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Bang Bang Chicken Recipe

4.5 from 725 reviews

Bang Bang Chicken is a crispy, flavorful fried chicken tenderloins recipe coated in a crunchy panko crust and tossed in a creamy, spicy-sweet bang bang sauce made from mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey. This dish delivers a perfect balance of heat, sweetness, and creaminess, garnished with fresh parsley for a vibrant finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Sauce

  • 1 cup (232 g) mayonnaise
  • ½ cup (132 g) Thai sweet chili sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha (or more to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons honey

Chicken and Batter

  • 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken tenderloins
  • 1 cup (245 g) buttermilk
  • ¾ cup (94 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (64 g) cornstarch
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
  • 2 cups (216 g) panko breadcrumbs, plain
  • Canola oil, for frying

Garnish

  • Parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Make Bang Bang Sauce: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey. Mix thoroughly until smooth and set aside.
  2. Prepare the Batter: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together buttermilk, flour, cornstarch, egg, Sriracha, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper until well combined.
  3. Coat Chicken in Batter: Add chicken tenderloins to the batter, toss thoroughly ensuring each piece is fully coated.
  4. Prepare Panko Coating: Spread panko breadcrumbs on a shallow plate.
  5. Dredge Chicken in Panko: Working one piece at a time, remove chicken from batter shaking off excess, then press into panko breadcrumbs until well coated. Place coated chicken on a clean plate and repeat with remaining pieces.
  6. Heat Oil: In a large skillet, pour about an inch of canola oil and heat over medium-high heat to 365°F (185°C).
  7. Fry Chicken: Working in batches without overcrowding, add chicken to hot oil. Fry each side for about 2-3 minutes until golden brown and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Maintain oil temperature between batches.
  8. Drain Fried Chicken: Transfer cooked chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
  9. Toss with Sauce and Serve: Drizzle or toss the fried chicken with prepared bang bang sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.

Notes

  • Ensure oil temperature is consistent at 365°F for even frying and crispy coating.
  • Do not overcrowd the pan while frying to avoid soggy chicken pieces.
  • You can adjust Sriracha quantity according to desired spice level.
  • Use fresh buttermilk or sour milk for the best tenderizing effect on chicken.
  • If you want to make this recipe gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour and panko with gluten-free alternatives.

Keywords: Bang Bang Chicken, fried chicken, spicy chicken, crispy chicken tenderloins, panko chicken, Thai sweet chili sauce, homemade bang bang sauce, easy chicken recipe