This Bang Bang Chicken is creamy, spicy, a little sweet, and a lot delicious! Best of all, all you need are 8 ingredients and 20 minutes to make it.
I’m a huge fan of chicken bites! I’ve shared many chicken bite recipes over the years, like these teriyaki chicken bites and honey chili crisp chicken bites. But when I heard about Bang Bang Chicken, I knew I had to make it into a chicken bite recipe – and I was not disappointed!
These bang bang chicken bites are so quick and easy to make, and the flavor is so good! First, we toss chicken in seasonings, cornstarch, and sriracha, then saute until tender, juicy, and perfect. Then, it’s time to toss the warm chicken bites in creamy, spicy bang bang chicken sauce and serve up however you like. Love!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Simple recipe – All you need are 8 ingredients to make this bang bang chicken recipe.
- Fast to make – Just 20 minutes from start to finish!
- So many ways to serve it – Dish it up simply with a side of rice, or add it to a bang bang chicken bowl with fresh veggies and an extra drizzle of chili sauce. I love that you can toss leftovers into fried rice, stir fries, or bowls, so that it never gets boring.
What is Bang Bang Chicken?
Bang Bang Chicken originated as a Sichuan dish. Supposedly it’s called “bang bang” because the Chinese word for the stick or club that’s used to pound the chicken sounds like “bang.” There are many variations of Bang Bang Chicken out there, usually with a spicy and sweet flavor profile.
Recipe Notes
This Bang Bang Chicken recipe is as simple as promised! Just 8 ingredients for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Bang Bang Chicken to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
For the bang bang chicken:
- Chicken – You’ll want two pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast.
- Sesame oil – Perfect for sautéing the bang bang chicken bites while also adding loads of flavor. Be sure to use plain sesame oil, not toasted sesame oil, which has a much stronger flavor profile.
- Cornstarch – Helps create a flavorful coating around juicy pieces of chicken.
- Salt, pepper, and garlic powder – Seasonings to help flavor the chicken.
- Sriracha – For a spicy kick!
For the bang bang sauce:
- Mayonnaise – Forms the creamy base of the bang bang sauce.
- Sweet chili sauce – Usually found in the condiments aisle or Asian food aisle of the grocery store.
- Lime juice – Choose a smooth lime that’s heavy for its size for the most juice.
- Sriracha – For heat and flavor.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Extra Spicy Bang Bang Chicken– Double up on the sriracha and sprinkle the cooked chicken with crushed red pepper flakes to really lay on the heat.
- Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe– Swap in shrimp for the chicken, sautéing it until it’s no longer pink in the middle.
- Bang Bang Chicken Skewers– Thread chicken pieces onto skewers and either cook them on the grill or saute as directed.
- Bang Bang Cauliflower Recipe– Place cauliflower florets in a steamer basket and steam for about 4 minutes, just until barely fork tender. Saute in sesame oil and stir in the sauce.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Bang Bang Chicken.
Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces.
Toss with cornstarch, seasonings, and sriracha.
Make the bang bang sauce. In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, lime juice, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha.
Saute the chicken in the sesame oil until cooked through, then toss with the bang-bang sauce.
Recipe Tips
- Freeze the chicken breasts briefly for easy cutting – A 15-20 minute trip to the freezer will help firm up the chicken, which makes it really easy to cut into bite-size pieces.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness – Insert the probe of an instant-read thermometer into the largest piece of chicken. If the temp reads 165°F or higher, it’s done.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Prep ahead – Cut and season the chicken and prep the sauce beforehand. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days before cooking.
- Use your freezer – Make it a freezer meal! See “Freezer Meal Instructions” for all you need to know.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this Bang Bang Chicken recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How to Freeze Bang Bang Chicken After Cooking
- Follow recipe and let the chicken cool.
- Separate into meal-size portions and place in a freezer-safe container or bag. Label and transfer to the freezer.
- Thaw overnight in the fridge and warm in the microwave or in the oven.
What to Serve with Bang Bang Chicken
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of Asian food, it will pair well with many of your favorite Asian-inspired side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Rice is the perfect base for bang bang chicken. Use your favorite white or brown rice, or level up with delicious Easy Vegetable Fried Rice or Lemon Rice.
- Cool cucumbers are perfect for taming the heat. I especially love this Asian Cucumber Salad with Ginger Soy Dressing with this bang bang chicken recipe.
- I love shredded cabbage or my Spicy Sriracha Asian Coleslaw with bang bang chicken bites.
Bang Bang Chicken Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Bang Bang Chicken Bowls– For a delicious bang bang chicken rice bowl, add leftover warmed Bang Bang Chicken to a bowl with jasmine rice, shredded cabbage, red bell pepper, snap peas, and shredded carrots. Top with crunchy chow mein noodles and sliced scallions, then drizzle with sweet chili sauce.
- Bang Bang Chicken Fried Rice– Whip up a batch of chicken fried rice, but swap in flavorful Bang Bang Chicken!
- Bang Bang Chicken Stir Fry– Make chicken vegetable stir fry, but swap in leftover bang bang chicken, keeping in mind it will take less time to warm the chicken than it would cooking the chicken from raw.
Recipe FAQ’s
What is the difference between bang bang and yum yum sauce?
Bang bang sauce is Chinese influenced while yum yum sauce originates from Japanese steakhouses. Both sauces have a mayo base, but bang bang sauce is made with sweet chili sauce, lime juice, and hot sauce while yum yum sauce is made with ketchup, butter, sugar, hot sauce, and seasonings.
Why do they call it bang bang chicken?
Reportedly, “bang bang” chicken comes from the Mandarin Chinese word for “stick,” which is “bàng.” A stick, or baton, is traditionally used to tenderize the chicken before cooking it.
More EASY Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy chicken recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Honey Chili Crisp Chicken Bites
- Easy Teriyaki Chicken Bites
- Honey Sesame Chicken
- Easy Hibachi Chicken
Bang Bang Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons sriracha
Bang Bang Sauce
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sriracha
Instructions
- To make the bang bang sauce, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and lime juice.
- Cut chicken into 1 inch pieces. Then season with sesame oil, cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and sriracha. Work the seasoning through out the chicken until everything is evenly coated.
- Heat a large non stick skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil, once hot, add the chicken bites in a single layer.Allow the chicken to cook for 3-4 minutes, then flip and continue to cook for 4-5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
- Remove chicken from the heat and toss with the bang bang sauce. Serve with rice or over shredded cabbage.
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