Bang Bang Chicken Tenders - My favorite shrimp at Bonefish Grill was the inspiration for these bang bang chicken tenders! They’re coated in crunchy panko bread crumbs and served with a creamy semi-spicy sauce for dunking.
They’re baked rather than fried and for maximum crunchiness triple-dipped. They’re coated in cornstarch, dunked in beaten eggs then crusted with a mix of Japanese panko and seasoned bread crumbs.
The sauce is made of mayo, sweet chili sauce and hot sauce. It’s rich and creamy and just as spicy as you want it to be. You can find the sweet chili sauce in the Asian section of your market. This sauce is super yummy on all kinds of things like french fries and onion rings – so don’t worry about using all the sweet chili sauce if you never bought it before.
You can drizzle the sauce on the chicken and leave some for the side for dipping or go all out and toss the hot chicken tenders right in the sauce like they do in Chinese restaurants.
❤️ Why You’ll Love These Bang Bang Chicken Tenders :
- Crispy outside, juicy inside — baked, not fried!
- Bold, creamy, sweet-and-spicy sauce that’s completely addictive.
- Simple ingredients, big flavor — easy for weeknights, fun for weekends.
- Kid-approved but easy to spice up for adults.
- Delicious as a meal, appetizer, or game day snack.
🥗 What To Serve With Bang Bang Chicken :
- Serve over rice with a side of steamed broccoli for an easy meal.
- Add to tacos with shredded lettuce and slaw for a fun twist.
- Pair with a crisp green salad to balance the richness of the sauce.
- Or keep it simple with just extra sauce and fries on the side (no shame here!).
Frequently Asked Questions :
Can I make these in the air fryer?
Yes! Air fry at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway. Super crispy and less mess.
Is the sauce very spicy?
It’s more sweet than spicy, but you can control the heat with how much hot sauce you add.
Can I prep this ahead?
You can bread the chicken earlier in the day, refrigerate it, and bake when ready. The sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead.
Do leftovers keep well?
Definitely! Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to get the crisp back.
📖 Recipe
Bang Bang Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 - 2 tablespoons hot sauce or to taste like Cholula
- ½ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
Breading:
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2 eggs beaten with 2 tablespoons water
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup Japanese panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt or ½ teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 + ½ pounds boneless chicken breasts cut into 1 + ½-inch cubes
Instructions
Make the Sauce:
- In a small bowl whisk the sauce ingredients together. Cover and refrigerate.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
Set up the dredging station:
- Add the cornstarch to a shallow bowl or plate and beat the eggs together in another. In a separate, wide shallow bowl or plate whisk together the flour, panko, salt, pepper and all the spices.
Bread the Chicken:
- One at a time coat the chicken pieces with the cornstarch then dip in the egg allowing excess to drip off then coat with the bread crumb mixture patting it on with your hands.
- Place them, not touching, on the baking sheet.
- Bake 12 - 14 minutes or until cooked through.
- Drizzle with some of the sauce and/or serve on the side for dipping. You can also toss the hot chicken tenders right in the sauce if you like.
Nutrition
Bang Bang Chicken Tenders are one of those meals that feels fun and restaurant-level tasty but comes together easily at home. Crispy chicken, creamy bang bang sauce, and the flexibility to serve it however you want—it’s comfort food done right.
If you try it, let me know in the comments — are you team drizzle or team dip? Either way, you can’t go wrong. 😊
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