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Bang Bang Chicken Skewers are the perfect combination of spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors. This quick and easy grilled chicken recipe is ideal for weeknight dinners, BBQs, or gatherings. With a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, this dish brings restaurant-quality flavor to your home with ease.
These Bang Bang Chicken Skewers are a crowd-pleaser! Marinating the chicken makes it tender, juicy, and flavorful. Then, the chicken gets grilled to perfection and topped with a zingy sauce. It’s a healthy twist on traditionally fried Bang Bang Chicken that’s delicious for lunches, dinners, or even meal prep.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Bang Bang Chicken Recipe
- It’s savory: The perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and tangy makes these skewers incredibly satisfying.
- Quick and Easy: With minimal prep and fast cooking time, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or spontaneous BBQs.
- Grill-Friendly: Ideal for summer cookouts or indoor grilling with a grill pan.
- Versatile Dish: Can be served as an appetizer, main course, or added to salads and wraps for a light meal.
Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Ingredients
- Chicken thighs: Skinless thighs cut into bite size pieces are ideal for this recipe because they stay juicy. You could use chicken breast, just adjust the cooking time so you don’t dry them out.
- Olive oil: Any neutral oil will work for the base of the marinade, helping the flavors cling to the chicken.
- Seasonings: Paprika, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper go into the marinade.
- Mayonnaise: Mayo serves as the base of the sauce. You could swap this out for plain Greek yogurt if you prefer.
- Chili sauces: Use a mix of sweet chili sauce and Sriracha to spice things up.
- Limes: You’ll add some lime juice to the sauce and garnish with lime wedges.
- Chopped parsley: A sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley gives a little color and flavor when serving.
Ingredient Substitutions and Variations
- Chicken: You can substitute boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins for a juicier result and leaner cut.
- Bang Bang Sauce: For a lighter version, substitute some Greek yogurt for mayonnaise. For more heat, add extra Sriracha or use hot sauce of choice.
- Soy Sauce: Use tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free option.
- Vegetables: Thread vegetables like bell peppers, red onions, or zucchini on the skewers with the chicken for added flavor and nutrients.
How To Make Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
Step 1: Prepare the chicken. Combine the chicken pieces, oil, and seasonings, mixing well to ensure the chicken is evenly coated. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the skewers. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto skewers.
Step 3: Prepare the bang bang sauce. Mix the mayonnaise, chili sauces, and lime juice until smooth. Reserve half for serving.
Step 4: Grill the chicken. Brush half of the sauce onto the skewered chicken, then place the skewers on a preheated grilled. Cook for 6-8 minutes on one side, then flip, brush with more sauce and cook for another 8 minutes, or until cooked through.
Important Tips to Perfect the Recipe
- Soak Wooden Skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
- Cut Chicken Evenly: Ensure the chicken pieces are roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
- Preheat the Grill: Make sure the grill is properly preheated to ensure even cooking and nice grill marks.
- Don’t Overcook: Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F to keep it juicy and tender.
- Adjust Spice Level: Customize the spiciness of the bang bang sauce by adjusting the amount of Sriracha or adding chili flakes.
What to Serve with Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
Bang Bang Chicken Skewers are the perfect protein to go along with just about any side dish. Some favorites are:
- Rice: Serve over jasmine rice or coconut rice for a complete meal. You could also try my Mexican Fried Rice with it.
- Salad: Pair with a light cucumber salad, coleslaw, or a Simple House Salad recipe for a refreshing side.
- Grilled Vegetables: Zucchini, bell peppers, or asparagus make great side dishes for these skewers. This Easy Mixed Vegetables Recipe also goes along perfectly because it has added potatoes.
Storing and Reheating
Storing: Store leftovers (on or off the skewers) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat: If skewered, reheat in a 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes until warm. If removed from the skewers, you can reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until warmed through.
Freezing: Freeze the cooked skewers or meat in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months without the sauce. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating and add the bang bang sauce after reheating.
Alternative Cooking Methods
Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Cook the skewers for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Oven: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and bake the skewers on a lined baking sheet for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Frequently Asked Questions
The sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
Make sure the grill is preheated and let the chicken cook for several minutes without moving it to allow for a good sear, which will help the chicken release from the pan or grill.
Yes, you can marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance for extra flavor. Store the marinated chicken in the fridge until ready to grill.
Yes! The recipe is naturally dairy-free if you use a dairy-free mayonnaise for the bang bang sauce.
More Bang Bang Recipes
Bang Bang Chicken Skewers are the perfect addition to any meal, offering a bold and satisfying flavor profile that’s hard to resist. Enjoy these flavorful skewers with your favorite sides, and don’t forget to drizzle them generously with the delicious bang bang sauce!
If you try this recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave a star rating in the comment section below because I love hearing from my readers. Also follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.
Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
For Chicken
- 2 lb skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For Bang Bang Sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- Lime wedges, to garnish
- Chopped parsley, to garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ingredients for seasoning the chicken: chicken pieces, oil, paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Ensure the chicken pieces are well coated. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto wooden or metal skewers, pushing them to the ends of the skewers. Ensure the chicken pieces are evenly distributed.
- Meanwhile, prepare the bang bang sauce: Combine mayo, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and lime juice. Mix until smooth and creamy. Save half of the prepared sauce to use later.
- Brush the remaining bang bang sauce over the threaded chicken evenly.
- Preheat a griddle or grill pan. Place the threaded chicken skewers on the griddle or grill pan and cook for 6-8 minutes. Flip to the other side, brush again with the bang bang sauce, and cook for an additional 8 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Transfer the cooked chicken skewers to a serving plate, drizzle the remaining bang bang sauce over the skewers, and serve with lime wedges on the side.
Notes
- Soak Wooden Skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
- Cut Chicken Evenly: Ensure the chicken pieces are roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
- Preheat the Grill: Make sure the grill is properly preheated to ensure even cooking and nice grill marks.
- Don’t Overcook: Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F to keep it juicy and tender.
- Adjust Spice Level: Customize the spiciness of the bang bang sauce by adjusting the amount of Sriracha or adding chili flakes.
