Get ready to spice up your dinner routine with this incredible Bang Bang Chicken Bowl, a flavor explosion that’s as easy as it is delicious. This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy meal, perfect for busy weeknights without compromising on taste or satisfaction, and it’s an SEO champion for anyone searching for the ultimate Bang Bang Chicken Bowl experience.
Key Ingredients for Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
- For the Chicken:
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (or other neutral oil for frying)
- For the Bang Bang Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons sriracha (adjust to your spice preference)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
- For the Bowl Assembly:
- 2 cups cooked rice (jasmine, basmati, or brown rice work well)
- 1 cup shredded lettuce (romaine or iceberg)
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
- Optional: Sliced avocado, sliced jalapeños, lime wedges
How to Make Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
This Bang Bang Chicken Bowl recipe offers a delightful crunch from the perfectly fried chicken and a luscious, creamy sauce that coats every bite. It’s a simple assembly of vibrant flavors and textures, delivering a deeply satisfying meal in just about 30 minutes of active preparation. Get ready for a taste sensation that rivals your favorite takeout!
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: In a medium bowl, combine the cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Add the chicken thigh pieces and toss until they are evenly coated with the seasoning mixture.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering (around 350°F or 175°C), carefully add the coated chicken pieces in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the pan; you may need to cook the chicken in batches.
- Fry Until Golden: Fry the chicken for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until it’s golden brown and cooked through. Remove the fried chicken from the skillet with a slotted spoon and place it on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Make the Bang Bang Sauce: While the chicken is frying or draining, prepare the sauce. In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, rice vinegar, and soy sauce until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust the sriracha for your desired level of spice.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: In a clean bowl, add the fried chicken pieces and pour about half of the Bang Bang sauce over them. Gently toss the chicken to ensure each piece is generously coated in the sauce. Add more sauce if you prefer it saucier, reserving some for drizzling over the bowls.
- Assemble the Bowls: Divide the cooked rice evenly among serving bowls. Top the rice with a generous portion of shredded lettuce, shredded carrots, and thinly sliced red onion.
- Add the Chicken: Arrange the saucy Bang Bang chicken over the vegetables in each bowl.
- Garnish and Serve: Drizzle any reserved Bang Bang sauce over everything. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and toasted sesame seeds. For an extra burst of flavor and freshness, you can add sliced avocado, sliced jalapeños, or serve with lime wedges on the side.
Why You’ll Love This Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
You’ll absolutely adore this Bang Bang Chicken Bowl for its sensational sweet, spicy, and creamy flavor profile that dances on your taste buds. Unlike a simple stir-fry, the crispy, saucy fried chicken delivers an irresistible textural contrast that makes every bite exciting. Plus, when you whip up this gem at home, you’ll be saving money compared to ordering takeout, while still getting that craveable, restaurant-quality indulgence.
The vibrant toppings like crisp lettuce, crunchy carrots, and fresh cilantro add layers of freshness and complexity, elevating this dish beyond just chicken and sauce. Imagine the satisfaction of creating such a flavor-packed meal for a fraction of the cost! It’s a true weeknight hero that proves delicious doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive; give this spectacular Bang Bang Chicken Bowl a try today and prepare to be amazed by its simple brilliance.
Storing and Reheating Tips
Storing Leftovers:
Allow any leftover Bang Bang Chicken Bowl components to cool completely before storing.
- Refrigeration: Store the cooked chicken with sauce, cooked rice, and any uncooked vegetable toppings in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. This will help maintain the best texture and flavor. The chicken and sauce can be stored together for up to 3-4 days. Cooked rice typically lasts for 3-4 days. Prepped vegetables will last 2-3 days depending on their freshness.
- Freezing: The Bang Bang chicken and sauce can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. It’s best to freeze the chicken coated in sauce in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Cooked rice can also be frozen separately for up to 2-3 months. Vegetables are best eaten fresh and don’t freeze as well.
Reheating Instructions:
- Stovetop (Recommended for Best Texture): For the chicken and sauce, gently reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. You may need to add a tablespoon of water or broth if the sauce has thickened too much. Reheat cooked rice in a skillet with a splash of water or in the microwave until hot.
- Microwave: Reheat the chicken and sauce in a microwave-safe dish in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through. Reheat rice in the microwave until steaming hot. Be aware that microwaving may soften the crispiness of the chicken.
- Oven: If reheating a larger batch, you can spread the saucy chicken on a baking sheet and warm it in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
Final Thoughts
This Bang Bang Chicken Bowl is a testament to how simple ingredients and a few key techniques can create an incredibly satisfying and flavorful meal. Don’t hesitate to make this delightful dish your own by adjusting the spice level or adding your favorite fresh toppings. Get ready to enjoy a truly delicious Bang Bang Chicken Bowl experience right in your own kitchen!
Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a medium bowl, combine the cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Add the chicken thigh pieces and toss until they are evenly coated with the seasoning mixture.1/4 cup cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering (around 350°F or 175°C), carefully add the coated chicken pieces in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the pan; you may need to cook the chicken in batches.1/4 cup vegetable oil
- Fry the chicken for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until it’s golden brown and cooked through. Remove the fried chicken from the skillet with a slotted spoon and place it on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- While the chicken is frying or draining, prepare the sauce. In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, rice vinegar, and soy sauce until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust the sriracha for your desired level of spice.1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce, 2 tablespoons sriracha, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon rice vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
- In a clean bowl, add the fried chicken pieces and pour about half of the Bang Bang sauce over them. Gently toss the chicken to ensure each piece is generously coated in the sauce. Add more sauce if you prefer it saucier, reserving some for drizzling over the bowls.1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Divide the cooked rice evenly among serving bowls. Top the rice with a generous portion of shredded lettuce, shredded carrots, and thinly sliced red onion.2 cups cooked rice, 1 cup shredded lettuce, 1/2 cup shredded carrots, 1/4 cup red onion
- Arrange the saucy Bang Bang chicken over the vegetables in each bowl.1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Drizzle any reserved Bang Bang sauce over everything. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and toasted sesame seeds. For an extra burst of flavor and freshness, you can add sliced avocado, sliced jalapeños, or serve with lime wedges on the side.2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, sliced avocado, sliced jalapeños, lime wedges