The Chicken Dinner Recipe Our Readers Swear By

Avoiding takeout every week feels nearly impossible. Even as a food writer who cooks constantly and tests recipes for a living, I still reach for delivery apps or head to my favorite local spot when motivation drops to an all-time low. But some recipes come together so quickly and easily, they make staying in feel like the better option.

For Allrecipes readers, that recipe is Bang Bang chicken. This protein gets fried until golden and tender, then coated in a sauce that pulls it all together. With Sichuan origins, the dish delivers everything you want in a single bite: crispy texture, creamy sauce, balanced sweetness, and just the right amount of heat. 

Pair it with garlicky rice or sesame noodles and a quick-cooking vegetable like steamed green beans or sautéed spinach. Hundreds of five-star reviews from our community prove that this dish makes skipping takeout an easy choice.

What Makes Bang Bang Chicken So Irresistible

Potato starch is the true innovation of this recipe. When used in the breading, it creates that signature airy crispiness that defines great Bang Bang Chicken.

To make this recipe, you marinate boneless chicken breast pieces in a mixture of milk and eggs. This step tenderizes the meat slightly and helps the breading stick to each piece. 

For the breading, combine potato starch, flour, salt, pepper, and shichimi togarashi, which is a Japanese seven-spice blend that includes red chili pepper, orange peel, sesame seeds, ginger, seaweed, sansho pepper, and other aromatics.

To avoid messy hands (and additionally stress when all you want to do is order takeout), place the chicken and breading mix in a large resealable plastic bag. Shake until each piece gets evenly coated. Fry the chicken until golden and crisp, then toss it in a creamy Bang Bang sauce made with mayonnaise, honey, sweet chili sauce, and gochujang.

“Fantastic and really easy,” says one Allrecipes reviewer. Another commented, “This recipe is definitely a keeper!”

Tips, Tricks, and Ingredient Swaps

Allrecipes readers can’t stop raving about this recipe and have dropped a few helpful tips in the comment section to make sure you’re starting off strong:

• Season the chicken. The breading brings most of the flavor, but boosting the egg and milk marinade adds even more depth. Mince garlic or ginger and mix it in, or add heat with a pinch of chili crisp or cayenne pepper.
• Use an air fryer. Skip the oil and cleanup by cooking the chicken bites in an air fryer. This method still delivers crispiness without the extra mess.
• Fry it twice. Several reviewers found that frying the chicken in two rounds created an even crispier texture. Use the first fry to cook the chicken through, then let it rest briefly before going in for a second, shorter fry to turn the coating even more crunchy.

Get the recipe: Bang Bang Chicken