Description
Bang Bang Chicken is a crispy, flavorful dish featuring tender fried chicken pieces coated in a spicy, sweet, and creamy sauce. This popular appetizer or main course is quick to prepare and perfect for serving at gatherings or family dinners. The chicken is marinated, dredged in a seasoned flour mixture, deep-fried to golden perfection, and coated with a vibrant bang bang sauce made from mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 1 ½ pounds chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Oil, for frying (canola or vegetable)
Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon honey
Garnish
- Chopped chives or green onions, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken into evenly sized chunks or strips to ensure even cooking.
- Marinate: In a bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg, salt, and black pepper. Add the chicken pieces and marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator to tenderize and flavor the meat.
- Mix Coating: In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, and salt, creating a seasoned dry mixture for dredging.
- Dredge the Chicken: Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Dredge each piece in the flour mixture, pressing firmly so the coating sticks well.
- Heat Oil: Heat oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 350°F (175°C), ensuring the oil is hot enough for frying.
- Fry the Chicken: Fry the chicken pieces in batches for 5 to 6 minutes or until they are golden brown and fully cooked through. Drain the cooked chicken on a wire rack or paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Prepare Bang Bang Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey until smooth and well combined.
- Toss or Serve: Toss the fried chicken with the prepared bang bang sauce to coat evenly, or serve the sauce on the side for dipping according to preference.
- Garnish: Garnish with chopped chives or green onions if desired for added flavor and color.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken overnight enhances flavor and tenderness, but 30 minutes is sufficient if short on time.
- Adjust the amount of sriracha in the sauce to control the spice level.
- To keep the chicken crispy, drain excess oil by placing fried pieces on a wire rack instead of paper towels.
- Can substitute chicken breasts or thighs based on preference; thighs tend to be juicier.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
