This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Bang bang chicken skewers are a quick and easy recipe with juicy seasoned chicken thighs brushed with sweet and spicy homemade bang bang sauce, cooked on the grill or in the air fryer. Serve these as a meal or appetizer with extra sauce for dipping!
The easiest way to turn my favorite dishes into appetizers is to stick them on a skewer! Try these BBQ chicken skewers, shrimp skewers, and bacon-wrapped chicken bites, next.
These bang bang chicken skewers are a fresh take on my favorite original chicken skewers recipe. They have juicy chicken thighs rubbed with seasonings, slathered with creamy sweet chili mayo (aka bang bang sauce), then grilled on skewers to lock in the flavor. Afterwards, I serve them chicken satay-style with more bang bang sauce for dipping. These babies are BOLD, perfect as a light meal or appetizer.
Why You’ll Love These Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
- Sweet-spicy flavors. Bang bang sauce is sweet, spicy, and creamy, made with sweet chili sauce and sriracha. It’s easy to make and delicious on just about everything. Don’t be surprised when you’re completely hooked!
- Easy to prepare. Simply toss your chicken in seasonings, thread it onto skewers, and grill. There’s also the option to cook this bang bang chicken in the air fryer. Both methods are super quick and easy.
- Convenient. Skewers make everything so much easier. Cooking this bang bang chicken on skewers makes it perfect for grilling, and for serving a crowd.
What Is Bang Bang Sauce Made Of?
Bang bang sauce is a sweet and spicy mayonnaise-based sauce traditionally used in bang bang shrimp recipes, made popular by the Bonefish Grill restaurant chain. I love it so much that I knew I needed to make a homemade chicken version!
These are my notes on what you’ll need to make it. Scroll down to the recipe card after the post for the printable recipe followed by a visual step-by-step instructions.
- Mayonnaise – You can use the regular or tangy kind.
- Lime Juice – Ideally freshly squeezed.
- Sweet Chili Sauce – I use Thai sweet chili sauce, but you can also make this recipe with garlic chili sauce (it just won’t have the sweetness in this case).
- Hot Sauce – Sriracha is the classic choice, but you can use any hot sauce. I’m a fan of Tabasco in my bang bang sauce. 😀
For the Chicken
- Chicken Thighs – I like to use skinless, boneless chicken thighs. You can use chicken breasts instead of thighs, but keep in mind that thighs are juicier. Chicken breasts may also cook slightly faster than thigh meat.
- Olive Oil – Or another cooking oil, like avocado oil, canola, or vegetable oil.
- Seasonings – I use a mix of paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
Can I Substitute the Mayo?
Yes! It’s possible to substitute the mayo in bang bang sauce with full-fat plain Greek yogurt. You could also do a lightened-up version with half mayo and half yogurt.
Tips and Variations
- Avoid cross-contamination. It’s important to divide the prepared bang bang sauce so you have some for basting the chicken, and a separate, untouched portion for serving. Do not reuse sauce that’s come into contact with the raw or partially cooked chicken.
- Soak the skewers. Soak your bamboo skewers for at least 30 minutes before you grill with them to prevent the ends from burning. This only applies to wooden skewers.
- Cut the chicken into same-size pieces. Cubed chicken cooks through evenly.
- Clean the grill. Make sure the grill is preheated and clean before you cook the chicken skewers, to avoid sticking. Scrub the grates with oil beforehand.
- Check the chicken for doneness. Use an instant-read thermometer to check that the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165ºF.
- Adapt the heat. The great thing about homemade bang bang sauce is that you can make the recipe to be exactly how you like it. Use your favorite hot sauce or chili sauce, and use more or less spice depending on how mild or hot you’d like your sauce to be. You can skip the sriracha to make it more kid-friendly or if you’re sensitive to heat.
Serving Suggestions
Bang bang chicken skewers are great on their own as an appetizer, and it’s easy to turn them into a fuller meal with jasmine rice or coconut lime cauliflower rice and a crunchy sesame cucumber salad on the side. I often serve these skewers as part of an appetizer spread along with cucumber sushi rolls and firecracker shrimp.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. I recommend removing the chicken from the skewers before storing. Keep the bang bang chicken airtight in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheat. Warm your chicken in the oven or the microwave and serve it with leftover sauce. It’s also great rolled up in a chicken lettuce wrap.
- Store leftover bang bang sauce. Stored airtight, the bang bang sauce lasts for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. I like to use leftover sauce as a dip for chicken nuggets or as a dressing for crispy chicken burgers and poke bowls!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
Ingredients
For the sauce:
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce
- ½ teaspoon sriracha
For the chicken:
- 1¼ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¾ teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- bamboo wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes before use
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat your grill and brush the grill grates with oil.
- Make the bang bang sauce. Whisk the mayonnaise, lime juice, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha in a bowl. Divide the sauce between two bowls and reserve one part for serving and one part for brushing.
- Prepare the chicken. Cut the chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces. Place the chicken in a bowl with olive oil, paprika, and garlic powder. Then, season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Assemble the skewers. Thread 5-6 pieces of the chicken onto a skewer, working with one skewer at a time.
- Grill the chicken. Brush the chicken pieces on all sides with the prepared bang bang sauce. Transfer the chicken skewers to the grill and cook them for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165ºF.
- Serve. Remove the skewers from the grill and let them rest for 5 minutes. Serve the chicken skewers warm with the reserved bang bang sauce on the side.
Equipment
Notes
- Soak the wooden skewers. Before use, soak the bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes.
- Chicken choices. You can use chicken breasts instead of thighs, but remember that the thighs are juicier.
- Air fry. You can also cook your chicken skewers in the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 400˚F. Cook the chicken for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Hot sauce options. Instead of Sriracha, you can use another type of hot sauce. I personally love Tabasco.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How to Make Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
If you’re using bamboo skewers, soak the skewers in water for 30 minutes before you use them. This prevents the wood from charring when it’s put on the hot grill. Of course, this isn’t necessary if you’re using metal skewers like the ones I have here.
- Make the bang bang sauce. First things first, whisk mayonnaise with lime juice, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha. Afterward, divide the sauce, setting one bowl aside for serving.
- Prepare the chicken. Slice the chicken thighs into 1” pieces, and add the chicken to a bowl with olive oil and seasonings. Toss to coat.
- Assemble the skewers. Now, thread the chicken pieces onto the skewers. I usually do 5-6 pieces per skewer. While the grill preheats, brush the chicken with bang bang sauce so it’s coated on all sides.
- Grill. Place the chicken skewers on the hot grill and cook for 15-20 minutes, flipping once about halfway through. When the chicken is cooked, serve with the reserved sauce on the side and dig in!
Air Fryer Method
If it isn’t grilling weather, you can make bang bang chicken skewers in the air fryer instead. Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF while you prepare the skewers and sauce. Afterward, brush the chicken as directed and then cook for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
More Appetizer Recipes
