Description
Let’s get straight to it: Bang Bang Chicken is crispy, juicy, bite-sized chicken tossed in a creamy, spicy-sweet sauce that’ll make your taste buds do a little victory dance. It’s basically what happens when crispy chicken nuggets grow up and get a flavor upgrade. You’ve probably seen this on restaurant appetizer menus, but trust me — making it at home is way better. You control the heat, the crispiness, and how much sauce you smother it in (spoiler: a lot). Serve it over rice, throw it on a salad, or eat it straight off the tray — no judgment here.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk + a splash of lemon juice)
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + black pepper
Oil for frying (or use air fryer if you’re feeling virtuous)
For the Bang Bang Sauce:
1/3 cup mayo (use full-fat for max flavor)
2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
1 tbsp sriracha (or more if you like it hot)
1 tbsp honey or sugar (optional for extra sweetness)
1 tsp rice vinegar or lime juice (for a little zing)
Garnish (because why not?)
Chopped green onions
Sesame seeds
Crushed peanuts (optional but very fun)
Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Chicken
In a bowl, soak your chicken pieces in buttermilk (or milk + lemon) for at least 15 minutes — this keeps them juicy. In another bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour mixture until fully coated.
Step 2: Get Crispy
Heat about 1 inch of oil in a skillet or use an air fryer at 400°F. Fry the chicken in batches until golden and crispy, about 4–5 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels. If using an air fryer, spray the chicken lightly with oil and cook for about 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway.
Step 3: Mix Up That Sauce
In a bowl, whisk together mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and vinegar. Add a little honey if you want it sweeter. Taste and adjust the spice level — go wild.
Step 4: Sauce It Up
Toss the crispy chicken in the sauce right before serving for max crunch. Or, serve the sauce on the side for dipping if you’re into the whole control-your-sauce-destiny thing.
Step 5: Garnish & Serve
Top with green onions, sesame seeds, and peanuts if using. Serve hot over rice, stuffed in a wrap, on a salad, or just straight-up finger food style.
Notes
Over jasmine rice with steamed broccoli for a full meal.
Tuck into lettuce cups or tortillas for spicy chicken tacos.
Top a bowl of noodles and drizzle extra sauce over the whole thing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~510
- Fat: ~35g
- Carbohydrates: ~30g
- Protein: ~35g