Ingredients:
For that addictive sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise the real deal, please
1/2 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
1 teaspoon Sriracha or more if you’re feeling spicy
2 tablespoons honey
For the star of the show (the chicken):
1 1/2 pounds chicken tenderloins or chicken breast cut into strips if you’re fancy
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 large egg room temperature (cold eggs are party poopers)
1 tablespoon Sriracha
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, but recommended
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
Canola oil for frying enough to make your chicken swim
Chopped parsley for garnish because we’re fancy like that
Instructions
Sauce first: Mix mayo, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey in a bowl. Set aside and try not to eat it all.
In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, flour, cornstarch, egg, Sriracha, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne. It’ll look weird, but trust the process.
Toss your chicken in this magical mixture. Make sure they’re all coated and happy.
Pour panko onto a plate. One by one, shake off excess batter from each tender and roll it in panko. Press gently to make sure it sticks.
Heat about an inch of oil in a large skillet to 365°F. Use a thermometer if you have one, or just wing it like I usually do.
Fry the chicken in batches (don’t overcrowd!) for about 2-3 minutes per side. They should be golden brown and cooked through (165°F internal temp if you’re into food safety).
Drain on paper towels briefly, then transfer to a serving plate.
Drizzle generously with that bang bang sauce you’ve been eyeing.
Sprinkle with parsley to make it look fancy, then dig in while it’s hot!
Notes
Leftovers (if you have any) will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. But let’s be real, they won’t last that long.
Freeze ’em for up to 6 months if you’re into meal prep. Future you will be so grateful.
Air fryer or oven methods work great too. See above for deets.
There you have it, folks! My Bang Bang Chicken recipe that’ll knock your socks off. Give it a try and let me know how it goes. And remember, if you’re not making a mess, you’re not doing it right!
