soggy. Maybe I cooked them too long? Not sure it’s worth the effort.
I’m not a great cook but this was easy to follow. I didn’t even burn anything! lol
Honey shrimp? I thought it was just for dessert 🤷♂️ but wow, I was wrong! It’s actually good.
I was surprised too! This dish changed my whole perspective on shrimp. 😄
Honey with shrimp? Sounds kinda weird to me. Can’t believe people eat this!
Wow, so good! My kids loved it, even my picky eater! Thanks for sharing! 😊
I’m allergic to walnuts, can I sub with pecans? Thx!
This was a hit at my dinner party! Everyone loved it. A new fave!
I tried this recipe too and it was just as amazing! Thanks for sharing it! 🥳
Not sure about the mayo and condensed milk mix… isn’t that too weird? 🤔
Idk… it sounded good, but my shrimp wasn’t crispy at all. I think the slurry got too thick or my oil temp was wrong. Flavor was decent.
Maybe you didn’t mix the cornstarch right? I always do like, no lumps. And oil temp like medium-high but not smoking? Mine gets crispy most times but if the shrimp is wet it wont. Try patting them real dry. shrimp should still have bite.
Ugh yeah—if the slurry got thick, it’ll cling more than it crisps. I usually aim for a thin, pourable slurry. Also make sure the oil is fully hot before frying (if it’s not, it goes soft). Glad the flavor was still decent though!
So good with some chili flakes added. Give it a try if ya like some spice! 🔥
Yeah, chili flakes make everything better! I’ll definitely try that next time. Thanks for the tip! 🌶️
Yum! I made this for dinner guests and they all loved it! I served it with rice and it was a hit.
Tried it but wasn’t impressed. The sauce was way too sweet for my taste. I think less honey would be better.
Why do you need 2 types of sweeteners? Feels excessive.
This recipe is soooo good! The combination of honey and walnuts is delicious. My family loved it!
Easy to follow recipe, but maybe not the best for me. Still edible!
I don’t know why people like this so much. The texture was off for me and too sweet. I prefer my shrimp spicy.
5 star! My kids gobbled it up, so quick and easy!!!
I tried this recipe, but I think I added too much honey. It came out like syrup! Next time, less honey!
I tried it but my shrimp ended up gummy. Maybe I did something wrong?
Tried it without mayo, did not taste the same. Don’t skip it!
Totally agree! The mayo really makes a difference in this dish. It adds that creamy richness. Don’t skip it, or you’ll regret it!
I dunno, I think you can still make it good without mayo. Maybe try yogurt instead? Idk, just a thought!
Not bad, but I don’t understand the need for condense milk in a shrimp dish.
This sounds like a mess! How do you get the shrimp to stay crunchy?
Messy, huh? Well, I guess if you don’t get the frying part right, it could be! But honestly, my shrimp turned out great. Just gotta practice!
I think it’s all about the cornstarch! Make sure you coat ’em well and fry them quick in hot oil. That’s how you keep them crispy!
My husband loved it, but I found it too greasy. Could be better.
I get what you mean! It was pretty rich for me too, but my kids loved it. Maybe just use less mayo next time? 🤔