If you are craving something that bursts with bold flavors and satisfying textures, the Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe is absolutely the perfect choice. This dish combines tender, juicy chicken pieces grilled to golden perfection with a luscious, creamy, and slightly spicy bang bang sauce that will make your taste buds dance with delight. What makes this recipe truly shine is its balance of smoky, sweet, tangy, and spicy notes wrapped around every bite, making it an irresistible crowd-pleaser for any occasion. Whether you’re cooking for family, friends, or just treating yourself, these skewers bring vibrant flair and comfort in every mouthful.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering the right ingredients is the first step to creating magic on your plate. Each component in this recipe is carefully selected to bring out the ideal harmony of flavor, texture, and color in your Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe.
- Chicken breast: Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into evenly sized cubes for perfect grilling.
- Olive oil: Adds moisture and helps the spices adhere to the chicken while enhancing flavor.
- Garlic powder: Delivers a subtle, aromatic punch essential for savory depth.
- Onion powder: Brings a gentle sweetness and rounds out the spice blend.
- Paprika: Provides vibrant color and a smoky undertone that complements the grilled chicken beautifully.
- Cayenne pepper: Adds a touch of heat to wake up your palate without being overpowering.
- Salt and black pepper: Essential seasoning to enhance all the other flavors.
- Mayonnaise: Forms the creamy base of the bang bang sauce, balancing the spice with richness.
- Sweet chili sauce: Introduces sweetness and a mild tang for that signature bang bang zing.
- Rice vinegar: Adds brightness and acidity to cut through richness.
- Honey: Sweetens the sauce naturally while harmonizing with spicy notes.
- Sriracha sauce: Brings heat and depth for the true bang bang experience.
- Sesame oil: A little drizzle infuses a nutty aroma that elevates the sauce to another level.
- Chopped green onions: Fresh garnish that adds color and a mild onion crunch.
- Sesame seeds: Toasted seeds bring texture and a delicate nuttiness.
- Wooden skewers: Soaking them before grilling prevents burning and makes threading easier.
How to Make Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Start by heating your grill or grill pan to medium-high. This ensures a nice sear on the chicken that locks in juices and creates those appealing grill marks we all love.
Step 2: Cut Chicken into Cubes
Trim your chicken breast into bite-sized cubes as evenly as possible. This step is key to ensuring every piece cooks at the same rate and each skewer is perfectly cooked throughout.
Step 3: Mix the Seasoning
In a medium bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. This spice blend enhances the chicken’s natural flavors while bringing complementary warmth and smokiness.
Step 4: Coat Chicken with Seasoning
Add your chicken cubes to the seasoning mixture and toss well. This coating step is essential because it makes every bite flavorful and helps keep the chicken moist during grilling.
Step 5: Thread Chicken onto Skewers
Carefully thread the seasoned chicken pieces onto the soaked wooden skewers, packing them close enough for even cooking but not so tight that heat can’t circulate around each piece.
Step 6: Grill the Chicken
Place the skewers on your hot grill. Cook each side for 5 to 7 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and has a beautiful golden-brown crust. Using a meat thermometer for 165°F internal temperature ensures perfect doneness.
Step 7: Whisk Together the Bang Bang Sauce
While your chicken grills, whisk mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sriracha sauce, and sesame oil in a bowl. This vibrant, creamy sauce is what truly defines the Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe, delivering that addictive balance of sweet heat and richness.
Step 8: Adjust the Sauce to Taste
Now’s the moment to customize your bang bang sauce. Whether you like it sweeter or spicier, add extra honey or sriracha until it sings exactly how you like it.
Step 9: Remove Chicken from Grill
Once cooked, gently remove the skewers and arrange them on a serving dish. Let the sizzling aroma take over your kitchen—it’s almost time to enjoy!
Step 10: Drizzle the Bang Bang Sauce
Generously coat your grilled chicken skewers with the luscious bang bang sauce. Let it drizzle over every piece to infuse that irresistible flavor in every single bite.
Step 11: Garnish
Finish with a scattering of chopped green onions and sesame seeds. These garnishes add fresh bursts of color and texture that take the skewers from delicious to irresistible.
Step 12: Serve Immediately
Serve your Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe right away while they are warm and juicy. Whether as a fun appetizer at your party or a flavorful main course, they’re sure to get rave reviews.
How to Serve Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe
Garnishes
Brighten your presentation with fresh chopped green onions and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. These simple additions not only enhance the visual appeal but add delightful layers of crunch and freshness to balance the rich sauce.
Side Dishes
Pair your skewers with light, complementary side dishes such as a crisp cucumber salad, jasmine rice, or crunchy slaw. These sides keep the meal balanced while complementing the savory, spicy notes of the chicken.
Creative Ways to Present
For a twist, serve your Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe over a bed of chilled noodles or alongside crunchy lettuce leaves for an interactive wrap-style meal. You can even skewer mixed vegetables like bell peppers or pineapple chunks alongside the chicken for extra color and flavor dimension.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Place any leftover skewers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Keeping the bang bang sauce separate until serving maintains the best texture and flavor.
Freezing
If you want to save the skewers for later, freeze them without sauce in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. They will keep well for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating
Reheat leftover or thawed skewers gently on a grill pan or in the oven at a moderate temperature to prevent drying out. Warm up the bang bang sauce separately and drizzle over just before serving to keep that fresh, creamy zing.
FAQs
Can I use other cuts of chicken for this Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe?
Absolutely! Chicken thighs work wonderfully if you prefer juicier, more flavorful meat. Just cut them into uniform cubes and adjust cooking time as needed to ensure they’re cooked through.
How spicy is the bang bang sauce?
The level of heat can be easily adjusted. The combination of sriracha and cayenne pepper adds a lively kick, but you can always scale back or up the spice to suit your preference.
Can I make this recipe without a grill?
Yes! A grill pan or even a regular skillet works just fine. Brooks the chicken in the pan until golden and cooked through, then finish under the broiler if you want that slightly charred touch.
Is it necessary to soak the wooden skewers?
Soaking wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes before grilling helps prevent them from burning or charring during cooking. This step makes handling safer and adds longevity to your skewers on the grill.
Can I prepare the bang bang sauce in advance?
Definitely! The bang bang sauce keeps well in the refrigerator for up to a week. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully and saves time when you’re ready to serve the skewers.
Final Thoughts
There is something truly special about sharing a vibrant and flavorful dish like the Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe with people you care about. It’s an experience packed with irresistible tastes and textures, yet simple enough to whip up any day of the week. Don’t hesitate to make this recipe your own and watch it quickly become a beloved staple in your kitchen and on your table.
Print
Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Recipe
- Prep Time: 0h 20m
- Cook Time: 0h 10m
- Total Time: 0h 30m
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Description
Bang Bang Chicken Skewers are a flavorful and spicy grilled appetizer or main dish featuring tender chicken breast cubes marinated in a blend of spices, then grilled to perfection and topped with a creamy, sweet, and spicy bang bang sauce. Garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, these skewers deliver a delightful combination of heat, sweetness, and savory flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Chicken Skewers
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into cubes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Wooden skewers (soaked in water for 30 minutes)
Bang Bang Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onions
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat Grill: Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high heat to ensure it is hot enough for cooking the chicken evenly and achieving a nice char.
- Prepare Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized cubes of uniform size to promote even cooking throughout the skewers.
- Make Seasoning Mixture: In a medium bowl, mix together olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to create a flavorful marinade for the chicken.
- Season Chicken: Add the cubed chicken to the bowl and toss thoroughly to coat all pieces evenly with the seasoning mixture.
- Skewer Chicken: Thread the seasoned chicken cubes onto the soaked wooden skewers, spacing them closely but not too tightly to allow even heat circulation during grilling.
- Grill Chicken: Place the skewers on the preheated grill or grill pan and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, flipping carefully, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and develops a golden brown exterior.
- Prepare Bang Bang Sauce: While the chicken is grilling, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sriracha sauce, and sesame oil in a small bowl until smooth and well combined.
- Adjust Sauce Flavor: Taste the sauce and modify the sweetness or spiciness by adding extra honey or sriracha as desired to suit your palate.
- Remove Chicken from Grill: Once fully cooked, take the skewers off the grill and arrange them on a serving platter ready for serving.
- Coat Chicken with Sauce: Generously drizzle the prepared bang bang sauce over the grilled chicken skewers, ensuring an even coating on all pieces.
- Garnish: Sprinkle chopped green onions and sesame seeds over the skewers for added aroma, texture, and visual appeal.
- Serve: Serve the bang bang chicken skewers immediately while hot, perfect as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or a flavorful main course.
Notes
- Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling to prevent burning.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure chicken is safely cooked.
- You can adjust the level of spiciness in the bang bang sauce by modifying the amount of sriracha sauce used.
- For a lighter version, substitute mayonnaise with a low-fat or Greek yogurt alternative.
- Serve with rice, salad, or grilled vegetables for a complete meal.
