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This bang bang chicken is cooked in an air fryer to make the chicken super tender and to make this recipe very convenient. The special scoring technique helps the seasoning and sauce penetrate deep, making every bite incredibly flavorful and super juicy. It’s ready in just 25 minutes and great for meal prepping.
Picture this – tender, juicy chicken breast that’s been air fried to perfection, drizzled with a creamy, spicy sauce served over rice. The best part? It’s on the table in less than 30 minutes.
That’s what you get with this air fryer bang bang chicken recipe. It combines two of my favorite things – Chinese takeout (ahem, General Tso’s chicken) and bold flavors. The bang bang sauce is very similar to the firecracker sauce I shared in my firecracker salmon recipe, and it’s just as addicting. You’ll definitely want to drizzle it over everything, so make some extra!
Why This Bang Bang Chicken Is A Weeknight Favorite
- Ready in 25 minutes. It’s pretty impressive how quickly this recipe comes together. The hands-on portion is really as easy as scoring and seasoning the chicken and whisking the sauce ingredients together. The air fryer does the rest! This is definitely a go-to recipe for those nights I’m short on time.
- Tender, juicy chicken. I know some people avoid chicken breast because they think it’s dry and bland. Not this bang bang chicken! Air frying it is my favorite method because it keeps it tender and juicy while cooking it perfectly in as little as 12 minutes.
- Explosion of flavor. The bang bang sauce is what makes this recipe. It’s a combination of mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sambal oelek (Indonesian chili paste), and sriracha. It’s creamy and spicy with just a bit of sweetness to balance it all out. Drizzling it on the chicken before cooking ensures that every bite is infused with mouthwatering flavor.
Key Ingredients
Here’s an overview of the six main ingredients needed to make air fryer bang bang chicken. The exact measurements and full list can be found in the recipe card below.
- Chicken – I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe.
- Poultry seasoning – Using a bit of all-purpose poultry seasoning, which typically includes herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary, and nutmeg, helps keep the prep simple and easy.
- Mayonnaise – The base of the bang bang sauce that makes it nice and creamy.
- Sweet chili sauce – The sweetness in the sweet chili sauce helps to balance the other hot sauce while still adding lots of flavor.
- Sambal oelek – Sambal oelek is an Indonesian spicy paste made from hot red chilies, vinegar, and salt. I like to add it for the spicy, tangy flavor in the bang bang sauce.
- Sriracha – Sriracha also helps to add heat and spice to the sauce, though a slightly different heat than the sambal oelek.
How To Make Bang Bang Chicken
Ready to see just how easy this recipe is to make? It’s on the table in less than 25 minutes!
- Cut the chicken. Use a sharp knife to make shallow diagonal cuts across the top of each breast in both directions, making a criss-cross pattern.
- Season the chicken. Drizzle the olive oil over the chicken, then generously sprinkle with the seasoning, rubbing it into the score marks.
- Make the bang bang sauce. Combine the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sambal oelek, and sriracha in a bowl. Taste test and adjust as needed.
- Air fry. Place the chicken in the air fryer and generously spoon some of the sauce on top, reserving the rest for later. Air fryer for 12-14 minutes. The internal temperature should reach 165F and the sauce should be caramelized and bubbly.
- Enjoy. Serve immediately over white rice with the reserved sauce drizzled on top.
Recipe Tips & Modifications
Before you get cooking, check out these quick tips for making this bang bang chicken recipe.
- Do not cut all the way through. When scoring the chicken breasts, be sure to make shallow cuts and NOT cut all the way through. Cutting all the way through will cause the chicken breast to fall apart.
- Taste test and adjust. I rarely make bang bang sauce the exact way twice, depending on who is eating and their spice tolerance. Once you combine the ingredients for the sauce, give it a taste and adjust accordingly. Add more mayo to mellow out the flavor or more sriracha or sambal oelek to increase the heat.
- No sambal oelek? Use more sriracha. I definitely recommend grabbing some sambal oelek if you can find it at the store. It’s so good and has such a unique flavor. But in a pinch, just increase the amount of sriracha in the sauce to replace it.
- Avoid cross-contamination. When adding the sauce to the chicken, take care to not contaminate the remaining sauce with raw chicken by touching the utensil to the chicken and back in the sauce. The remaining sauce won’t be cooked! If needed, you can always transfer the reserved sauce to a different bowl first.
What Goes With Bang Bang Chicken
My favorite way to serve bang bang chicken for an easy weeknight dinner is over cooked white rice. I like to sprinkle some fresh chopped cilantro on top and add some lime wedges on the side. Don’t forget to finish with an extra drizzle of bang bang sauce!
Add some steamed veggies, like broccoli or an Asian veggie mix, to the side to turn it into a full meal.
Or turn it into a rice bowl, by adding cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, bean sprouts, red onion, or whatever other veggies you have on hand. (This option is great for meal prep and leftovers!)
Proper Storage
- Fridge. Store leftover bang bang chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Extra sauce should also be stored in an airtight container and will last for 3-4 days.
- Reheat. Pop the chicken back in the air fryer for 4-5 minutes, just until heated through, or reheat in the microwave. I think the chicken is also wonderful added to cold salads.
Looking For More Easy Chicken Recipes?
I hope you enjoyed this recipe for my Bang Bang Chicken! I look forward to your questions and feedback below.
Please be sure to tag me @BadBatchBaking using hashtag #badbatchbaking if you made this recipe, and I will feature you on my story! Plus, I LOVE to see your baking accomplishments.
Bang Bang Chicken
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose poultry seasoning
For the Bang Bang Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon sambal oelek
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
For Serving
- Cooked white rice, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts on a lined surface (parchment paper or a tray). Using a sharp knife, make several shallow diagonal cuts scoring across the top of each breast, and then make cuts in the opposite direction to create a criss-cut pattern. Do not cut all the way through.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the scored chicken breasts and generously sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken, making sure to massage it into the score marks.
- In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients; mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sambal oelek, and sriracha. Stir thoroughly until the sauce is smooth. Taste and adjust heat to your liking.
- Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the air fryer basket. Generously spoon or brush the sauce over the top of the chicken breasts. Reserve the rest of the sauce for drizzling being careful not to cross-contaminate.
- Cook the chicken in the air fryer and cook for 12-14 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees and the sauce on top is caramelized and bubbly.
- Serve the chicken immediately over a bed of warm white rice. Drizzle the reserved sauce over the chicken and rice. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro or parsley and serve with fresh lime.
