Air Fryer Bang Bang Chicken

We’ve taken our fan-favorite Bang Bang Chicken recipe and made an air fryer version! The secret to making this irresistible sauce is the right balance of heat, sweetness, and tanginess. With this easy-to-follow recipe, you’ll have a restaurant-quality dish made from your own kitchen in no time.

Contents

Why Our Recipe Ingredient Notes Spritzing Oil Air Fryer Tips Serving Suggestions Storage & Reheating Instructions

Can’t get enough of that delicious Bang Bang sauce? Try our Bang Bang Chicken Wings.

Why Our Recipe

Easy clean-up with the air fryer and made in just over 30 minutes!
Our Panko breading ensures your chicken stays crunchy, even when it’s smothered in that delicious Bang Bang sauce.
Easily adjust the heat to make it as mild or as spicy as you want.

What makes this Bang Bang chicken so good is its amazing texture and bold, flavorful sauce. We use Panko bread crumbs for the breading, giving that perfect, crispy crunch, which is then smothered in our irresistible creamy, spicy-sweet sauce.

Ingredient Notes

Chicken: Try to cut the chicken into even bite-size pieces. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs for a juicier dark meat result.
All-Purpose Flour: Provides the first layer of coating, helping the egg mixture adhere better to the chicken.
Eggs and Milk: This mixture acts as the second layer of coating, ensuring the breadcrumbs stick well and create a crispy exterior.
Panko Bread Crumbs: We prefer panko because it gives the perfect crispiness that resists becoming soggy when reheating. If needed, you can always substitute with plain breadcrumbs.
Mayonnaise: The base of the Bang Bang sauce. Feel free to use light mayonnaise for a lower-calorie option.
Sweet Chili Sauce: This adds sweetness and a mild heat to the sauce. If you like a spicier kick, you can increase the amount of sweet chili sauce or add more sriracha.
Sriracha: This is where the heat comes in. Start with a small amount and adjust according to your taste. You can even offer it on the side for those who demand the heat.
Honey: You can substitute it with maple syrup or agave nectar.

Spritzing Oil

While air frying significantly reduces the amount of oil needed compared to traditional deep frying, a small amount of oil is still essential to achieve the best results. Oil plays a crucial role in air frying by helping to conduct heat more evenly, promoting that golden, crispy exterior that we love.

Use olive oil, avocado oil, vegetable oil, or a quality cooking spray.

When it comes to applying oil, a light spritz with an oil mister or a brush is all you need. You’re aiming to lightly coat the surface of the food, not soak it. This minimal application helps enhance the texture without adding excessive fat.

Collage of images for process of making bang bang chicken.

Air Fryer Tips

Use a Liner: Cleaning up is a breeze if you use air fryer parchment liners. Less scrubbing, more enjoying.

Don’t Overcrowd: Give your food some breathing room in the air fryer basket. If your air fryer isn’t huge, cook in batches—it’s worth it for those perfectly golden results. And don’t forget to toss or shake everything halfway through so it all cooks nice and evenly.

Keep an Eye on Things: Air fryers work fast, and nobody wants overcooked chicken. Use a meat thermometer if you can (to reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F) and check on things toward the end so you nail that perfect doneness.

Closeup of bang bang chicken piled on a platter.

Serving Suggestions

Bang Bang Chicken is such a crowd-pleaser whether you serve it as a small plate or appetizer—think potluck or dinner party—or as the main dish paired with a side.

If you’re serving it as an appetizer, plate it on a large platter and garnish it with sliced green onions and lime wedges to make it pretty.

As the main dish, you can serve the chicken with rice or noodles and some steamed vegetables on the side.

Storage & Reheating Instructions

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Reheat in the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place the chicken on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.

Reheat in the Air Fryer: For an even quicker option, reheat the chicken in an air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes.

Reheat in the Microwave: If you’re in a hurry, you can reheat the chicken in a microwave-safe dish in 30-second increments on high, flipping halfway through. Note that this method may result in a less crispy texture.