Description
Bang Bang Chicken is a crispy and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken coated in a spicy, sweet, and creamy sauce made from mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey. The chicken is coated in a seasoned buttermilk batter, dredged in panko breadcrumbs, and fried to golden perfection, then tossed in the tangy bang bang sauce for a perfect balance of heat and sweetness.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Bang Bang Sauce
- 1 cup (232 g) mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup (132 g) Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha, or more to taste
- 2 tablespoons honey
Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken tenderloins
- 1 cup (245 g) buttermilk
- 3/4 cup (94 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (64 g) cornstarch
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 2 cups (216 g) panko breadcrumbs, plain
- Canola oil, for frying
- Parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Bang Bang Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey. Mix well until smooth and set aside.
- Make the Chicken Batter: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, egg, Sriracha, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne pepper. Stir until well combined.
- Coat the Chicken: Add the chicken tenderloins to the batter and toss to coat completely. Place plain panko breadcrumbs on a shallow plate.
- Bread the Chicken: Remove each piece of chicken from the batter one at a time, gently shaking off excess. Dredge each piece in the panko breadcrumbs, pressing slightly to adhere. Arrange the coated chicken pieces on a clean plate and set aside.
- Heat the Oil: Pour about one inch of canola oil into a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 365°F (185°C).
- Fry the Chicken: Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, carefully add the chicken to the hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Maintain oil temperature between batches.
- Drain the Chicken: Transfer the fried chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Toss with Sauce and Serve: Place the crispy chicken in a serving bowl, pour the prepared bang bang sauce over it, and toss gently to coat. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Ensure the oil is hot enough before frying to get a crispy crust and avoid sogginess.
- Do not overcrowd the pan when frying to maintain oil temperature and even cooking.
- Adjust the amount of Sriracha in the sauce and batter according to your preferred spice level.
- Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of chicken for food safety.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour and panko with gluten-free alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 4-5 chicken tenderloins with sauce)
- Calories: 570 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg