Sizzling Bang Bang Chicken Recipe: Spicy-Sweet Comfort Food

Saucy and vibrant bang bang chicken sparks instant cravings for bold flavor combinations.

Crispy chicken pieces dance with a creamy, spicy sauce that catches everyone’s attention.

Zesty chili notes mingle with sweet undertones, creating a harmony of tastes.

Each bite promises a delightful explosion of textures and sensations.

Chinese-inspired ingredients blend seamlessly in this crowd-pleasing dish that feels both comforting and exciting.

Restaurants might charge premium prices, but you can master this recipe at home with minimal effort.

Let’s unlock the secret to making restaurant-quality bang bang chicken that will impress even the most discerning palates.

Great Sides to Match Bang Bang Chicken

• Spice Up Your Plate: Bold Pairings for Bang Bang Chicken
• Zesty Slaw Sidekick: Prepare a tangy coleslaw with rice vinegar, cilantro, and a hint of lime to cut through the creamy, spicy sauce and provide a refreshing crunch.
• Cool Down with Cucumber: Whip up a cucumber salad dressed in light yogurt and dill to balance the heat and offer a cooling contrast to the crispy, spicy chicken.
• Crisp Wine Companion: Select a slightly sweet Riesling or a chilled Gewürztraminer to complement the spicy-sweet sauce and cleanse the palate between bites.
• Rice Bed Foundation: Choose jasmine or coconut rice to soak up the delicious sauce and provide a neutral base that enhances the chicken's bold flavors.

Bang Bang Chicken Spicy Takes

• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace wheat flour with gluten-free flour blend or almond flour. Use cornstarch as primary coating for crispy texture. Ensure all sauce ingredients are certified gluten-free.
• Baked Version: Skip frying and place coated chicken on parchment-lined baking sheet. Spray with olive oil and bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway. Achieve similar crispiness with less oil.
• Low-Carb Swap: Substitute flour and cornstarch with crushed pork rinds or almond meal. Replace honey with sugar-free sweetener. Use cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice for serving.
• Vegan Alternative: Swap chicken with firm tofu or tempeh. Press tofu to remove moisture. Cut into cubes and follow same coating and sauce techniques. Use vegan mayonnaise for dressing.

FAQs

• What is the secret to getting crispy chicken?

The key is to coat the chicken thoroughly in the cornstarch and flour mixture, ensuring each piece is evenly covered. Fry in hot oil and avoid overcrowding the pan, which helps maintain the oil temperature and creates a crispy exterior.

• How spicy is Bang Bang Chicken?

The spice level depends on how much sriracha you add to the sauce. Start with a small amount and gradually increase to match your heat tolerance. You can always adjust the sauce to make it milder or hotter.

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

Vegetable oil works best, but you can also use canola or peanut oil. These oils have high smoke points and neutral flavors that are ideal for frying chicken and won’t overpower the sauce.

• Is there a healthier cooking method for this recipe?

You can bake the chicken in the oven at 425°F for about 20-25 minutes, turning once halfway through. While it won’t be as crispy as fried chicken, it’s a lower-fat alternative that still delivers great flavor.

Bang Bang Chicken That’s Sweet, Spicy, and Crispy

• Quickly Conquer Cravings: Mastering Bang Bang Chicken offers multiple delightful benefits.
• Whip Up Effortlessly: This recipe requires minimal cooking skills, making it perfect for beginners who want restaurant-quality results without complicated techniques.
• Speed Demon Meal: Preparation takes just 20 minutes from start to finish, ideal for busy weeknights when hunger strikes and time is limited.
• Crowd-Pleasing Flavor Explosion: The combination of crispy chicken and spicy-sweet sauce creates an irresistible dish that appeals to both kids and adults, guaranteeing clean plates and happy faces around the dinner table.

Bold Building Blocks of Bang Bang Chicken

• Chicken: Lean protein that forms the main star of the dish, boneless and skinless for even cooking and crispy texture.

• Cornstarch, Flour: Light and crispy coating that helps chicken become golden and crunchy, all-purpose flour works best.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings for enhancing chicken's natural flavor, freshly ground pepper recommended.

• Vegetable Oil: Neutral oil for deep frying, provides crispy exterior without overpowering chicken's taste.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy base that adds richness and helps sauce stick to chicken, use full-fat version for better texture.
• Sriracha: Spicy chili sauce that brings heat and tangy flavor, adjust amount based on personal spice preference.
• Honey: Sweet element that balances spiciness and helps create glossy sauce coating.
• Rice Vinegar: Adds subtle tang and brightness to the sauce, helps cut through richness.

• Green Onions, Sesame Seeds: Fresh topping for added color, texture, and subtle flavor complexity.

Bang Bang Chicken Frying Steps

Step 1: Prep the Protein

Break down chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper.

• Cornstarch
• All-purpose flour
• Salt

Thoroughly coat each chicken piece in the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring complete and even coverage.

Step 2: Create Golden Crunch

Select a large skillet and heat vegetable oil over medium-high temperature.

Carefully place chicken pieces into hot oil, cooking in batches to maintain optimal crispiness.

Fry each piece for 3-4 minutes per side until achieving a beautiful golden-brown exterior.

Remove chicken and let excess oil drain on paper towel-lined plate.

Step 3: Whip Up Signature Sauce

• Mayonnaise
• Sriracha sauce
• Honey
• Rice vinegar

Whisk ingredients until smooth and well-blended.

Taste and adjust spice levels to your personal preference.

Step 4: Perfect the Coating

Gently toss crispy chicken pieces in the prepared sauce, ensuring each piece gets completely and evenly covered with the tangy, spicy mixture.

Step 5: Plate and Garnish

Transfer saucy chicken to serving plate.

Sprinkle with chopped green onions or toasted sesame seeds for extra flavor and visual appeal.

Serve alongside steamed rice, noodles, or fresh salad.

Flavor Tips for Spicy Bang Bang Chicken

• Ensure each chicken piece is completely covered in the flour mixture for a crispy, uniform exterior that locks in moisture and creates a perfect crunch.
• Maintain medium-high heat to prevent burning and achieve golden-brown chicken that's crispy outside and juicy inside.
• Adjust sriracha amount to suit your heat tolerance, adding more for intense fire or less for a milder flavor profile.
• Let fried chicken rest on paper towels to absorb extra oil, keeping the coating crisp and preventing a greasy texture.
• Whisk sauce ingredients thoroughly to create a smooth, well-integrated blend that coats chicken evenly with sweet, tangy, and spicy notes.

Bang Bang Chicken Reheat Tips

• Store leftover bang bang chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, keeping the crispy texture intact.
• Preheat oven to 350°F, place chicken on a baking sheet, and warm for 10-15 minutes to restore crispiness and prevent sogginess.
• While not ideal, you can reheat chicken in short 30-second intervals, checking between each to maintain moisture and prevent rubbery texture.
• Enjoy reheated bang bang chicken within 24 hours for optimal taste and texture, as crispy coating tends to soften over time.

Bang Bang Chicken Recipe

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4.7 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Spicy Sichuan “bang bang chicken” delivers a flavor explosion of tender shredded chicken drenched in a complex chili oil sauce. Numbing Sichuan peppercorns and rich sesame notes create a memorable dish you won’t forget, inviting your taste buds on a thrilling culinary journey through southwestern China.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 2 chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces

Dry Coating Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) cornstarch
• 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) all-purpose flour
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste

Sauce and Cooking Ingredients:

• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) sriracha sauce
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) honey
• 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) rice vinegar

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Instructions

1. Craft a spice blend by combining cornstarch, flour, and salt in a mixing vessel.
2. Thoroughly coat each chicken piece with the seasoned powder mixture, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
3. Warm vegetable oil in a spacious skillet, maintaining a consistent medium-high temperature.
4. Carefully introduce chicken segments into the hot oil, working in batches to prevent overcrowding.
5. Fry each piece for approximately 3-4 minutes per side, rotating to achieve a rich golden-brown exterior and crisp texture.
6. Remove fried chicken and place on absorbent paper towels to eliminate excess oil.
7. Craft a vibrant sauce by whisking together mayonnaise, sriracha, honey, and rice vinegar in a separate bowl.
8. Taste and adjust the sauce’s spice intensity according to personal preference.
9. Gently tumble the crisp chicken pieces in the prepared sauce, ensuring thorough and even coating.
10. For enhanced presentation, sprinkle chopped green onions or toasted sesame seeds over the sauced chicken.
11. Serve alongside steamed rice, warm noodles, or a crisp side salad to complete the dish.

Notes

• Choose bone-in chicken thighs for maximum flavor and juiciness, ensuring each piece remains tender during cooking.
• Maintain consistent oil temperature around 350°F to prevent greasy or unevenly cooked chicken, using a kitchen thermometer for precision.
• Use gluten-free flour alternatives like rice flour or almond flour for those with wheat sensitivities, creating a crispy coating that’s dietary-friendly.
• Experiment with sauce variations by adding grated ginger, minced garlic, or a splash of soy sauce to enhance the Bang Bang Chicken’s complex flavor profile.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 625
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg