Bang Bang Chicken

This is one of those recipes that is so good, you’ll be demanding all of your friends and family make it, just so you can talk with them about how good it is! I have officially entered my “I want to make everything in the oven” era, and there is no better recipe for oven-baking than this Bang Bang Chicken. No stove splatter, minimal prep time, minimal washing up and perfectly cooked chicken with a caramelised, crispy glaze. You can serve this meal with just about anything, but we love it with salads and steamed rice to soak up all of the delicious roasting juices.

The chicken is marinated in simple pantry ingredients, before being brushed with a drool-worthy ”bang bang sauce” (a mix of whole-egg mayonnaise and sweet chilli sauce) and oven-baked. If you think mayonnaise in a marinade sounds weird, this recipe will change that forever. The flavour is just AMAZING. I’ve made this for dinner several times in the last few weeks because it’s just so quick and easy. Marinate the chicken, pop it in the oven and then dinner is on the table in less than 30 minutes, with minimal effort and minimal time spent in the kitchen. Hooray for simple, delicious dinners!

What else can I serve with Bang Bang Chicken?

I try to prepare a whole heap of vegetables at the beginning of each week that we can use for quick lunches and dinners. Cabbage, kale and most varieties of lettuce are all great choices to prep ahead of time, as they are robust enough to last a couple of days after being cut. Refrigerate your cut vegetables in an airtight container. Ensure they are completely dry and add a piece of paper towel at the bottom and top of the container to help absorb moisture. This will extend the life of your produce by multiple days. We love serving this recipe with rice and mixed salads for everyone to pile up at the dinner table, but I have lots of other serving ideas for you. This Bang Bang Chicken goes with just about anything! 

Try steamed broccoli, broccolini (tender-stem broccoli), cauliflower, carrots, snow peas (mangetout), green beans, baby corn or sautéed mushrooms. Other salad combinations like bean sprouts, wombok (napa) cabbage, coriander (cilantro), red onions, capsicum (bell pepper), shredded iceberg lettuce or gem lettuce also work well. Instead of rice, you could try rice noodles or egg noodles. Even a creamy mashed potato or sweet potato mash would be delicious!

Watch how to make Bang Bang Chicken

Can I use chicken breast instead of chicken thigh?

Absolutely. Just make sure you follow step 3 and pound the chicken to an even thickness. You will also have to modify the cooking time to 18–20 minutes, or until the chicken is golden and cooked through. Grill (broil) on high heat for 2–3 minutes if required to caramelise.

Bang Bang Chicken

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5 from 46 reviews

Quick and easy Bang Bang Chicken with a luscious, creamy sauce, is the perfect weeknight family dinner! The chicken is oven-baked to perfection and dinner is on the table with minimal fuss in less than 30 minutes!

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

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Bang Bang Sauce

• 1 cup (250 g) whole-egg mayonnaise
• ¼ cup (60 g) sweet chilli sauce
• 1 tbsp sriracha or hot chilli sauce (optional)
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp lime juice

Chicken 

• 600 g (1 lb 5 oz) boneless chicken thighs, skin on or off
• 1 tsp sweet paprika 
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp cracked black pepper
• 1 tbsp tamari or regular soy sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp olive oil 
• ¼ cup (60 g) bang bang sauce (see above)
• 1 spring onion (scallion), sliced

To serve

• Steamed rice
• 1 cup (75 g) shredded red cabbage
• 2 carrots, grated or julienned
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 1 spring onion (scallion), finely sliced

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F). Line a baking tray with baking paper (parchment paper). 
2. Combine the bang bang sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. Reserve one-quarter of the sauce in a separate bowl to brush over the raw chicken prior to baking. 
3. Place the chicken on a chopping board with a sheet of baking paper (parchment paper) over the top. Use a mallet or rolling pin to pound the chicken to an even thickness. Cut each piece in half vertically. 
4. Place the chicken in a large shallow bowl and add the sweet paprika, onion powder, black pepper, tamari, brown sugar and olive oil. Using tongs, toss the chicken to coat it evenly in the marinade. 
5. Arrange the chicken on the prepared baking tray, so that it is not overlapping. This is important. If the chicken is overcrowded in the baking tray, it will “steam” and it will be much more difficult to achieve a caramelised crust. 
6. Using a pastry brush, brush the reserved one-quarter of the bang bang sauce all over the tops of the chicken pieces.
7. Bake the chicken for 25–30 minutes or until golden and cooked through (see note 1 for troubleshooting). 
8. Serve with steamed rice, red cabbage, carrot and cucumber. Drizzle with the remaining bang bang sauce and sprinkle with spring onions. 

Notes

Note 1 – If your chicken isn’t caramelised, it may be because your oven wasn’t preheated long enough and therefore not hot enough. Grill (broil) the chicken in the oven for a few minutes on high heat to caramelise if required. Keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t burn!

Make ahead

Chicken – Marinate the chicken for up to 48 hours prior to cooking. 

Bang bang sauce – Prepare the sauce and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 48 hours prior to cooking. 

Leftovers

Refrigerate any leftover chicken for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave. Not suitable to freeze.

• Author: Nicole
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins
• Category: mains, dairy-free, budget-friendly, quick and easy, one pan
• Method: roasting
• Cuisine: Asian