Bang Bang Chicken

Oct 15, 2023

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This easy bang bang chicken recipe is crispy and crunchy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. Served with a rich and creamy sweet and spicy mayo chili sauce, this fried chicken is truly irresistible.

Close-up image of bang bang chicken drizzled with chili mayo sauce and green onions on top.

Easy Bang Bang Chicken Recipe

Crispy fried chicken bites paired with a drizzling of sweet and spicy mayo sauce make this chicken irresistibly good! Bang Bang Chicken holds a special spot on my favorites list, and this recipe tops anything I’ve tasted at restaurants. The fried chicken is wonderfully crispy, while the inside remains juicy and delicious. A perfect combo of spices, including chili powder, garlic powder, and white pepper, marinate the chicken, adding to its fantastic flavors. However, the real game-changer is the bang bang sauce – a blend of creamy richness with mayo, red pepper flakes, and sweet chili sauce. The rice vinegar introduces a refreshing tang, while the honey imparts a gentle sweetness to balance the flavors. Prepare to be addicted – this recipe will have you coming back for more, time and again!

What Is Bang Bang Chicken?

Bang bang chicken is a Chinese dish that was originally a street food in Sichuan. It’s made out of bite-size pieces of juicy chicken, which is usually fried until crispy. The meat is served with a sweet chili dipping sauce that’s rich, creamy, spicy, and sweet.

Overhead image of crispy fried bang bang chicken served on a dark dinner plate.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Recipe

Super easy. The flavors in this crispy chicken might be intense, but the work required is not. This is a very easy chicken recipe to make, and it only takes 20 minutes.
Better than takeout. This juicy rendition of Bang Bang Chicken is truly better than any restaurant version I’ve ever had. The meat is moist but crunchy, and the tangy and spicy sauce is so good that you’ll be tempted to eat it with a spoon.
So crispy. One of the secrets to this chicken recipe is the panko breadcrumbs, which are smaller and lighter than regular breadcrumbs. This makes the breading on the chicken extra crunchy when you fry it.
Versatile. This dish can be eaten in many different ways. You can dip it in the bang bang sauce and eat it as an appetizer, snack, or side dish, or you can drizzle the sauce on top and eat the meat as an entree. It’s also great for parties and game days!

Overhead view of the ingredients needed for bang bang chicken: a bowl of chicken slices, a bowl of flour, a bowl of panko breadcrumbs, a bowl of buttermilk, a bowl of cornstarch, an egg, a bowl of salt, a bowl of pepper, and a bowl of garlic powder, chili powder, and white pepper.

Overhead view of the ingredients needed for bang bang sauce: a bowl of mayonnaise, a bowl of sweet chili sauce, a bowl of honey, a bowl of rice vinegar, a bowl of salt and pepper, and a bowl of garlic powder and chili flakes.

Ingredients For Bang Bang Chicken

Chicken breasts – Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, if that is what you prefer.
Egg: Acts as a binder and helps the coating adhere to the chicken.
Buttermilk: Makes the chicken moist and tender, and adds a slight tanginess.
Salt & Pepper
Garlic powder
Chili powder
White pepper
All-purpose flour: Creates a light, crispy coating when fried.
Cornstarch
Panko breadcrumbs: Add an extra layer of crunch to the chicken’s exterior.
Vegetable oil: For frying the chicken.
Mayonnaise: The base for the bang bang sauce.
Sweet chili sauce
Honey: Enhances the sweetness in the sauce, balancing the spice.
Rice vinegar
Crushed red pepper flakes
Salt & Pepper

How to Make Bang Bang Chicken

Chicken pieces dredging in panko breadcrumbs.

Cut. Slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Mix the wet ingredients. Add the egg and buttermilk to a bowl and whisk together until combined. Add the garlic powder, chili powder, white pepper, salt, and black pepper to the buttermilk mixture, and whisk until incorporated.
Add the flour. Put the flour and the cornstarch in the mixture and mix until smooth.
Prepare the breadcrumbs. Pour the panko breadcrumbs into a bowl.
Dredge the chicken. Dip the pieces of chicken into the buttermilk batter until fully coated, then place it in the breadcrumbs. Gently press the breadcrumbs into the meat.
Heat oil. Pour about 2 inches of oil into a deep skillet, then heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350˚F.
Fry. Working in batches, add some of the chicken pieces to the oil and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 5 minutes. Drain the chicken on paper towels and repeat until all of the meat is cooked.
Make the sauce. Add all of the bang bang chicken sauce ingredients to a bowl, and whisk until smooth and blended. Taste, then add salt and pepper as needed.
Serve. Garnish the bang bang chicken with optional chopped green onions, and serve it with the sauce in a dipping bowl or drizzled over the meat.

Overhead, close-up image of fried, crispy chicken bites topped with sauce and served with a lemon slice.

Tips for Success

Don’t crowd the pot. Make sure to cook your chicken in batches so that it’s not overcrowded when frying. If you cook too many pieces at once, it will drop the heat of the oil and keep the meat from getting properly crispy.
Make the sauce ahead of time. This entire chicken and tangy sauce takes just 20 minutes to make. But if you have the time, try making the bang bang chicken sauce in advance and storing it in the fridge for a few hours or even overnight. That will give the flavors time to meld, and the sauce will taste even better.
Use the wet hand method. Dredging chicken can get really messy. To simplify it, use the wet hand method when breading the meat. Use one hand to put the chicken in the batter and remove it from the batter. Then, use your other hand to cover the battered chicken in panko breadcrumbs. This will keep your hands from getting gummy and messy, and it will ensure that the breading on the chicken is light and crispy.
Adjust the sauce. Bang bang sauce is one of my favorite foods, but everyone makes it a little bit differently. Adjust the ingredients in the sauce based on what you like; make it sweeter, spicier, or tangier.

A plate of bang bang chicken with a lemon slice and a pair of chopsticks, next to a napkin and another lemon slice.

Serving Suggestions

Because this fried bang bang chicken with a creamy dipping sauce is quite rich, I like to serve it with a light and fresh veggie side dish.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

Leftover bang bang chicken will last in the fridge for 3 days if stored in an airtight container. You can reheat the chicken in a 400˚F oven for 10 minutes or in a 400˚F air fryer for 5 minutes.
The chicken can also be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for 4 months. You can reheat the chicken straight from the freezer, in a 400˚F oven for 15-20 minutes, or in a 400˚F air fryer for 8-10 minutes.
Store leftover bang bang sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I do not recommend freezing the sauce.