Bang Bang Chicken Recipe

Tangy & Fiery Bang Bang Chicken Recipe Everyone Will Love

Culinary adventurers seek out bang bang chicken when craving something spectacularly different from standard fare.

Spicy sensations await curious cooks ready to experiment.

Crispy, tender chicken pieces dance with a creamy, zesty sauce that electrifies taste buds.

Unexpected flavor combinations make this dish a crowd-pleasing sensation.

Each bite promises a delightful explosion of textures and intense seasonings.

Pantry staples transform into an extraordinary meal that sparks conversation around the dinner table.

You won’t believe how simple ingredients create such an unforgettable dining experience.

Why Bang Bang Chicken Is So Bold And Creamy

  • Spice Up Your Meal: Kick your taste buds into high gear with this bold and zesty Bang Bang Chicken that brings restaurant-quality flavor right to your kitchen.
  • Master Quick Cooking: Learn an impressive cooking technique that transforms simple chicken tenderloins into crispy, golden-brown delights with minimal kitchen skills required.
  • Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: Create a crowd-favorite dish that appeals to both kids and adults, perfect for casual dinners, game nights, or spontaneous gatherings with friends and family.
  • Customize Your Heat: Adjust the Sriracha and cayenne pepper levels to match your personal spice tolerance, making this recipe adaptable for every palate from mild to wild.

What You’ll Need For Bang Bang Chicken

Proteins:
  • Chicken Tenderloins: Tender, lean cuts of chicken perfect for crispy frying and absorbing delicious marinade.
Coating and Marinade Ingredients:
  • Buttermilk, Flour, Cornstarch: Create a smooth, thick batter that helps breading stick to chicken.
  • Panko Breadcrumbs: Light and crispy coating that provides a crunchy exterior.
  • Egg: Helps bind the breading to the chicken.
Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:
  • Mayonnaise, Sweet Chili Sauce, Sriracha, Honey: Combine to create a tangy, sweet, and spicy Bang Bang Sauce.
  • Garlic Powder, Salt, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper: Add depth and heat to the chicken's flavor.
  • Chopped Parsley: Provides a fresh garnish and light herbal note.
  • Canola Oil: Used for frying the chicken to golden brown perfection.

How To Make Bang Bang Chicken Step By Step

Step 1: Whip Up the Zesty Sauce

Grab a small bowl and combine these sauce ingredients:
  • Mayonnaise
  • Sweet chili sauce
  • Sriracha
  • Honey

Blend everything until silky smooth, then set aside.

Step 2: Create Flavorful Marinade

In a medium bowl, mix these marinade ingredients:
  • Buttermilk
  • Flour
  • Cornstarch
  • Egg
  • Sriracha
  • Garlic powder
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Cayenne pepper (optional)

Whisk until the mixture becomes completely smooth.

Step 3: Marinate the Chicken

Dunk chicken tenderloins into the marinade, ensuring each piece gets fully coated. Let the chicken soak up those delicious flavors for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Prepare Crispy Coating

Spread panko breadcrumbs on a plate. Remove each tender from the marinade and roll thoroughly in the breadcrumbs, pressing gently to help crumbs stick perfectly.

Step 5: Fry to Golden Perfection

Heat canola oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 365°F. Carefully fry chicken tenders in batches, cooking 2-3 minutes per side until they turn a gorgeous golden brown. Use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature hits 165°F.

Step 6: Drain and Sauce

Transfer fried chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil. Toss the crispy tenders in the prepared Bang Bang Sauce, coating each piece evenly.

Step 7: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle chopped parsley over the saucy chicken. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

Tips To Get Crispy Bang Bang Chicken

  • Perfect Crunch Technique: Press panko breadcrumbs firmly onto chicken tenderloins to create an extra crispy exterior that locks in moisture and flavor.
  • Marinade Magic: Let chicken soak in buttermilk mixture for maximum tenderness and deeper seasoning penetration throughout the meat.
  • Temperature Control: Use a digital thermometer to ensure chicken reaches exactly 165°F, preventing undercooked meat and guaranteeing food safety without drying out the tenders.
  • Sauce Coating Strategy: Toss chicken in Bang Bang Sauce immediately after frying while still hot, allowing the sauce to slightly absorb into the crispy breading for maximum flavor intensity.
  • Oil Temperature Precision: Maintain consistent 365°F oil temperature during frying to achieve golden-brown color and prevent greasy or soggy chicken tenders.

Ways To Customize Bang Bang Chicken Recipe

  • Gluten-Free Crunch: Replace flour and panko with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour and crushed gluten-free rice crackers for a celiac-friendly version.
  • Baked Lighter Option: Skip frying and bake chicken tenders on a wire rack at 425°F for 15-20 minutes, using cooking spray for a healthier approach.
  • Spicy Herb Remix: Substitute sweet chili sauce with homemade salsa verde and add fresh cilantro and green onions for a zesty Mexican-inspired variation.
  • Air Fryer Quick Hack: Cook chicken tenders in an air fryer at 390°F for 10-12 minutes, turning halfway through for a crispy exterior without deep-frying.

Great Pairings For Bang Bang Chicken

  • Spice Up Your Plate: Flavor-Boosting Pairings
  • Crisp Vegetable Slaw: Shred cabbage, carrots, and green onions to create a cool, crunchy side that balances the spicy chicken's heat and adds refreshing texture.
  • Zesty Lime Rice: Cook jasmine rice with a squeeze of lime juice and sprinkle of cilantro to complement the tangy Bang Bang sauce and provide a light, fragrant base.
  • Cool Cucumber Yogurt Dip: Blend Greek yogurt with diced cucumber, fresh dill, and a pinch of salt to create a creamy, cooling counterpoint to the spicy chicken tenders.
  • Craft Beer Companion: Choose a crisp pale ale or wheat beer with light hoppy notes to cut through the richness and enhance the dish's spicy-sweet flavor profile.

How To Store Bang Bang Chicken Safely

  • Store leftover Bang Bang Chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days, keeping the sauce separate to maintain crispiness.
  • Wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap, place in a freezer bag, and freeze for maximum 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F, spread chicken on a baking sheet, and warm for 10-12 minutes until crispy and heated through. Drizzle fresh sauce before serving to restore moisture.
  • Set air fryer to 370°F, arrange chicken in a single layer, and cook for 3-4 minutes until hot and crunchy. Avoid overcrowding to ensure even heating.

FAQs For Bang Bang Chicken

  • What makes Bang Bang Chicken sauce unique?

The sauce combines mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey, creating a perfect balance of creamy, sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors that coat the crispy chicken.

  • Can I make this recipe less spicy?

Yes, reduce the Sriracha amount or omit the cayenne pepper to lower the heat level while maintaining the overall flavor profile of the dish.

  • Why use buttermilk in the marinade?

Buttermilk helps tenderize the chicken, making it more juicy and adding a subtle tangy flavor that enhances the overall taste of the chicken tenders.

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Bang Bang Chicken Recipe

Bang Bang Chicken Recipe

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4.5 from 30 reviews

  • Total Time: 21 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
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Description

Sichuan’s spicy Bang Bang Chicken delivers a symphonic explosion of flavors that dance across palates with zesty precision. Crispy shredded chicken draped in numbing chili oil creates an irresistible harmony you cannot resist exploring on your culinary adventure.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein:

  • 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken tenderloins
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup buttermilk

Coating and Dry Ingredients:

  • 0.75 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 cup cornstarch
  • 2 cups plain panko breadcrumbs
  • 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
  • 0.125 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Sauce and Seasoning:

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 0.5 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce

Additional:

  • Canola oil (for frying)
  • Chopped parsley (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Craft a zesty sauce by blending mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey in a small bowl until silky smooth, then refrigerate.
  2. Prepare a dynamic marinade by whisking buttermilk, flour, cornstarch, egg, Sriracha, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper until uniformly combined.
  3. Immerse chicken tenderloins in the marinade, ensuring complete coverage, and let rest for 10 minutes to absorb flavors.
  4. Spread panko breadcrumbs on a flat surface, creating a crispy coating station.
  5. Extract each tender from the marinade, gently pressing it into breadcrumbs to create an even, crunchy exterior.
  6. Heat canola oil in a skillet to 365°F, maintaining a consistent temperature for optimal frying.
  7. Carefully lower chicken tenders into hot oil, cooking 2-3 minutes per side until achieving a golden-brown crust and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  8. Transfer fried chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to eliminate excess oil.
  9. Generously coat chicken tenders in prepared Bang Bang Sauce, ensuring complete and even coverage.
  10. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately while crisp and warm.

Notes

  • Marinade Magic: Let chicken soak in buttermilk mixture for maximum tenderness and flavor absorption, enhancing juiciness and preventing dry meat.
  • Bread Crumb Trick: Press panko firmly onto chicken to create an extra crispy, even coating that locks in moisture and provides satisfying crunch.
  • Temperature Control: Use a thermometer to hit precise 365°F oil temperature, ensuring golden exterior without greasy or undercooked chicken.
  • Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap wheat flour and panko for gluten-free alternatives like almond flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs to accommodate dietary restrictions.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 580 kcal
  • Sugar: 18 g
  • Sodium: 670 mg
  • Fat: 38 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 32 g
  • Fiber: 1.5 g
  • Protein: 36 g
  • Cholesterol: 110 mg

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Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson

Founder & Recipe Developer

Expertise

  • Creating single-serving recipes tailored for individuals, small households, or meal preppers
  • Culinary arts with a focus on clean plating and natural styling for food photography
  • Working with fermented ingredients and dairy-based cooking techniques
  • Designing seasonal menus that use fresh, locally sourced produce

Education

Cascade Culinary Institute – Bend, OR

  • Program: Culinary Arts Certificate
  • Focus: Gained hands-on experience in professional kitchens, learning advanced recipe development, seasonal ingredient sourcing, and simple, beautiful food presentation.

ServSafe Food Handler Certification – Portland, OR

  • Program: Food Safety Certification
    Focus: Certified in core food safety and hygiene principles for both home and professional kitchens, with emphasis on ingredient handling, kitchen cleanliness, and safe preparation methods.

Mike’s kitchen journey began with a single goal: to make everyday meals feel like something worth celebrating.
After earning his Certificate in Culinary Arts from Cascade Culinary Institute, he spent years working with local farmers and small kitchens across Oregon, learning the beauty of seasonal, small-batch cooking.
Mike’s approach is simple, cook with what’s fresh, keep it approachable, and always leave room for a little creativity. When he’s not testing yogurt marinades or designing single-serving meals, you’ll find him hiking trails or hunting down the best berries at local markets.

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