Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe

These Chinese Bang Bang Chicken Skewers are juicy grilled chicken pieces marinated in a savory Asian-style marinade, then generously basted with a creamy, spicy-sweet Bang Bang sauce. The sauce is made with mayo, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha – which sounds like a weird combo, I know, but trust me on this. Add some lime juice and it all comes together in this addictive, slightly spicy, slightly sweet situation that you’ll want to put on everything.

Why This Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe Is Worth Making

Been making them for like… four years? Maybe five. Honestly can’t remember. What I do remember is they’re sticky and spicy and my brother-in-law won’t shut up about them every time we have a cookout. “You bringing those chicken things?” Yeah Mark, I’m bringing the chicken things.

The sauce is mayo-based which sounds gross but stick with me here. Sweet chili sauce, sriracha, lime – it all comes together and works somehow. Don’t ask me to explain it.

Great for when you wanna look like you know what you’re doing in the kitchen but secretly just followed a recipe. Takes maybe 40 minutes if you’re organized. Hour and a half if you’re normal and can’t find anything in your kitchen.

What Goes Into Making Bang Bang Chicken Skewers

For the Chicken

Chicken breast – pound and a half, cut into chunks. I use thighs sometimes cause they’re harder to mess up and cheaper usually.

Garlic – 3 cloves. Has to be fresh. The jarred minced stuff is for people who’ve given up.

Ginger – tablespoon of it, grated. Annoying to do but makes a difference.

Soy sauce – couple tablespoons.

Olive oil – 2 tablespoons keeps it from sticking to the grill.

Black pepper – however much feels right. I don’t measure this.

Bang Bang Sauce Ingredients

Mayo – half a cup. Full fat is better. Light mayo tastes like regret.

Sweet chili sauce – the Thai kind, quarter cup. This is important don’t use regular chili sauce.

Sriracha – start with 2 tablespoons, add more if you’re brave.

Honey – tablespoon.

Lime juice – tablespoon, squeeze a fresh lime.

Garlic powder – half teaspoon cause more garlic is always the answer

Other Stuff You Need

Skewers – wood or metal doesn’t matter. If wood, soak them 30 minutes. I always forget and they catch fire a little bit.

Green onions – chopped on top looks fancy.

Sesame seeds – also looks fancy. Both optional.

How I Make These Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe

Getting Started

Cut up the chicken. Try to make pieces same size. Mine never are, some always end up huge.

Mix the marinade stuff – garlic, ginger, soy sauce, oil, pepper. Dump chicken in. Needs at least 30 minutes but hour is better. Sometimes I do it the night before if I’m feeling super organized which is rare.

Make the Sauce

Put everything in a bowl. Mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, lime juice, garlic powder. Whisk it around. Taste it – this is important, adjust it how you like.

I make double every time now. People always want more and I got tired of running out.

Threading the Skewers

Remember to soak wood skewers. I don’t remember half the time.

Put like 4-5 chicken chunks on each skewer. Space them out a tiny bit. And leave room at the end so you can actually hold it – I grabbed a hot one at Dave’s house once and it was not fun. Dave still brings it up. Thanks Dave.

Grilling Part

Get your grill hot. Medium-high, like 400 degrees if you have a thermometer. I don’t use one for the grill just for the chicken temp.

Oil the grates first or you’ll lose chicken to the grill and have to scrape it off later which is annoying.

Four or five minutes each side. You want marks. Those dark bits. Check the temp though – 165 degrees inside or you’ll regret it later. Use an actual thermometer don’t just guess.

Done

Take them off, let sit for a minute or two. Then put sauce all over them. Or on the side, whatever you want.

Green onions and sesame seeds if you remembered to buy them. I forget a lot.

Tips That Make A Difference

Marinate it. Even if you’re rushed do at least 30 minutes. I skipped once and the chicken was boring.

Double the sauce recipe. Trust me.

Don’t cook too hot or the outside burns while inside is raw.

Buy a meat thermometer they’re like fifteen bucks.

Let it rest after cooking. Something about juices redistributing. Science.

Ways to Change Up Bang Bang Chicken Skewers

Less heat? Cut the sriracha in half add more honey. More heat? More sriracha and throw in some red pepper flakes.

Use shrimp instead – cooks faster. Or pork. Tofu if you’re vegetarian but I haven’t tried that.

Stick bell peppers and onions between the chicken pieces. Looks nice, adds vegetables so you can pretend you’re healthy.

Sometimes I do peanut sauce instead – peanut butter, soy sauce, lime, little bit of honey. Different but good in its own way.

No grill? I’ve used the broiler. Or a pan on the stove. Even baked them at 425 when my grill was broken for like a month cause we kept putting off fixing it.

Keeping Leftovers of Bang Bang Chicken Skewers

Chicken lasts few days in the fridge. Keep it separate from the sauce. Sauce is good for about a week.

Never frozen these cause they get eaten too fast but the chicken would probably freeze okay. Sauce might get weird when you thaw it. Just stir it back together.

Reheat in the oven if you want it crispy again. Microwave makes it kind of rubbery but I’ve done it at work anyway cause office lunch is office lunch.

Sauce tastes fine cold. Sometimes I eat it straight from the container with a spoon when no one’s looking. No regrets.

What You Need Equipment-Wise

Skewers. That’s the big one.

Some kind of grill. Or grill pan. Or just an oven with a broiler.

Bowls for mixing.

Fork or whisk.

Maybe a thermometer if you want to not guess about doneness.

Tongs help.

Not complicated.

Questions People Ask About Bang Bang Chicken Skewers

What is Bang Bang Chicken?

Bang Bang Chicken is grilled or fried chicken coated in a creamy, spicy-sweet sauce made from mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha. The dish gets its name from the explosive flavor combination and can be served on skewers, over rice, or as an appetizer.

How do you make Bang Bang sauce?

Bang Bang sauce is made by mixing 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce, 2-3 tablespoons sriracha, and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Whisk all ingredients together until smooth. The sauce takes less than 5 minutes to make and can be adjusted to your preferred spice level.

Can you make Bang Bang Chicken in an air fryer?

Yes, Bang Bang Chicken cooks perfectly in an air fryer at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Air frying creates a crispy exterior without deep frying, making it a healthier option while still achieving great texture and flavor.

How long should I marinate chicken for skewers?

Marinate chicken for Bang Bang skewers for at least 30 minutes, but 2-4 hours is ideal for maximum flavor. You can marinate up to 8 hours in the refrigerator, but avoid marinating longer than 24 hours as the acid can break down the chicken texture.

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