Easy Crispy Bang Bang Chicken Recipe (Better Than Takeout!) , 40 Minutes

This Crispy Bang Bang Chicken delivers the perfect takeout experience at home: incredibly crunchy tenders coated in a signature creamy, spicy, and sweet sauce. Unlike many complicated restaurant copycats, this recipe uses a simple buttermilk and flour marinade with panko breadcrumbs for maximum crispiness that holds up to the iconic Bang Bang sauce. It’s an irresistible Asian fusion chicken dish that works equally well as a fun appetizer for game day or a quick family dinner served over rice.

The magic is in the balance of the sauce and the frying technique. The Bang Bang sauce recipe is a 4-ingredient wonder—just mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey—that comes together in one minute. For the chicken, the key is maintaining your oil temperature at 365°F and not overcrowding the pan. This ensures each piece turns golden brown and stays crispy even after being tossed. Follow these simple steps for a crowd-pleasing dish that’s sure to become a regular in your rotation.

Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 15 mins | Total Time: 40 mins | Servings: 4

Ingredients

• For the Bang Bang Sauce:
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
  • 1 tsp Sriracha sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey
• For the Chicken:
  • 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tbsp Sriracha sauce
  • 1/2 tsp each: garlic powder, salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 2 cups plain panko breadcrumbs
  • Canola oil, for frying
  • Chopped parsley, for garnish

Instructions

1. Make Sauce: In a bowl, whisk all sauce ingredients until smooth. Set aside.
2. Marinate Chicken: In a large bowl, whisk buttermilk, flour, cornstarch, egg, Sriracha, garlic powder, salt, and pepper into a smooth batter. Add chicken, coat well, and marinate for 10 minutes.
3. Bread Chicken: Place panko on a plate. Take each tender from the marinade, let excess drip off, and press firmly into the panko to coat.
4. Fry Chicken: Heat 1 inch of oil in a heavy skillet to 365°F. Fry tenders in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked to 165°F internally. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
5. Coat & Serve: Toss the hot, crispy chicken in the Bang Bang sauce until evenly coated. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

3. Blog Photo Metadata

• Alt Text: A close-up of crispy golden Bang Bang chicken tenders coated in a creamy white and red sauce, garnished with parsley, on a dark plate.
• Title: Homemade Crispy Bang Bang Chicken with Creamy Spicy Sauce
• Caption: Our easy Bang Bang Chicken recipe—crispy fried tenders tossed in the iconic sweet, spicy, and creamy sauce.
• Description: A styled photo featuring a heap of crispy fried chicken tenders generously coated in a creamy Bang Bang sauce, with a sprinkle of fresh green parsley for garnish.

Maria Canilssom

Bang Bang Chicken

This easy Bang Bang Chicken recipe makes crispy fried chicken tossed in a creamy, spicy-sweet sauce. Ready in 40 minutes—it’s the ultimate homemade takeout fakeout! For more easy chicken dinners with big flavor, try our popular Honey Butter Chicken or our Crispy Chicken Katsu Bowls. If you love spicy Asian-inspired sauces, our Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing is a must-try. This recipe celebrates the fusion of crispy fried chicken with a sauce inspired by the sweet and spicy flavors found in Sichuan cuisine.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Asian Fusion

Calories: 520

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
• 1 tsp Sriracha sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 0.75 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.5 cup cornstarch
• 1 large egg
• 1 tbsp Sriracha sauce
• 0.5 tsp garlic powder
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper
• 2 cup plain panko breadcrumbs
• 1 batch canola oil, for frying
• 1 pinch chopped parsley, for garnish

Equipment

• mixing bowls
• whisk
• heavy skillet or Dutch oven For frying
• tongs
• Instant-Read Thermometer For checking oil and chicken temperature

Method

 

1. In a small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey until completely smooth. Cover and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk, flour, cornstarch, egg, 1 tbsp Sriracha, garlic powder, salt, and pepper into a smooth, thick batter. Add the chicken tenderloins and turn to coat completely. Let marinate for 10 minutes.
3. Place the panko breadcrumbs on a plate. Remove each chicken tender from the marinade, letting excess drip off, and press firmly into the panko on all sides to create an even, thick coating. Place on a clean plate.
4. Heat about 1 inch of canola oil in a heavy skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat to 365°F. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, fry the chicken tenders for 2-3 minutes per side until deep golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F). Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
5. While still hot, place the crispy chicken tenders in a large bowl. Pour the prepared Bang Bang sauce over them and toss gently until every piece is evenly coated.
6. Transfer the sauced chicken to a serving platter. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately while hot and crispy.

Notes

Pro Tips: Keep your oil temperature steady at 365°F for the crispiest results—use a thermometer. Don’t overcrowd the pan; fry in batches. For extra heat, add an extra teaspoon of Sriracha or a pinch of cayenne to the sauce. To make it lighter, you can bake the breaded tenders at 425°F for 15-18 minutes. For meal prep, store the cooked, unsauced chicken and sauce separately. Reheat chicken in the oven or air fryer to keep it crispy before tossing with sauce.

For more easy chicken dinners with big flavor, try our popular Honey Butter Chicken or our Crispy Chicken Katsu Bowls. If you love spicy Asian-inspired sauces, our Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing is a must-try. This Bang Bang Chicken recipe celebrates the fusion of crispy American-style fried chicken with a sauce inspired by the sweet and spicy flavors found in Sichuan cuisine, similar to approaches used by sites like RecipeTin Eats.