Introducing the Bang Bang Chicken Bowl: Tender chicken cubes seasoned and coated in a creamy, spicy Bang Bang sauce, served atop rice alongside crunchy vegetables. Each bowl is garnished with avocado, cilantro, and sesame seeds, adding a refreshing and textural contrast. The chicken can be prepared in an air fryer or skillet, offering versatility in cooking methods. This bowl draws inspiration from the widely loved Bang Bang Chicken Skewers!
Ingredients & Substitutions: Bang Bang Sauce: This sauce offers a delightful blend of sweetness and heat. It’s crafted with homemade mayonnaise and sweet chili sauce. For extra spiciness, increase the amount of Sriracha. You can prepare the sauce in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It’s the same delicious sauce featured in my Bang Bang Chicken and Bang Bang Salmon recipes, which you should explore as well!
Chicken: I opted for 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into bite-sized pieces. Before air frying, I coated the chicken with oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Once cooked, I drizzled it with bang bang sauce to infuse it with a sweet and spicy flavor. Chicken thighs can also be used; ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F when cooked.
Rice: While I used white rice, feel free to substitute with your preferred rice variety. Brown rice pairs wonderfully, or you could experiment with cilantro lime rice for added zest!
Vegetables & Toppings: Each bowl is adorned with red cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, avocado, fresh cilantro, and sesame seeds. You have the liberty to incorporate your favorite vegetables, such as bell peppers, snap peas, steamed broccoli, red onion, spinach, tomatoes, and more!
Is it Possible to Prepare Bang Bang Chicken Bowls in Advance? Absolutely! There are several ways to prepare components of these bowls ahead of time for easy assembly later. The bang bang sauce can be prepared beforehand and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Similarly, the rice can be cooked in advance and reheated when it’s time to assemble the bowls. Additionally, you can cook the bang bang chicken ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Storing Bang Bang Chicken Bowls If you have leftovers, it’s ideal to store each component of the chicken bowls separately. However, I stored mine all together, and it was reheated perfectly for leftovers. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply heat each component that requires warming and assemble them for a delicious meal!
Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
PREP TIME30MINUTES MINS
COOK TIME10MINUTES MINS
TOTAL TIME40MINUTES MINS
This Bang Bang Chicken Bowl is cubes of chicken tossed in a creamy, spicy Bang Bang sauce served over rice with crispy vegetables. Then, each bowl is topped with avocado, cilantro, and sesame seeds for a burst of freshness and texture.
Ingredients
Bang Bang Sauce
- ▢1 ¼ cups (290 g) mayonnaise
- ▢⅔ cup (177 g) Thai sweet chili sauce
- ▢2 tablespoons honey
- ▢2 teaspoons Sriracha, or more to taste
Chicken
- ▢2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ▢1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ▢1 teaspoon paprika
- ▢1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢½ teaspoon black pepper
Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
- ▢4 cups (744 g) prepared white rice, warmed, divided
- ▢2 cups (140 g) red cabbage, thinly sliced, divided
- ▢1 large carrot, julienned, divided
- ▢1 medium cucumber, halved, sliced, divided
- ▢1 large avocado, thinly sliced, divided
- ▢fresh cilantro, chopped for garnish
- ▢sesame seeds, for garnish
Bang Bang Sauce
In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, honey, and Sriracha. Mix well and set aside.
Chicken
- In a large bowl, combine oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add cubes of chicken. Gently toss to coat.
- Place chicken in a single layer into the basket of the air fryer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to work in batches.
- Air fry* at 400°F for 11-12 minutes, flipping halfway, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- To a large bowl, add cooked chicken. Add ½ cup of bang bang sauce, tossing to coat.
Assembly
- To assemble, set out 4 medium-sized bowls. To each bowl, add 1 cup of rice, ½ cup of cabbage, ¼ cup of carrots, and ¼ cup of cucumbers. Top with equal portions of avocado and cooked bang-bang chicken.
- Garnish each bowl with the remaining bang bang sauce, cilantro, and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
- Notes
- *Skillet Instructions:
- Season chicken pieces evenly with, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- To a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, add oil. Once hot and shimmering, add the chicken. Cook 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Turn off the heat. Add ½ cup of the bang bang sauce to the pan. Toss to coat the chicken evenly.