The chicken is marinated in simple pantry ingredients, before being brushed with a drool-worthy ”bang bang sauce” (a mix of whole-egg mayonnaise and sweet chilli sauce) and oven-baked. If you think mayonnaise in a marinade sounds weird, this recipe will change that forever. The flavour is just AMAZING. I’ve made this for dinner several times in the last few weeks because it’s just so quick and easy. Marinate the chicken, pop it in the oven and then dinner is on the table in less than 30 minutes, with minimal effort and minimal time spent in the kitchen. Hooray for simple, delicious dinners!
What else can I serve with Bang Bang Chicken?
I try to prepare a whole heap of vegetables at the beginning of each week that we can use for quick lunches and dinners. Cabbage, kale and most varieties of lettuce are all great choices to prep ahead of time, as they are robust enough to last a couple of days after being cut. Refrigerate your cut vegetables in an airtight container. Ensure they are completely dry and add a piece of paper towel at the bottom and top of the container to help absorb moisture. This will extend the life of your produce by multiple days. We love serving this recipe with rice and mixed salads for everyone to pile up at the dinner table, but I have lots of other serving ideas for you. This Bang Bang Chicken goes with just about anything! Try steamed broccoli, broccolini (tender-stem broccoli), cauliflower, carrots, snow peas (mangetout), green beans, baby corn or sautéed mushrooms. Other salad combinations like bean sprouts, wombok (napa) cabbage, coriander (cilantro), red onions, capsicum (bell pepper), shredded iceberg lettuce or gem lettuce also work well. Instead of rice, you could try rice noodles or egg noodles. Even a creamy mashed potato or sweet potato mash would be delicious!
Watch how to make Bang Bang Chicken
Can I use chicken breast instead of chicken thigh?
Absolutely. Just make sure you follow step 3 and pound the chicken to an even thickness. You will also have to modify the cooking time to 18–20 minutes, or until the chicken is golden and cooked through. Grill (broil) on high heat for 2–3 minutes if required to caramelise. 5 from 33 reviews
Make ahead
Chicken – Marinate the chicken for up to 48 hours prior to cooking. Bang bang sauce – Prepare the sauce and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 48 hours prior to cooking.
Leftovers
Refrigerate any leftover chicken for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave. Not suitable to freeze.
