Bang Bang Chicken! (Aaron Rogers)

Bang Bang Chicken!

View recipe online

Ingredients:

For Sauce:
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sweet chili sauce I used Frank’s
1 tablespoon hot sauce I used Sriracha
2 tablespoons honey
Salt and pepper to taste

For Chicken:
4 chicken breasts boneless, skinless, cut into small
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cornstarch
1 cup buttermilk use more if batter is too thick
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon salt or to taste
½ teaspoon pepper or to taste
1 tablespoon hot sauce I used Sriracha
1 large egg
1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions:

  1. To prepare the sauce, mix all the ingredients for the sauce together in a bowl and refrigerate until ready for serving.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. To the bowl add the hot sauce, egg, buttermilk and whisk until you have a smooth batter. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl, toss to make sure each piece is coated in the batter and set aside.
  3. In another bowl add about a cup of Panko breadcrumbs. Coat each piece of chicken with breadcrumbs, add more breadcrumbs as needed.
  4. Add about ½ inch of oil in a large skillet and heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the hot oil and fry on both sides for about 3 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Place on paper napkins to soak up some of the oil. Repeat with all chicken pieces. Do not overcrowd the chicken, only add a few pieces of chicken to the skillet at a time, so the chicken turns out crispy.
  5. Drizzle chicken with sauce and serve.

Notes:

  • Sauce Variations: Feel free to adjust the spice level of the Bang Bang Sauce by using more or less hot sauce. You can even toss in a bit of garlic powder for an extra kick!
  • Chicken Cuts: While this recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, you can also use chicken thighs for a juicier result. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
  • Breadcrumb Alternatives: If you’re out of Panko, regular breadcrumbs or even crushed cornflakes can be used. Just note that the texture will vary slightly.
  • Oil Temperature: Ensure the oil is hot enough for frying to get that perfect crispiness. You can test it by dropping a small piece of batter into the oil; if it sizzles immediately, you’re good to go.
  • Make-Ahead: You can make the sauce up to 3 days in advance and store it in the fridge. Chicken can be coated and kept in the fridge for up to 4 hours before frying.