The Zesty Bang Bang Chicken Recipe Everyone Will Love

Spicy bang bang chicken dances with vibrant flavors that will make your taste buds sing!

Crispy coating and creamy sauce create an irresistible combination guaranteed to impress.

Sweet and tangy notes blend perfectly in this crowd-pleasing dish.

Crunchy chicken pieces drizzled with signature sauce bring serious excitement to dinner.

Fragrant seasonings transform ordinary ingredients into something extraordinary.

Southeast Asian inspirations shine through every delectable bite.

You’ll find this recipe becomes an instant favorite that sparks conversation around the dinner table.

Dive into this simple yet spectacular culinary adventure that promises pure deliciousness.

Bang Bang Chicken: Bold Flavors to Savor

• Craft Crispy Perfection: This recipe delivers incredibly crunchy chicken with a golden exterior that guarantees a satisfying bite every single time.
• Sauce Up Your Meal: The bang bang sauce transforms ordinary chicken into an exciting flavor explosion, blending sweet, spicy, and tangy notes that will make taste buds dance.
• Quick Kitchen Win: Minimal ingredients and simple steps mean you can whip up a restaurant-quality dish without complicated techniques or hours of preparation.
• Crowd-Pleasing Delight: Perfect for casual gatherings, game nights, or family dinners where everyone craves something deliciously addictive and universally loved.

Ingredients for Bang Bang Chicken

• Chicken Pieces: Protein that forms the core of this delicious crispy dish.

• Buttermilk: Helps tenderize the chicken and adds a subtle tangy flavor.
• Salt, Pepper: Enhance the overall seasoning of the chicken.

• All-Purpose Flour, Cornstarch: Create a crispy, golden exterior for the chicken.
• Garlic Powder, Onion Powder: Add depth and savory flavor to the coating.
• Salt, Pepper: Provide additional seasoning to the crispy layer.

• Mayonnaise: Provides a creamy base for the sauce.
• Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds a sweet and slightly spicy element.
• Sriracha: Brings heat and additional complexity to the sauce.
• Honey: Offers a touch of sweetness to balance the sauce (optional).

• Vegetable Oil: Used for deep-frying the chicken to achieve a crispy texture.

How to Make Bang Bang Chicken

Step 1: Whip Up a Tangy Buttermilk Bath

Grab a mixing bowl and create a flavorful marinade.

Combine buttermilk with salt and pepper.

Submerge chicken pieces completely in the mixture, letting them soak up the delicious flavors for 15-30 minutes.

Step 2: Craft a Crispy Coating

• Flour
• Cornstarch
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Salt
• Pepper

Mix these ingredients until they form a perfect crunchy breading.

Step 3: Heat Oil to Crispy Perfection

Fire up your deep pan or fryer, bringing the oil to a sizzling 350F (175C).

The right temperature ensures a golden, crunchy exterior.

Step 4: Dredge and Fry Chicken

Coat each chicken piece in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking off any excess.

Carefully lower the pieces into the hot oil, frying in batches.

Cook for 4-6 minutes until the chicken turns a beautiful golden brown and becomes irresistibly crispy.

Transfer to a paper towel to drain excess oil.

Step 5: Whip Up Bang Bang Sauce

• Mayonnaise
• Sweet chili sauce
• Sriracha
• Honey (optional)

Whisk until smooth and creamy.

Step 6: Sauce It Up

Either toss the crispy chicken pieces in the bang bang sauce or serve the sauce separately as a dipping delight.

Enjoy your crunchy, saucy creation!

Tips for Bang Bang Chicken Success

• Let chicken sit in buttermilk mixture for full 30 minutes to ensure maximum tenderness and flavor absorption.
• Use a food thermometer to confirm oil reaches exactly 350F for perfectly crispy, not greasy chicken.
• Adjust bang bang sauce heat levels by gradually adding sriracha to match your personal spice tolerance.
• Double-dredge chicken pieces in flour mixture for extra crunchy, thick breading that stays crisp longer.
• Keep fried chicken warm in low-temperature oven (200F) while preparing remaining batches to maintain optimal crispiness.

Variations to Explore with Bang Bang Chicken

• Gluten-Free Crispy Chicken: Replace wheat flour with gluten-free flour blend or almond flour for those with wheat sensitivities.
• Spicy Herb Variation: Add dried herbs like thyme or rosemary to the flour mixture for an aromatic flavor profile.
• Low-Carb Keto Option: Substitute flour with crushed pork rinds or almond flour, using sugar-free chili sauce to keep carbohydrates minimal.
• Dairy-Free Alternative: Use coconut milk instead of buttermilk for marinating, and replace mayonnaise with cashew cream in the bang bang sauce.

Serving Suggestions for Bang Bang Chicken

• Spicy Sidekick Platter: Serve chicken with crisp cucumber slices and pickled vegetables for a cooling contrast to the hot sauce.
• Party Appetizer Style: Slice chicken into bite-sized pieces, arrange on toothpicks with a small drizzle of bang bang sauce for easy finger food.
• Rice Bowl Delight: Layer chicken over steamed jasmine rice, sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds, then drizzle extra sauce for a complete meal.
• Sandwich Transformation: Place crispy chicken between soft brioche buns, add lettuce and extra bang bang sauce for a quick lunch option.

Storage Advice for Bang Bang Chicken

• Store leftover bang bang chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Separate the chicken from the sauce to maintain crispiness.
• Wrap individual chicken pieces in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Preheat oven to 375F. Place chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet to restore crispiness. Warm for 10-12 minutes, turning once halfway through to ensure even heating.
• Set air fryer to 360F. Arrange chicken in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding. Crisp for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway to maintain texture and prevent sogginess.

FAQs

• How spicy is bang bang chicken?

The sriracha and sweet chili sauce create a medium heat level that’s zesty but not overwhelming. You can adjust the sauce’s spiciness by adding more or less sriracha.

• What makes the chicken so crispy?

The combination of buttermilk marinade and flour-cornstarch coating creates an extra crispy, golden exterior. The cornstarch helps achieve a lighter, crunchier texture compared to regular flour.

• Can I use a different type of oil for frying?

Vegetable, canola, or peanut oil work best for frying. They have high smoke points and neutral flavors that won’t interfere with the chicken’s taste.

Bang Bang Chicken Recipe

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4.7 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 36 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Sichuan-style bang bang chicken delivers a spicy, tangy symphony of flavors that dance across your palate. Succulent shredded chicken meets a bold sauce, inviting diners to savor each intensely seasoned bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

Coating Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) buttermilk
• 1 cup (125 grams) flour
• 1/2 cup (60 grams) cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder

Seasoning and Cooking:

• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Oil for frying (as needed)

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Instructions

1. Immerse chicken pieces in a buttermilk bath seasoned with salt and pepper, allowing flavors to penetrate for 15-30 minutes.
2. Create a crispy coating by blending flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a mixing vessel.
3. Prepare a deep pan or fryer, heating oil to precisely 350F (175C) for optimal frying temperature.
4. Carefully coat each marinated chicken piece in the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring an even, light dusting by gently shaking off excess.
5. Submerge chicken pieces into hot oil, frying in manageable batches for 4-6 minutes until achieving a golden, crunchy exterior.
6. Transfer fried chicken to paper towels, allowing excess oil to drain and maintaining crisp texture.
7. Craft a tangy bang bang sauce by whisking mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey into a smooth, vibrant blend.
8. Either generously coat crispy chicken pieces with sauce or present sauce separately for personalized dipping experience.

Notes

• Marinating chicken in buttermilk helps tenderize the meat, creating a juicier and more flavorful result.
• Ensure oil reaches the correct temperature before frying to achieve a crispy, golden exterior without absorbing excess oil.
• For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend or rice flour.
• Adjust spice levels in bang bang sauce by increasing or decreasing sriracha amount to suit personal heat preference.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 6 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 360 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg