Bang Bang Chicken Recipe: Spicy & Sweet Perfection

Bang bang chicken tantalizes taste buds with its electrifying blend of spicy, sweet, and crispy elements.

Bold flavors dance across your palate, creating a symphony of culinary excitement.

Complex textures reimagine ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dining experience.

Creamy sauces intertwine with crunchy chicken, delivering a sensational contrast that keeps you craving more.

Each bite promises a perfect balance between heat and smoothness, showcasing the dish’s vibrant character.

Innovative cooking techniques elevate this recipe from simple meal to gourmet sensation.

Passionate home cooks and adventurous food lovers will find themselves drawn to its irresistible charm.

Bang Bang Chicken With Sweet Heat

• Explosive Flavor Burst: The bang bang sauce combines creamy mayonnaise, sweet Thai chili sauce, spicy Sriracha, and honey, creating a tantalizing flavor explosion that dances on your taste buds.
• Crispy Texture Perfection: Coating chicken tenders in buttermilk batter and rolling them in panko breadcrumbs results in an incredibly crunchy exterior that gives way to juicy, tender meat inside.
• Quick and Easy Weeknight Delight: This recipe comes together in just 20 minutes, making it an ideal solution for busy home cooks craving restaurant-quality fried chicken without complicated techniques.
• Customizable Spice Adventure: The recipe allows easy heat adjustment by modifying Sriracha and cayenne levels, letting you dial the spiciness up or down to match your personal preference.

All the Ingredients That Make Bang Bang Chicken Stand Out

• Chicken Tenders: Lean protein cut that creates the base of the dish, choose fresh and uniform-sized tenders for even cooking.
• Buttermilk: Helps tenderize chicken and adds tangy flavor, provides moisture for crispy coating.
• Egg: Binds coating ingredients and helps create a crispy exterior.

• Flour, Cornstarch: Create a light, crispy breading that adheres well to chicken.
• Panko Breadcrumbs: Provides extra crunch and golden texture, Japanese-style breadcrumbs are lighter than traditional.
• Garlic Powder, Salt, Pepper, Cayenne: Seasonings that add depth and heat to chicken's flavor profile.

• Mayonnaise, Thai Sweet Chili Sauce, Sriracha, Honey: Combine to create signature bang bang sauce with sweet, spicy, and tangy notes.
• Canola Oil: Neutral oil with high smoke point perfect for deep frying chicken.
• Parsley: Fresh herb garnish that adds color and light herb accent.

How to Cook Chicken With a Crispy Kick

Step 1: Prepare Bang Bang Sauce

• In a small mixing bowl, combine
• Mayonnaise
• Thai sweet chili sauce
• Sriracha
• Honey

Whisk ingredients until smooth and set aside for later use.

Step 2: Create Chicken Marinade

• In a large mixing bowl, blend
• Buttermilk
• All-purpose flour
• Cornstarch
• Egg
• Sriracha
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Cayenne pepper

Thoroughly mix the marinade ingredients until well incorporated.

Step 3: Coat Chicken Tenders

Dip chicken tenders into the marinade, ensuring complete coverage.

Spread panko breadcrumbs on a shallow plate.

Gently roll each marinated chicken tender in panko, pressing crumbs to create a firm coating.

Step 4: Heat Cooking Oil

Pour canola oil into a large skillet, filling about one inch deep.

Heat oil to 365°F using a cooking thermometer for precise temperature.

Step 5: Fry Chicken Tenders

Carefully place coated chicken tenders into hot oil.

Fry each batch for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.

Ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe consumption.

Step 6: Drain and Sauce Chicken

Remove tenders from oil using tongs.

Place on paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.

Toss warm tenders in prepared bang bang sauce.

Step 7: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley over sauced chicken tenders.

Plate and serve immediately while hot and crispy.

Tips for That Signature Bang Bang Coating

• Chill the Buttermilk Mixture: Refrigerate the seasoned buttermilk batter for 15-20 minutes to help the coating adhere better to the chicken tenders.
• Perfect Oil Temperature: Use a digital thermometer to maintain consistent 365°F oil temperature, ensuring crispy, evenly cooked chicken without burning.
• Panko Coating Technique: Press panko breadcrumbs firmly onto chicken tenders to create a thick, crunchy exterior that locks in moisture.
• Drain Excess Oil: Let fried chicken rest on a wire rack instead of paper towels to prevent soggy bottoms and maintain maximum crispiness.
• Sauce Balancing Act: Adjust bang bang sauce ingredients to taste, adding more Sriracha for heat or honey for sweetness depending on your preference.

Reheat Chicken While Keeping It Juicy

• Refrigeration: Store leftover Bang Bang Chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days, keeping the crispy texture and flavor intact.
• Reheating Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F, place chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet, and warm for 8-10 minutes to restore crispiness.
• Microwave Option: While not ideal, quickly reheat chicken for 30-45 seconds, but expect softer breading compared to oven method.

What to Serve With Bang Bang Chicken

• Sizzle with Spicy Sidekicks: Pair this crispy bang bang chicken with a refreshing cucumber salad or tangy coleslaw to balance the heat and provide a cool, crunchy contrast.
• Drink Up the Flavor: A cold Asian-style lager or a crisp white wine like Riesling will perfectly complement the spicy-sweet sauce and cut through the richness of the fried chicken.
• Rice Bowl Remix: Serve the bang bang chicken over steamed jasmine rice or cauliflower rice to soak up the delicious sauce and create a complete, satisfying meal that brings all the flavors together.
• Fresh Green Finish: Sprinkle chopped green onions or a handful of fresh cilantro on top to add a bright, herbal note that lifts the entire dish and provides a pop of color.

Variations for Sauces and Marinades

• Spicy Honey Glazed Chicken: Replace Sriracha with hot honey for a sweet and fiery kick, creating a more caramelized coating that adds depth to the classic bang bang chicken.
• Mediterranean Herb Chicken: Swap out Sriracha for za'atar seasoning and add dried oregano to the breading, then serve with tzatziki sauce instead of bang bang sauce for a Middle Eastern-inspired version.
• Coconut Crunch Chicken: Mix shredded coconut with panko breadcrumbs for extra texture, and incorporate coconut milk into the buttermilk marinade to enhance tropical flavors and create a more complex coating.
• Buffalo Ranch Chicken: Modify the bang bang sauce by blending ranch dressing with buffalo sauce, giving the chicken a tangy and creamy alternative that still maintains the crispy exterior.

Bang Bang Chicken Recipe

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4.7 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Sichuan’s bang bang chicken delivers a spicy, tangy symphony of flavors that dance across your palate. Juicy shredded chicken drizzled with a sesame-chili sauce promises a delightful culinary adventure you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken:

Main Protein:

• 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken tenderloins

Coating Ingredients:

• 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cornstarch
• 1 large egg

Seasoning Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Liquid Ingredients:

• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon Sriracha

Bang Bang Sauce:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha

Cooking Ingredient:

• Canola oil for frying

Garnish:

• Parsley, chopped

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Instructions

1. Craft a zesty bang bang sauce by whisking mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey in a small mixing vessel until smooth and well-integrated.
2. Create a dynamic marinade in a spacious bowl by blending buttermilk, flour, cornstarch, egg, Sriracha, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne into a cohesive liquid mixture.
3. Submerge chicken tenders completely in the marinade, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated and infused with the spicy seasoning.
4. Prepare a shallow dish with panko breadcrumbs, creating a crispy coating station for the marinated chicken.
5. Gently transfer each marinated tender into the panko, pressing firmly to ensure a thick, even crust adheres to the entire surface.
6. Fill a heavy-bottomed skillet with canola oil, heating to a precise 365°F for optimal frying temperature.
7. Carefully introduce chicken tenders into the hot oil, frying in small batches to maintain consistent temperature and prevent overcrowding.
8. Cook each tender until a golden-brown exterior forms and internal temperature reaches 165°F, approximately 2-3 minutes per side.
9. Remove fried chicken and drain excess oil on absorbent paper towels to ensure a crisp texture.
10. Generously coat the crispy tenders with prepared bang bang sauce, ensuring complete coverage.
11. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant visual and flavor finish before serving immediately.

Notes

• Spice up your weeknight dinner with this crispy, saucy chicken that delivers a perfect balance of crunch and heat.
• Buttermilk marinade ensures incredibly tender chicken, while the panko coating creates an irresistibly crunchy exterior.
• The bang bang sauce combines sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors that elevate the dish from ordinary to extraordinary.
• Maintain oil temperature around 365°F for golden-brown chicken that’s crispy outside and juicy inside without absorbing excess oil.
• Toss chicken in sauce just before serving to keep the breading crisp and prevent soggy texture.
• Serve immediately for maximum crunchiness, pairing well with rice, slaw, or as a crowd-pleasing appetizer.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 702
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 778 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 29 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 60 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 33 g
• Cholesterol: 116 mg