This crispy bang bang chicken became our Friday night dinner tradition during the summer of 2022 when Max discovered it at a local restaurant and begged me to make it at home. I spent three weeks trying to recreate that perfect combination of crunchy coating and creamy, sweet-spicy sauce. The breakthrough came when I stopped following online recipes and started paying attention to how the restaurant actually cooked theirs - turns out the secret was double-frying the chicken to get that incredible crunch.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
From years of making this for Max and his friends, I can tell you exactly why it's become such a hit. First, it's way easier than it looks - no complicated marinades or hours of prep time. You can have this on the table in about 30 minutes, which beats waiting for takeout any day of the week.
The coating stays Crispy Bang Bang Chicken for hours, not minutes. I've served this at potluck dinners where it sat for an hour and people were still commenting on how crunchy it was. That's because of the double-fry technique sounds fancy, but it's basically just frying twice for a few minutes each time.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- nts for Crispy Bang Bang Chicken
- How To Make Crispy Bang Bang Chicken Step By Step
- Smart Swaps for Crispy Bang Bang Chicken
- Tasty Twists on Crispy Bang Bang Chicken
- Equipment FOR Crispy Bang Bang Chicken
- Storing Your Crispy Bang Bang ChickeN
- What to Serve with Crispy Bang Bang Chicken
- Top Tip
- The Dish My Grandmother Taught Me to Love
- FAQ
- Crispy Perfection Made Simple!
- Related
- Pairing
- Crispy Bang Bang Chicken
nts for Crispy Bang Bang Chicken
For the Chicken:
- Boneless chicken thighs or breasts
- All-purpose flour
- Cornstarch
- Buttermilk
- Eggs
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
For the Bang Bang Sauce:
- Mayonnaise
- Sweet chili sauce
- Sriracha sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Honey
- Garlic powder
For Frying:
- Vegetable oil
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Crispy Bang Bang Chicken Step By Step
Prep Work:
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces
- Set up three bowls: flour mix, buttermilk-egg wash, and final flour coating
- Heat oil to 350°F in heavy pot or deep fryer
- Make bang bang sauce and set aside
The Double-Coating Method:
- Dredge chicken in seasoned flour
- Dip in buttermilk mixture
- Coat again in flour-cornstarch mix
- Let sit for 5 minutes (this helps coating stick)
First Fry:
- Fry chicken pieces for 3-4 minutes
- Remove and drain on paper towels
- Let rest for 2-3 minutes
Second Fry:
- Toss immediately with bang bang sauce while hot
- Fry again for 2-3 minutes until golden brown
- Drain briefly on paper towels
Smart Swaps for Crispy Bang Bang Chicken
Chicken Alternatives:
- Boneless thighs → Chicken breasts (cook 1 minute less)
- Chicken → Cauliflower florets (same method, shorter fry time)
- Regular chicken → Chicken tenders (cut fry time in half)
Coating Changes:
- All-purpose flour → Gluten-free flour blend
- Buttermilk → Regular milk + 1 tablespoon vinegar
- Cornstarch → Potato starch or tapioca starch
Sauce Swaps:
- Mayonnaise → Greek yogurt (thinner consistency)
- Sweet chili sauce → Apricot jam + red pepper flakes
- Sriracha → Any hot sauce (adjust amount to taste)
- Honey → Maple syrup or brown sugar
Frying Options:
- Vegetable oil → Peanut oil or canola oil
- Deep frying → Air fryer at 400°F for 12-15 minutes
Tasty Twists on Crispy Bang Bang Chicken
Spicy Heat Lovers:
- Double the sriracha in sauce
- Add cayenne to flour coating
- Sprinkle red pepper flakes on top
- Serve with extra hot sauce
Sweet and Mild:
- Use honey mustard instead of sriracha
- Add pineapple juice to sauce
- Coconut flakes in coating
- Perfect for kids like Max
Asian-Inspired:
- Sesame oil in sauce
- Sesame seeds on top
- Soy sauce drizzle
- Green onion garnish
Buffalo Style:
- Mix buffalo sauce with bang bang sauce
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Celery stick garnish
- Ranch dipping sauce
Honey Garlic:
- Cilantro finish
- Extra honey in sauce
- Fresh minced garlic
- Ginger powder in coating
Equipment FOR Crispy Bang Bang Chicken
- Tongs or slotted spoon
- Heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer
- Candy thermometer (for oil temperature)
- Wire cooling rack
- Large mixing bowls
Storing Your Crispy Bang Bang ChickeN
Best Practices:
- Store chicken and sauce separately if possible
- Refrigerate up to 3 days maximum
- Reheat in oven, not microwave
- Don't freeze - coating gets mushy
Reheating Method:
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Place chicken on wire rack over baking sheet
- Heat for 8-10 minutes until crispy again
- Add fresh sauce after reheating
Make-Ahead Strategy:
- Fry just before eating for best results
- Prep sauce up to 3 days early
- Bread chicken morning of serving
What to Serve with Crispy Bang Bang Chicken
From years of serving this dish for family dinners and parties, I've learned that the best sides balance out the rich, creamy sauce. Steamed white rice is my go-to because it soaks up all that extra bang bang sauce always asks for extra rice just so he can get every drop. For vegetables, I usually do something fresh and crunchy like cucumber salad or coleslaw since the cool, crisp texture cuts through all that richness perfectly. Asian-style green beans or simple steamed broccoli work great too, and they add some color to the plate which makes everything look more appealing.
If you want something more substantial, coconut rice complements the sweet-spicy flavors beautifully, or you can go with lo mein noodles for a full takeout-style meal. I've also served this with simple fried rice loaded with vegetables, which turns it into a complete one-bowl dinner that even picky eaters love. The key is having something light and fresh on the plate since this crispy bang bang chicken is pretty indulgent on its own. Cold sesame noodles work surprisingly well too - the nutty flavor pairs nicely with the sweet heat of the sauce, and it's something different that always gets people talking at dinner parties.
Top Tip
- Last winter, Max was helping me make this crispy bang bang chicken for his birthday dinner when he accidentally grabbed the wrong bottle from the fridge. Instead of sweet chili sauce, he poured in some leftover orange marmalade. I was ready to start the sauce over, but he insisted we try it first.
- That orange marmalade completely transformed the sauce. It added this bright, citrusy sweetness that balanced the heat perfectly and gave it an almost restaurant-quality depth of flavor. The fruit pieces in the marmalade created little bursts of sweetness that made every bite interesting.
- Now we deliberately use 2 tablespoons of orange marmalade instead of some of the sweet chili sauce. Max takes full credit for the discovery and tells everyone who will listen about his "cooking invention." Sometimes the best kitchen discoveries happen when you're not trying to be perfect - just willing to taste something that looks a little different.
The Dish My Grandmother Taught Me to Love
My grandmother never called it "crispy bang bang chicken" she just called it "Friday chicken" because that's when she made it every week. Growing up in her house during the summers, I watched her coat pieces of chicken in flour and fry them twice, though I never understood why until years later. Her sauce was different too - no fancy sweet chili sauce from the store, just mayo mixed with her homemade pepper jelly and a splash of vinegar.
She'd let me help crush the crackers for the coating, standing on a wooden stool next to her at the counter. "Two times in the oil makes it stay crunchy," she'd tell me, watching the thermometer like a hawk. Her version was less saucy than what you get at restaurants now, but that first bite was always perfect - hot, Crispy Bang Bang Chicken, with just enough sweet heat to make your eyes water a little.
FAQ
What is crispy bang bang chicken?
Crispy bang bang chicken is bite-sized pieces of chicken coated in seasoned flour, double-fried for extra crunch, then tossed in a creamy sweet-spicy sauce. The dish gets its name from the "bang" of flavors in the sauce - sweet, spicy, and tangy all at once.
What is the secret to crispy chicken?
The secret is the double-fry method and adding cornstarch to your flour coating. Fry once for 3-4 minutes, rest for 2-3 minutes, then fry again for 2-3 minutes. The cornstarch creates an extra-Crispy Bang Bang Chicken exterior that stays crunchy even after saucing.
What is Bang Bang sauce made of?
Bang Bang sauce combines mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, rice vinegar, and honey. The mayo provides creaminess, sweet chili adds sweetness, sriracha brings heat, vinegar adds tang, and honey balances everything. Ratios can be adjusted to taste preferences.
What is bang bang chicken Chinese restaurant?
While called "bang bang chicken," this dish is actually more of an American-Chinese fusion creation popular in casual dining restaurants. Traditional Chinese bang bang chicken is a cold Sichuan dish with shredded chicken and spicy peanut sauce, quite different from this Crispy Bang Bang Chicken fried version.
Crispy Perfection Made Simple!
Now you have all the secrets to making perfect crispy bang bang chicken from the double-fry technique to Max's orange marmalade discovery. This restaurant-style dish proves that sometimes the best meals come from happy accidents and willingness to try something new.
Craving more Crispy Bang Bang Chicken favorites? Try our The Best Flan Recipe that uses the same double fry method for incredible crunch. Need something milder for the kids? Our Delicious Cucumber Salad Recipe delivers all the Crispy Bang Bang Chicken goodness without the heat. Want another sauce-covered sensation? Our Easy Eggs Benedict Casserole Recipe brings that perfect balance of flavors Max loves so much!
Share your Crispy Bang Bang Chicken success! We love seeing your golden creations and hearing about your own kitchen discoveries!
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Crispy Bang Bang Chicken
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cut chicken, set up bowls, and prepare sauce.
- Slice chicken into bite-sized pieces for frying.
- Arrange three bowls for dredging, dipping, and coating.
- Double-fry chicken for extra crispiness.
- Fry the chicken for 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Toss the fried chicken with bang bang sauce immediately.
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