I finally found Panko breadcrumbs. Seriously, I’ve never used them before until now.
And you know how they say ignorance is bliss, well that is so true. Because I did not know what I was missing, I knew they were supposed to be better but since I didn’t know I was more than happy with regular old breadcrumbs.
But Oh My God! I love love love Panko breadcrumbs. The chicken came out so crispy, so crunchy, so heavenly! Seriously! I am never going back to regular breadcrumbs again. You know when you find a product that you end up using forever because you just can’t live without it, well that’s me now with Panko breadcrumbs. It’s breadcrumb heaven!
But enough about Panko breadcrumbs and let’s talk about this bang bang chicken. The name itself is super cool. Bang bang chicken! I just love saying it. And not only does this chicken have a cool name, it’s awesome, it’s the best chicken ever! And that sauce, oh my that sauce with the chicken, what a great combo! I am salivating just writing about it. Damn right it’s Bang Bang Chicken.
If you’re looking for a healthier version, check out the bang bang shrimp version which is baked!
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into small pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp hot sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- Panko breadcrumbs
- oil for frying
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce (I used Frank's)
- 1 tbsp Frank's hot sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. To the bowl add the hot sauce, egg, and buttermilk and whisk until you have a smooth batter. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl, toss to make sure each piece is coated in the batter and set aside.
- In another bowl add about a cup of Panko breadcrumbs.
- Mix all ingredients for the sauce together and refrigerate until ready for serving.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet.
- Coat each piece of chicken with breadcrumbs, add more breadcrumbs as needed, and fry on both sides for 3 to 5 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Place on paper napkins to soak up some of the oil. Repeat with all chicken pieces. Only add a few pieces of chicken to the skillet at a time, so the chicken turns out crispy.
- Drizzle chicken with sauce and serve.
Enjoy!
Would really like to try this recipe. Can I use the buttermilk substitute by using one cup milk and one tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice?
Yeah supposedly that’s the way to make buttermilk if you don’t have any, I have done that before but for baking recipes not for this bang bang chicken. But it could work, give it a try.
I’ve been addicted to Panko for years. Best invention since…well…bread.
I’m going to make this this week. Though in place of buttermilk I will use ranch dressing. It is buttermilk based and will add a broader flavor profile. Chicken coated in Panko and fried? How could you go wrong?
Can’t go wrong with that Deanna, lol!
For the person who asked about a mayo substitute. I don’t care for mayo either and have found that sour cream works just as well.
Trying this tonight, only have one question. Are you deep frying or shallow pan frying? I noticed the comment up there stating you used a regular pan but it doesn’t say if you deep fryed it. Can’t wait to try it. Thanks!
Hi Jamie,
It doesn’t really matter, I used a shallow pan to fry it, but deep frying would work as well.
I baked these tonight and they were a big hit! 20 minutes at 400 degrees will do it, for those who are wondering. I feel like the fried version would taste better, but the baked one is still nice and crispy. The mayo in the sauce adds the most calories, though. But the sauce is so good! Didn’t have any Frank’s, so I used sriracha — go heavy on it. So glad I discovered your blog.
Thanks Shirley, try the shrimp, those are yummy too.
This has such simple ingredients, but I can tell it’s full of flavor. I’m definitely going to be making it this week
I featured this recipe on the Clarks Condensed Sunday Dinner Party, as one of the best recipes I have found this week on Pinterest. I hope you’ll come by, and link up one of your yummy recipes at my link party!
http://www.clarkscondensed.com/2013/03/sunday-dinner-party-8.html
Thanks Katie, much appreciated.
i love experimenting with new recipes,and become a great chef in the kitchen,now that i,ve tried yours…i,m a winner,thanx sooo much!!!
Hi Gertrude,
You’re very welcome.
Second time making this and again….so incredibly yummy! My son (19) loved the sauce on rice as well as on the chicken. One small change, I let the chicken marinate for about 30 minutes in the batter before Panco-ing and baking, and I think it helped the batter stick better, and made it even more moist! Thanks for such a great recipe!!
You’re welcome Lynn, glad you and your family enjoyed it, this is one of our favorites as well.
Do you think these chicken bites can be frozen?
Not sure, they never lasted long enough here to freeze them.
I can’t wait to try this. Will bake it, I ‘m not a good fryer and I know there are so many good baked recipes this can be done! Thanks, will pin it.
You can definitely bake this if you want, I baked the bang bang shrimp and it was awesome.
TORTURING MEEEE!!!!! THIS LOOKS SO GOOD!
(Pinned for future reference)
LOL!
Hi Jo,
Do you know the weight watcher points for this dish? I found it on Pintest and thought it was 7 points but I can’t find it now.
Sorry Lizzy, I no longer do weight watchers, so I don’t have access to the online point calculators. If you wanted to cut calories and points, I’d recommend baking them.
Hi Jo, Loved the Bang Bang Chicken. When I shared it on my facebook page, it comes up with the picture of the chicken enchilada stuffed zucchini. Thought you might like to know that. Love your blog and your recipes. Keep cooking!!!!!!!!!
Hi Michelle,
Thank you so much. When you share it on facebook it will give you a list of images, you will only see one at a time but there are arrows that you can go left or right, and pick another picture. Thanks for sharing!
Amazing recipe!! My husband fell in loveeee with the sauce! I used a bbq sauce for dipping and that was fantastic too! I baked mine in the oven. I lined a baking sheet with foil, and cooked them on the Convection Setting for 30 mins at 400 degrees. Using the convection setting makes it more crispy!
I live in Canada and was only able to find Presidents Choice Panko Breadcrumbs, which were great! However, there was an option to purchase Regular or Seasoned. I will pick up Seasoned next time, because the Regular was a bit bland.
Hi Ceecee,
I found Panko breadcrumbs at Safeway, they are great. Glad you liked the recipe.
Hi is there an alternative to the mayo? Not a huge fan.
Hi Vindima,
I haven’t tried anything else beside mayo, but you could try plain yogurt, it’s much healthier too and it might work.
I’m new to cooking should I use liquid or powdered buttermilk?
Liquid my dear.
OMG… This was so freaking fantastic! The sauce is so good… I used siracha. I did bake my chicke, about 30-40 minutes at 350. Perfect, moist chicken tenders and that sauce…have I said yet how good it is?
. New favorite, thanks!!!
Hi Lynn,
Merry Christmas.
Glad you liked them, and yeah baking them great idea, not to mention healthier.
I made these last night. Came out great!
Next time I will double the sauce since my guys wanted more than just a drizzle of the yummy goodness.
I served them over a bed of lettuce just like they do for the Bang Bang Shrimp at Bonefish Grill.
Sounds great, yeah I just drizzled a bit on the chicken but I served the sauce on the side. Glad you guys liked it.
Merry Christmas!
The family and I are currently making this bang bang chicken, we will let you all know how it taste
)
Sounds great, looking forward to hear from you.
What if I don’t have sweet chili mix. Is there anything else I could use
Hi Shonna,
I’m not exactly sure, maybe plum sauce or some honey and hot sauce. Give it a try.
Anything I could use instead of buttermilk?
Hi Karolyn,
If you don’t have buttermilk at home it’s ok. To make your own buttermilk all you need is a cup of milk and a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar which you add to the milk and after 5 minutes mix it well and use that instead of buttermilk.
Thanks! Will try
Bang Bang chicken rocks! One of the best things to make on a cold Vermont ngiht!
Thanks.
And on a cold Calgarian night, I wonder which one is colder.
Did you use regular panko breadcrumbs or italian?
I used regular panko breadcrumbs.
Is there a way to make this with shrimp?
Absolutely, just follow the same instructions and use shrimp instead. Should be delicious.
How would you tweak the recipe if I were to bake it?
Hi Julie,
I wouldn’t tweak it all, just make sure there’s plenty of breadcrumbs on the chicken pieces and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let me know how they turn out baked.
Wanted to know how the baked version turned out, and also, time and temp used. Looking forward to trying this one… sounds yummy. Thanks!
I’m making this tonight and I’ll let ya know what everyone thought of it:)
That’s great, looking forward to your reply.
Mmmmm, mmmmm. It was just as delicious as you described. We’ll definitely be making it on a regular basis. My daughter has always been a big fan of the Panko breadcrumbs too.
Hi Kari, so glad you liked it.
What side items would you say compliments this meal? Thanks!
Hi Lateefah,
I would try a good salad with it because the chicken is fried so if you want to make it a bit healthier a salad would go nicely. But really anything would go, french fries, baked potato, whatever you wish.
What kind of oil did you use to fry the chicken in/did you just use a regular pan to do so, or a deep fryer or anything? Thanks – can’t wait to try this tonight!!
Hi Stephanie,
I just used regular vegetable oil and I did not use a deep fryer, just a pan. Hope this helps.
I made this tonight and it was a smashing hit! I did cut the mayo in half and used Ranch in it’s place and I used Sriracha sauce for the hot sauce. My kids and husband devoured it. It has become a new fave! Thank you so much for posting it!
Hi Michelle,
So glad you liked it, I do love the changes you’ve made.
I am making these tomorrow ! Yum..
I have a feeling this is going to be my new favorite chicken recipe! It looks easy and so delicious. I can’t wait to try this Friday! Thank you!
You’re very welcome, let me know how it turns out.
Love the name, very catchy indeed! This is like buffalo chicken married to chicken parm fingers
I’m also drooling here just looking at it.
Thanks JoAnn. Happy Drooling.