Bang Bang Chicken Rice Bowls | 30 Minute Recipe

Crunchy and spicy panko coated bang bang chicken bites, served with rice, edamame beans, carrots and spring onion, then drizzled with a creamy spiced bang bang sauce.

Have this fuss-free family dinner on the table in 30 minutes!

A white bowl of bang bang chicken served with rice and vegetables, and drizzled with bang bang sauce.

Bang bang chicken – also known as bon bon chicken – is crunchy, spicy, and seriously delicious!

Like my panko chicken schnitzel, tender chicken is coated in a crunchy panko coating then served with rice, vegetables and a creamy bang bang sauce. These bang bang chicken bites are the tastiest family dinner that kids and adults love, and make the perfect no-fuss meal for those busy nights!

For more easy chicken dinners that kids love, I recommend having a look at my slow cooker buffalo chicken, Korean fried chicken burgers and chicken and mushroom pie – all often requested by my family!

Chopsticks holding a piece of crunchy bang bang chicken.

Why You’re Going To Love This Recipe

Easy recipe – there are no complicated steps in this recipe, just crumb, bake, mix and serve!
Family friendly – adjust the spice level to suit your family’s tastes.
Midweek dinner – have this crunchy baked chicken on the table in just half an hour, perfect for busy weeknights!
Cheaper than take away – and healthier too!
Versatile – alter the spice levels to your tastes, serve with rice or noodles, or even wrap the bang bang chicken in tortillas or flatbreads for the tastiest wrap.

What You Need

The ingredients for this crunchy baked bang bang chicken recipe are all easy to find at your local supermarket!

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

For The Crunchy Bang Bang Chicken

Ingredients needed to make the bang bang chicken placed in individual bowls.

Chicken breasts – I recommend using boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Chop them into bite size chunks.
Cornflour – also known as cornstarch. This helps the crispy coating stick to the chicken, and is lighter and less chewy than using regular flour.
Buttermilk – or make your own buttermilk.
Hot sauce – or use sriracha sauce. This is optional. If making this bang bang chicken for children or those sensitive to spice, then reduce quantity or leave it out completely.
Salt and pepper – to season.
Panko crumbs – these Japanese-style breadcrumbs create a light and crunchy coating. You can use regular breadcrumbs if you prefer, however panko crumbs will give the chicken pieces a crispier coating!
Ground paprika – this warming spice adds flavour as well as a lovely colour to the baked chicken pieces.
Olive oil – or vegetable oil. Oil is mixed with the seasoned crumbs to create a delicious crunchy coating for the chicken when baked.
Steamed rice, edamame beans, avocado, carrot, cucumber and spring onions – to serve.

For The Creamy Bang Bang Sauce

This delicious bang bang sauce is creamy, sweet, spicy and SO good!

The ingredients needed to make the bang bang sauce.

Mayonnaise – I recommend using a whole egg mayonnaise.
Sweet chilli sauce – this sweet, spicy sauce makes the most delicious sauce for the chicken, especially when combined with creamy mayo!
Hot sauce – or sriracha sauce.
Honey – a touch of honey helps balance the spicy heat!

Equipment Required

You don’t need any fancy equipment to make these delicious crunchy chicken bites! Simply:

Ziplock bag – for coating the chicken in cornflour.
2 bowls – one for the buttermilk and one for the panko crumbs.
1 small bowl – for mixing the bang bang sauce in.
Large flat baking tray – greased and lined with baking paper.
Oven – I use a fan-forced oven. If you use a conventional oven, increase the temperature by 10-20 degrees Celsius.

Step By Step Instructions

It takes just 10 minutes to prepare this bang bang chicken recipe, then bake in the oven until golden and serve for the easiest dinner!

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

Step 1 – Prepare The Chicken

Preheat the oven and line a baking tray with baking paper. Set aside.

Chop the chicken breasts into bite size pieces.

Chicken breast chopped into bite size pieces and placed in a bowl.

Step 2 – Coat The Chicken In Cornflour

Place the chopped chicken and cornflour into a large ziplock bag. Toss until all of the chicken pieces have been lightly coated in cornflour.

The chicken pieces tossed with cornstarch in a Ziplock bag.

Step 3 – Dip The Chicken In Seasoned Buttermilk

In a bowl, mix together the buttermilk, hot sauce (if using) and salt and pepper. Dip the floured chicken pieces into the buttermilk, allowing any excess liquid to drip off.

Coated chicken pieces in a bowl of buttermilk mixture.

Step 4 – Coat The Chicken In Seasoned Breadcrumbs Then Bake

In another bowl, mix the panko crumbs with the ground paprika and olive oil until completely combined. Coat the chicken pieces thoroughly in the panko crumb mixture, then place them onto the prepared tray.

Bake chicken pieces in the preheated oven until piping hot and cooked through in the centre, tossing partway through to ensure the chicken becomes golden and crunchy all over.

The chicken pieces in a bowl of seasoned panko crumbs.

Step 5 – Prepare The Creamy Bang Bang Sauce

While the chicken is cooking, add the mayonnaise, sweet chilli sauce, hot sauce (or sriracha) and honey to a small bowl and stir to combine. Set aside.

A hand holding a small bowl of the mixed bang bang sauce.

Step 6 – Serve

Serve the bang bang chicken on top of bowls filled with steamed rice. Top with edamame beans, sliced avocado, carrot, cucumber and thinly sliced spring onions. Drizzle over plenty of that delicious spicy bang bang sauce and serve straight away!

A bowl of the bang bang chicken served with a selection of vegetables and rice.

Expert Tips

Ziplock bag – adding the chicken pieces and the cornflour to a Ziplock bag ensures all the chicken is coated in the cornflour, with minimum mess!
When serving to kids – use less (or no) hot sauce if serving to children or those who are sensitive to heat.
Extra spice – alternatively, add extra hot sauce or sriracha for an added kick of heat!
For gluten-free bang bang chicken – use gluten free breadcrumbs and check that your sauces are gluten free.
Leftovers – store any leftover bang bang chicken in the fridge for up to 2 days. It is best to store the sauce separately as it will make the crumb coating soggy.
To serve – serve bang bang chicken with steamed rice or noodles, edamame beans, sliced avocado, carrot, cucumber, lettuce, bean sprouts or spring onions.

FAQs

Can I make bang bang chicken in the air fryer?

Absolutely! The chicken pieces can be cooked in an air-fryer for 12-15 minutes – 180 degrees celsius (turning partway through) or until cooked through. Cooking time will depend on the size of the chicken pieces. Cook in batches rather than overcrowd the basket.

Can I freeze bang bang chicken?

Yes, you can freeze the breaded cooked chicken pieces for up to a month. Reheat in the oven or air-fryer. I do not recommend freezing the bang bang sauce however.

What country is bang bang chicken from?

Bang bang chicken is from China.

Close up of a piece of crunchy crumbed chicken held with chopsticks.

For more easy chicken dinners that are guaranteed to be met with huge smiles, check out these other popular recipes:

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