Bang Bang Chicken Skewers is a quick, easy, and flavorful recipe made with seasoned cubed chicken brushed with homemade bang bang sauce, cooked in an air fryer. They make for a delicious appetizer or main course and can also be made in the oven! Once you taste how good the sauce is, you will want to make my Bang Bang Salmon, too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Chicken: I prefer chicken breasts for the skewers. However, you could also use chicken thighs, but cooking times may vary. When cubing the chicken, try to get them as close in size as possible for even cooking.
Seasonings: To season the chicken, you will need paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and pepper.
Mayonnaise: The mayonnaise gives the sauce the creamy texture and richness that bang bang sauce is known for. If you don’t have any on hand, make your own!
Sweet Chili Sauce: Thai sweet chili sauce gives bang bang sauce its distinctive taste and contributes to its overall sweetness. If possible, make your own!
Sriracha: Sriracha gives the sauce a spicy kick with some heat. You can definitely add more (or use less), depending on how much heat you can handle!
Honey: Honey is used to balance out the flavors of the sauce. It adds a natural sweetness that helps to counteract the heat from the Sriracha and balances the tanginess of the Thai sweet chili sauce.
Wooden Skewers vs Metal Skewers
Both wooden and metal skewers can be used when making these bang bang chicken skewers, even in the air fryer. If using wooden skewers, be sure they are soaked in water for at least 30 minutes before using them. Soaking them in water prevents the skewers from charring during cooking. If using metal skewers, make sure they fit in the basket of your air fryer. If using wooden skewers, you can break them in half if you need to shorten them.
Can I Make Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Ahead Of Time?
Yes! You can get the seasoned chicken skewers assembled ahead of time as well as make the bang bang sauce in advance. Once you have the chicken on the skewers, you can store them in the refrigerator or freeze them before cooking. If stored in the refrigerator, they will last 2-3 days, covered. These can also be frozen ahead of time. To freeze, tightly wrap the chicken skewers; they will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to cook them, let the skewers thaw in the refrigerator overnight. The bang bang sauce can be mixed together and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Storing & Reheating Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
If you have any leftover chicken skewers, store the skewers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. (If preferred, you can remove the chicken from the skewers when storing.) Reheat them in the oven, microwave, or in a skillet on the stovetop. Store the leftover reserved bang bang sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Brush it over the reheated chicken.
Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
- wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Bang Bang Sauce
- 1 ¼ cups (290 g) mayonnaise
- ⅔ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha, or more to taste
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cubed chicken breasts, oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to evenly coat the chicken.
- Working one skewer at a time, thread 4-5 chicken cubes onto each.
- In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey. Mix well. This will make about 1 ¾ cups bang bang sauce.
- Pour half of the sauce into a separate bowl and set aside to use after the chicken has been cooked. Use the rest of the sauce to brush evenly over the chicken.
- Add the skewers to the basket of your air fryer in a single layer. (Depending on the size of the air fryer, you may have to work in batches.)
- Air fry* at 400°F for 11-12 minutes, flipping halfway. Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Transfer the skewers to a plate and drizzle or brush with the reserved bang bang sauce. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the seasoned cubes of chicken onto the skewers, then onto the lined baking sheet. (Do not brush the chicken with bang bang sauce until after baking in the oven.)
- Cook the chicken skewers for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove from the oven. Brush with the bang bang sauce and serve.
- Thread the seasoned chicken onto the skewers. (Wait until after grilling to brush with the bang bang sauce.) Grill over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes per side, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Brush the grilled chicken with the bang bang sauce.
Did you make this recipe?
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What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
If you are looking for a simple dish that packs some serious flavor, this one is for you. Bang Bang sauce is one my favorites because it works well with everything. I usually make extra just to have for other recipes because it is just that good.
Elizabeth
I am a huge fan of bang bang sauce, so I knew I would love it on these chicken skewers. Well, I was right! Besides being delicious, they are super easy to put together and make! Winner, winner, chi…don't say it, don't say, CHICKEN DINNER (or appetizer)!
Rachael
Put this sauce on everything, it is amazing! The air fryer gets everything perfectly crisped on the outside and juicy on the inside. You can't go wrong with bang bang sauce, that's for sure!
Annabelle
So good! These are flavorful, juicy, and just delicious (not to mention they're pretty easy to make)!
Bella
Bang Bang sauce on meat is always a winner! It works so well with chicken in this recipe. Sort of sweet and sort of creamy! A great balance of flavors. These chicken skewers are so simple, especially in the air fryer.
Selena
So easy and SOOOO flavorful. I really like the bang bang sauce on these. Super easy to throw together!
Very good! Why shouldn’t you add sauce to chicken if done in the oven, rather than air fryer?
When testing we found that the sauce burned in the oven method.
Delish. Made this last week and requested again today.