Description
Bang Bang Chicken is a delicious Asian-inspired dish featuring crispy fried chicken bites tossed in a creamy, spicy, and slightly sweet sauce made from mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha. Perfect as a main course or appetizer, this recipe combines crunchy textures with bold flavors for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon honey or sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a medium bowl, combine the bite-sized chicken pieces with the buttermilk. Allow the chicken to marinate for 15 to 30 minutes to tenderize and add moisture.
- Prepare the Coating: In another bowl, mix together the cornstarch, all-purpose flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. This dry coating will give the chicken its crispy texture.
- Heat Oil for Frying: Pour 1 to 2 inches of vegetable oil into a deep skillet or saucepan and heat it to 350°F. The oil should be hot enough to fry the chicken quickly without absorbing too much oil.
- Coat the Chicken: Remove the marinated chicken pieces from the buttermilk, then thoroughly dredge them in the flour mixture. Shake off any excess coating to prevent clumps in the oil.
- Fry the Chicken: Fry the coated chicken pieces in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook each batch for 4 to 5 minutes or until the chicken pieces are golden brown, crispy, and cooked through. Transfer the fried chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Make the Bang Bang Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey or sugar until the sauce is smooth and well combined.
- Toss and Serve: Toss the hot fried chicken pieces in the Bang Bang sauce or drizzle the sauce over the top. Garnish with green onions or sesame seeds if desired and serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Serve the Bang Bang Chicken over steamed rice, in lettuce cups, or with noodles for a complete meal.
- For a lighter version, bake or air fry the chicken instead of deep frying, then toss with the sauce afterward.
- You can adjust the heat level by modifying the amount of Sriracha in the sauce.
- Garnish with sliced green onions or sesame seeds to add extra flavor and texture.
