Zesty Bang Bang Chicken Tenders Recipe for Spicy-Sweet Fun

Sizzling and golden, these bang bang chicken tenders burst with flavor that’ll make your taste buds dance.

The zesty bang bang sauce brings a tantalizing kick to crispy, tender chicken strips that promise pure culinary excitement.

Each bite combines crunch and spice in a mouthwatering symphony of textures and tastes.

Restaurant-quality goodness awaits right in your own kitchen with this simple yet spectacular recipe.

The secret lies in the perfect balance of creamy, spicy sauce and perfectly cooked chicken.

Quick to prepare and impossible to resist, these tenders will quickly become a weeknight favorite.

Let’s find out this irresistible dish that transforms ordinary chicken into an extraordinary meal everyone will crave.

Tips and Tricks for Crispy Bang Bang Chicken Tenders

• Use a mix of panko and regular breadcrumbs for extra crunch that stays crispy longer, creating a golden exterior that crackles with each bite.
• Adjust the hot sauce quantity to make the dish mild, medium, or fiery hot – perfect for different family members' taste preferences without compromising flavor.
• Prepare the chicken and sauce separately up to 24 hours in advance. Store coated chicken uncooked in the refrigerator and sauce in a sealed container, then bake fresh when ready to serve.
• Experiment with alternative sauce combinations like sriracha mayo, honey mustard, or Korean gochujang sauce to transform the classic bang bang flavor profile and keep meals exciting.
• Replace regular flour with almond flour for a gluten-free version, or use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise in the sauce to reduce calories while maintaining creamy texture.

Ways to Serve Bang Bang Chicken Tenders

• Party Platter Paradise: Create a stunning appetizer spread by arranging the Bang Bang Chicken Tenders on a large wooden board with colorful dipping sauces, fresh herbs, and lemon wedges for a vibrant presentation that'll wow your guests.
• Lunch Box Hero: Pack these crispy tenders in meal prep containers with a small sauce container, some crunchy cucumber sticks, and a side of jasmine rice for a delicious and exciting work or school lunch.
• Game Day Crowd-Pleaser: Serve these tenders on a big platter during sports watch parties, accompanied by extra dipping sauces, crisp celery sticks, and cold beer for the ultimate finger-food experience that'll keep everyone munching and cheering.
• Family Dinner Delight: Pair the chicken tenders with a fresh coleslaw, roasted sweet potato wedges, and a light green salad to create a balanced meal that appeals to both kids and adults with different flavor preferences.

Saving and Reheating Bang Bang Chicken Tenders

• Batch Cooking Magic: Prepare double the chicken tenders and store extra portions in airtight containers for quick weeknight meals or lunch prep.
• Refrigerator Runway: Store cooked Bang Bang Chicken Tenders in sealed containers for up to 3-4 days, keeping their crispy texture by avoiding stacking multiple layers.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Wrap individual or batch portions in freezer-safe wrap, maintaining quality for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheating Revival: Restore crispiness by warming tenders in a preheated oven at 375°F for 8-10 minutes, avoiding microwave to prevent soggy breading.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 576 kcal

Servings: 5

Bang Bang Chicken Tenders Ingredients You’ll Need

• Mayonnaise: Creamy base that adds richness and helps blend flavors smoothly, choose a high-quality brand for best taste.
• Hot Sauce: Brings fiery kick and depth, select your favorite variety to customize heat level.
• Sweet Chili Sauce: Provides sweet-tangy balance, look for authentic Asian-style sauce with balanced sweetness.
• Rice Vinegar: Adds bright acidity and helps harmonize sauce components, pick a clear, mild variety.

• Cornstarch: Creates ultra-crispy exterior, ensures light and crunchy texture when frying.
• All-Purpose Flour: Provides foundational breading structure, select unbleached flour for better consistency.
• Japanese Panko Breadcrumbs: Delivers signature crispy, airy coating, opt for fresh, light-colored breadcrumbs.
• Coarse Salt, Ground Black Pepper: Essential seasoning that enhances overall flavor profile, use freshly ground pepper for maximum taste.
• Onion Powder, Garlic Powder: Adds depth and aromatic complexity, choose high-quality, fresh spices for maximum flavor impact.

• Boneless Chicken Breasts: Lean protein base of dish, select fresh, high-quality chicken with minimal fat for best results.
• Eggs: Helps breading adhere and creates binding layer, use fresh eggs at room temperature for optimal coating.

Tools and Equipment for Bang Bang Chicken Tenders

• Mixing Bowls: Three medium-sized bowls for preparing different coatings and sauce.
• Whisk: Essential for blending sauce ingredients smoothly.
• Baking Sheet: Large, preferably non-stick, for even chicken cooking.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Precise measurements for ingredients.
• Tongs: Helpful for handling and coating chicken pieces.
• Cutting Board: For preparing chicken if needed.

Cooking Instructions for Bang Bang Chicken Tenders

• Sauce Preparation A tangy mix that'll make taste buds dance, blending creamy and zesty flavors into one irresistible creation.
• Kitchen Setup Gather your cooking tools and get ready for a flavor explosion, prepping a baking sheet and ensuring your oven is hot and ready.
• Chicken Transformation Creating a crispy coating that'll turn ordinary chicken into a crunchy masterpiece with layers of delicious texture.
• Breading Station Magical moment where chicken gets dressed in a fabulous crispy outfit, dipping through cornstarch, egg wash, and seasoned breadcrumbs with playful enthusiasm.
• Oven Magic Transforming raw chicken into golden, crispy tenders that sizzle with excitement, baking until perfectly cooked and delightfully crunchy.
• Flavor Finale Drizzling the spectacular sauce over hot tenders, making each bite a flavor celebration that'll have everyone asking for seconds.

Crispy Bang Bang Chicken Tenders

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4.7 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Crispy Sichuan-style bang bang chicken tenders pack intense flavor with a spicy-sweet crunch. Zesty sauce and golden-brown coating create an irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1.5 lbs (680 g) boneless chicken breasts (cubed)
• 2 eggs (beaten with 2 tbsps water)
• 0.75 cups (90 g) all-purpose flour
• 0.5 cups (60 g) cornstarch
• 0.5 cups (50 g) Japanese panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp coarse salt
• 0.5 tsp ground black pepper
• 0.25 tsp onion powder
• 0.25 tsp garlic powder
• 0.5 cups mayonnaise
• 0.5 cups sweet chili sauce
• 1–2 tbsps hot sauce (to taste)
• 1 tsp rice vinegar

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Instructions

1. Sauce Preparation: Whisk mayonnaise, hot sauce, sweet chili sauce, and rice vinegar in a bowl. Refrigerate to intensify flavor profile and allow ingredients to meld harmoniously.
2. Oven Calibration: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and lightly spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray to prevent chicken from sticking.
3. Coating Setup: Create three distinct dredging stations – first with cornstarch, second with whisked eggs and water, third combining flour, panko breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
4. Chicken Transformation: Meticulously coat each chicken tender by first rolling in cornstarch, then dipping in egg wash, allowing excess to drip off, and finally encrusting with seasoned breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure complete coverage.
5. Baking Process: Position coated chicken tenders on prepared baking sheet, spacing them to promote even crisping and golden browning. Roast for 12-14 minutes until exterior turns golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
6. Sauce Finale: Either drizzle chilled sauce over hot tenders, serve as a dipping companion, or completely enrobe crispy morsels in the vibrant sauce for maximum flavor intensity.

Notes

• Prep Like a Pro: Organize three separate shallow dishes for coating stations to streamline breading process and minimize messy cleanup.
• Temperature Triumph: Use a reliable meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches exact 165°F internal temperature for safe, perfectly cooked tenders.
• Crispiness Secret: Space chicken tenders at least 1 inch apart on baking sheet to allow hot air circulation, preventing soggy bottoms and achieving golden-brown crunch.
• Sauce Strategy: Prepare sauce at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld and intensify, creating a more complex and delicious dipping experience.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Frying, Baking, Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 576
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 1076 mg
• Fat: 34 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 31 g
• Cholesterol: 155 mg