The Best Bang Bang Chicken Tenders Recipe for Spicy Flavor Fans

Bang bang chicken tenders ignite excitement with their irresistible crunch and tantalizing flavor profile.

Korean-inspired sauces reimagine ordinary poultry into an extraordinary culinary experience.

Crispy exterior gives way to succulent meat that melts in your mouth.

Light breading ensures each bite remains delightfully tender without feeling heavy.

Creamy, zesty sauce adds unexpected dimension and complexity to classic comfort food.

These tenders elevate weeknight dinners from mundane to magnificent.

Prepare to tantalize taste buds and impress dinner companions.

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Why Bang Bang Chicken Tenders Are a Bold Choice

• Crave-Worthy Crunch: These chicken tenders deliver an irresistible crispy exterior thanks to the perfectly combined panko and flour coating, creating a satisfying crackle with every single bite.
• Spice Up Your Meal: The bang bang sauce brings a delightful kick of sweet and tangy flavors that dance across your taste buds, transforming ordinary chicken into an exciting culinary experience.
• Healthier Baking Brilliance: By baking instead of deep-frying, this recipe offers a lighter approach to enjoying crispy chicken tenders without compromising on taste or texture, making it a smart choice for health-conscious food lovers.
• Quick Weeknight Wonder: With just 30 minutes from start to finish, these chicken tenders solve the dinner dilemma, providing a delicious meal that's perfect for busy families or spontaneous gathering with friends.

Ingredients for Bang Bang Chicken Tenders That Bring the Heat

Main Ingredients:

Chicken Tenders: Fresh, juicy chicken tenders perfect for a crispy, flavorful meal. Choose plump, evenly sized tenders for consistent cooking.

Eggs: Binding agent that helps the coating stick to the chicken. Use fresh, room temperature eggs for better coating adhesion.

Water: Helps thin the eggs for a smoother coating process.

Coating Ingredients:

Cornstarch: Creates a light, crispy exterior and helps the egg and breadcrumb coating stick. Look for a fine, smooth cornstarch.

Flour: Adds extra crispiness and helps create a golden-brown crust. All-purpose flour works best.

Panko Breadcrumbs: Provides a light, airy, and extra-crispy texture. Japanese-style panko gives the best crunch.

Salt, Black Pepper, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder: Seasonings that add depth and enhance the overall flavor profile of the chicken.

Sauce Ingredients:

Mayonnaise: Creamy base for the Bang Bang sauce. Choose a good-quality, full-flavored mayonnaise.

Hot Sauce: Adds heat and tanginess to the sauce. Adjust according to spice preference.

Sweet Chili Sauce: Provides a sweet and slightly spicy kick to the sauce. Look for a balanced, authentic Thai-style sauce.

Rice Vinegar: Adds a subtle tangy brightness to balance the sauce. Mild and less acidic than other vinegars.

How to Make Bang Bang Chicken Tenders Step-by-Step

Step 1: Create Zesty Dipping Sauce

• Mayonnaise
• Hot sauce
• Sweet chili sauce
• Rice vinegar

Whisk ingredients until smooth, then pop into the refrigerator to chill.

Step 2: Fire Up the Oven

Preheat your oven to 425°F and lightly grease a large baking sheet with cooking spray or oil.

Step 3: Prepare Crispy Coating Stations

Set up 3 separate shallow bowls:

First bowl: Cornstarch

Second bowl: Whisk eggs with water

• Flour
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder

Step 4: Transform Chicken Pieces

Dredge each chicken tender through the stations:

• Roll in cornstarch
• Dip in egg mixture (let excess drip off)
• Coat thoroughly in seasoned breadcrumb mixture

Gently press coating to help it stick.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Arrange chicken tenders on prepared baking sheet, ensuring they don’t touch.

Bake for 12-14 minutes until chicken is fully cooked and coating turns golden brown.

Step 6: Dress and Serve

• Drizzle sauce over hot tenders
• Serve sauce on the side for dipping
• Toss tenders in sauce while still hot

Tips for Perfectly Juicy Bang Bang Chicken Tenders

• Maximize Crispiness: Pat chicken tenders completely dry before coating to ensure a super crispy exterior that locks in moisture.
• Perfect Breading Technique: Use one hand for dry ingredients and another for wet to keep your fingers clean and prevent clumpy breading.
• Temperature Precision: Let chicken sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before breading to help coating adhere better and cook more evenly.
• Spacing Matters: Leave enough room between tenders on the baking sheet to allow hot air circulation, preventing soggy spots and promoting even browning.
• Sauce Serving Hack: Warm the sauce slightly before serving to enhance its flavor and make it more appealing for dipping.

How to Store and Reheat Bang Bang Chicken Tenders

• Refrigeration: Transfer leftover Bang Bang Chicken Tenders to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Separate the chicken from the sauce to maintain crispiness and prevent sogginess.
• Reheating: Restore the crispy texture by warming the tenders in a preheated oven at 375°F for 8-10 minutes. Spread them on a baking sheet in a single layer to ensure even heating and maintain their crunchy coating. Avoid using the microwave, which can make the breading soft and rubbery.
• Sauce Revival: Warm the refrigerated sauce separately in a small saucepan or microwave for a few seconds.

What to Serve with Bang Bang Chicken Tenders

• Spice Up with Craft Beer Pairing: Complement the zesty Bang Bang Chicken Tenders with a hoppy IPA that cuts through the richness and matches the spicy sauce's intensity.
• Cool Down with Fresh Slaw Sidekick: Create a crisp coleslaw with apple cider vinegar and fresh herbs to balance the tenders' heat and provide a refreshing crunch.
• Asian-Inspired Beverage Companion: Serve alongside a chilled lychee martini or green tea to echo the sweet chili sauce's Asian flavor profile and cleanse the palate.
• Creamy Dip Delight: Whip up a quick ranch or blue cheese dressing to offer a cooling counterpoint to the spicy chicken, giving guests another dipping option.

Fun Bang Bang Chicken Tenders Variations to Try

• Spicy Thai Fusion: Transform the recipe by adding lemongrass, ginger, and Thai chili paste to the breading mixture for an authentic Southeast Asian flavor profile.
• Mediterranean Herb Crunch: Replace panko with crushed za'atar-seasoned breadcrumbs and incorporate dried oregano, mint, and crumbled feta cheese into the coating for a Greek-inspired version.
• Coconut Curry Craze: Mix shredded coconut into the breadcrumb coating and replace hot sauce with yellow curry powder to create a tropical, aromatic chicken tender experience.
• Ranch Crispy Blast: Incorporate ranch seasoning mix directly into the flour mixture and serve with a homemade ranch dipping sauce for a classic American-style variation.

Bang Bang Chicken Tenders Recipe

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4.6 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Sichuan-style Bang Bang Chicken Tenders deliver a spicy, crispy sensation that dances between crunchy coating and juicy meat. Saucy sesame and chili notes create an irresistible flavor profile you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1.5 pounds (680 grams) boneless chicken breasts (cubed)
• 2 eggs (beaten with 2 tablespoons water)

Dry Coating:

• 0.75 cup (90 grams) all-purpose flour
• 0.5 cup (60 grams) cornstarch
• 0.5 cup (50 grams) Japanese panko breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon onion powder
• 0.25 teaspoon garlic powder

Sauce and Wet Ingredients:

• 0.5 cup mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup sweet chili sauce
• 1–2 tablespoons hot sauce (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar

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Instructions

1. Craft the zesty sauce by whisking mayonnaise, hot sauce, sweet chili sauce, and rice vinegar in a compact mixing vessel. Seal and chill in the refrigerator for flavor melding.
2. Calibrate the oven to 425°F (220°C) and delicately coat a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray to prevent adherence.
3. Establish three distinct coating stations: one with cornstarch, another with eggs whisked with water, and the final station combining flour, panko breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
4. Transform each chicken tender into a crispy masterpiece by first rolling in cornstarch, then submerging in the egg wash, allowing excess liquid to cascade off, and finally enrobing in the seasoned breadcrumb mixture with a gentle press to secure the crust.
5. Arrange the coated chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet, maintaining a strategic distance between each tender to ensure optimal crispiness and even browning.
6. Roast the tenders in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes, verifying doneness through golden exterior and internal temperature reaching 165°F (74°C).
7. Complete the culinary journey by either drizzling the chilled sauce over the hot tenders, serving it alongside as a dipping companion, or thoroughly coating the crisp morsels in the vibrant sauce for maximum flavor immersion.

Notes

• Crispy exterior meets spicy-sweet sauce for a flavor explosion that transforms ordinary chicken tenders into a crave-worthy dish.
• Prepping the sauce ahead lets flavors meld, intensifying the tangy and creamy profile before coating the chicken.
• Layering coatings creates unbeatable crunch: cornstarch for adhesion, eggs for binding, and seasoned breadcrumbs for maximum texture.
• Baking instead of frying reduces oil while maintaining a golden, crispy finish that’s healthier and easier to clean up.
• Serving with extra sauce allows personalized dipping, letting each bite be as saucy or light as desired.
• Restaurant-quality results achieved at home with simple ingredients and straightforward technique.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 450 kcal
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 760mg
• Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 28g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 32g
• Cholesterol: 140mg