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Crispy Air-Fried Bang Bang Chicken: The Ultimate Sweet, Spicy, and Crunchy Comfort Food

Crispy Air-Fried Bang Bang Chicken: The Ultimate Sweet, Spicy, and Crunchy Comfort Food
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This Crispy Air-Fried Bang Bang Chicken is crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and coated in a creamy, sweet-spicy sauce that’s completely addictive. Whether you air-fry, bake, or deep-fry it, this dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and an easy way to spice up your weekly meal rotation.

Ingredients

Scale

Bang Bang Sauce

  • 1 cup (232 g) mayonnaise

  • ½ cup (132 g) Thai sweet chili sauce

  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha (more to taste)

  • 2 tablespoons honey

Chicken

  • 1½ pounds (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins

  • 1 cup (245 g) buttermilk

  • ¾ cup (94 g) all-purpose flour

  • ½ cup (64 g) cornstarch

  • 1 large egg, room temperature

  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha

  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

  • 2 cups (216 g) plain panko breadcrumbs

  • Cooking spray (for air fryer) or canola oil (for frying)

  • Chopped parsley, for garnish

Instructions

Make the Bang Bang Sauce

  1. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey until smooth.

  2. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.

Prepare the Chicken

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, flour, cornstarch, egg, Sriracha, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne until smooth.

  2. Add chicken tenders and toss until fully coated.

  3. Place panko breadcrumbs on a shallow plate.

  4. Remove chicken from batter, let excess drip off, then coat in panko, pressing gently.

  5. Set breaded chicken aside on a clean plate.

Air Fryer Method

  1. Preheat air fryer to 400°F (204°C).

  2. Lightly spray chicken with cooking spray.

  3. Place chicken in the basket in a single layer (cook in batches if needed).

  4. Air fry for 10 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through.

Deep Fryer / Skillet Method

  1. Heat about 1 inch of canola oil to 365°F (185°C).

  2. Fry chicken in batches for 2–3 minutes per side until crispy.

  3. Drain on paper towels.

Final Assembly

  1. Toss cooked chicken with Bang Bang sauce until evenly coated.

  2. Garnish with chopped parsley.

  3. Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

  • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer—this ensures maximum crispiness.

  • Spray lightly with oil for a fried-like texture without excess grease.

  • Adjust heat by increasing or reducing Sriracha.

  • Serve with rice, lettuce wraps, or as a slider filling.

Find it online: https://tastyquickly.com/crispy-air-fried-bang-bang-chicken-the-ultimate-sweet-spicy-and-crunchy-comfort-food/