Cozy Bang Bang Chicken Bowl

Bang Bang Chicken Bowl is easy, irresistible, and absolutely perfect for those busy weeknight dinners when you want something that feels special without all the fuss! This colorful bowl combines tender, perfectly seasoned chicken with crisp fresh vegetables and the most addictive creamy-sweet-spicy sauce that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Love More Chicken Recipes? Try My Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet or this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta next.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Family-friendly with a kick – The sauce has just enough heat to keep things interesting, but mild enough that even picky eaters will dive right in
• Colorful and nutritious – All those beautiful vegetables make this meal as gorgeous as it is good for you
• Perfect for meal prep – Make components ahead and assemble throughout the week for quick, satisfying lunches
• Customizable to your heart’s content – Swap vegetables, adjust the spice level, or add your own favorite toppings
• Uses simple pantry staples – Most ingredients are things you probably already have on hand

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Bang Bang Sauce:

• 1 ¼ cups mayonnaise (I buy the big Costco jar)
• ⅔ cup Thai sweet chili sauce (near the teriyaki at my store)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons Sriracha (my kids can handle this amount)

For the Chicken:

• 2 pounds chicken breasts, chopped into bite-size pieces
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Everything Else:

• 4 cups cooked rice (I use the microwave bags when I’m lazy)
• 2 cups red cabbage, chopped small
• 1 big carrot, cut into thin strips
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 1 avocado, sliced
• Cilantro
• Sesame seeds

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Why These Ingredients Work

The sauce is basically magic. Mayo makes everything creamy, that sweet chili sauce adds flavor without being too spicy, honey balances everything out, and Sriracha gives it just enough heat. I tried fancy mayo once and honestly couldn’t tell the difference.

Cutting the chicken small means it cooks fast and gets more sauce on each piece. Those basic spices make it taste way better than plain chicken. I always have this stuff in my cabinet anyway.

The vegetables keep this from being too heavy. Cabbage doesn’t get soggy like lettuce does, carrots are naturally sweet so my kids actually eat them, and cucumber makes everything feel fresh. The avocado makes it creamy and fancy-looking.

Essential Tools and Equipment

• 2 mixing bowls
• Air fryer or big pan
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Whisk

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the Bang Bang Sauce

Mix everything together in a bowl until it’s smooth. Taste it and add more honey if your family doesn’t like spicy, or more Sriracha if they do. I always make extra because we use it on everything.

Pro Tip: I make this while my rice is cooking in the microwave. Multitasking for the win.

Step 2: Season the Chicken

Put chicken in a bowl with the oil and all the spices. Mix it up with your hands so everything gets coated. My kids love helping with this part because they can get messy.

Step 3: Cook the Chicken

Air Fryer: Put chicken in the basket, don’t pile it too high. Cook 12 minutes at 400°F, shake it halfway through. Done when it’s not pink inside.

Pan: Heat your biggest pan on medium-high. Add chicken and cook about 10 minutes, stirring it around so it doesn’t burn.

Pro Tip: Make extra and freeze some. Future you will thank present you.

Step 4: Mix Chicken with Sauce

While the chicken’s still hot, pour half the sauce over it and stir. The hot chicken soaks up the sauce better this way.

Step 5: Put Together Your Bowls

Scoop rice into bowls. Add whatever vegetables your family will actually eat. Some nights my daughter only wants cucumber and that’s fine.

Step 6: Add the Good Stuff

Put the saucy chicken on top. Drizzle more sauce over everything because why not. Sprinkle cilantro and sesame seeds if you have them.

Step 7: Serve Right Away

Don’t let this sit or the vegetables get soggy and nobody wants that.

You Must Know

Cook your chicken all the way through. Nobody wants food poisoning. Other than that, this recipe is basically foolproof. If something tastes off, add more sauce. Sauce fixes everything.

Personal Secret: I buy rotisserie chicken sometimes when I’m too tired to cook. Just warm it up and toss with the sauce. Don’t tell anyone I told you that.

Pro Tips & Cooking Hacks

Prep all your vegetables while the chicken cooks. I learned this the hard way when I served cold chicken because I was still cutting carrots.

Don’t cut the avocado until right before serving or it turns brown and looks gross. If your sauce is too thick, add a little water. Too thin, add more mayo.

My biggest mistake was letting assembled bowls sit on the counter while I dealt with my toddler’s meltdown. Everything got soggy. Keep components separate until everyone’s ready to eat.

Flavor Variations & Suggestions

Sometimes I throw in whatever vegetables are about to go bad. Bell peppers, snap peas, corn, cherry tomatoes. My kids don’t notice as long as there’s enough sauce.

I’ve made the sauce with a squeeze of lime juice when I had extra limes. Also good with a spoonful of peanut butter for a different flavor – tastes kind of Thai.

Use shrimp instead of chicken when it’s on sale. Tofu works if you’re into that. My husband prefers it with ground turkey when he’s trying to eat healthy.

Make-Ahead Options

Make the sauce Sunday night and use it all week. It keeps forever in the fridge and gets better after sitting. Cook rice in big batches and reheat portions as needed.

I prep all the vegetables Sunday afternoon when my kids are occupied. Store everything in separate containers so it stays fresh. Then dinner assembly takes five minutes on busy nights.

Cook extra chicken and freeze it in portions. Just thaw, reheat, and toss with fresh sauce.

What to Serve With Bang Bang Chicken Bowl

These bowls are filling enough on their own. Sometimes I put out some crackers or chips if people are extra hungry. My kids like having something crunchy to dip in the extra sauce.

We drink water or lemonade with this. Beer is good if it’s been a long day. Avoid anything too fancy – this is comfort food.

Allergy Information

The mayo has eggs so skip this if that’s a problem. I haven’t tried egg-free mayo but my neighbor says it works fine. Everything else should be okay for most people.

You could use maple syrup instead of honey. Just use less because it’s sweeter.

Storage & Reheating

Keep leftovers separated in the fridge. The chicken stays good for three days. Reheat it gently so it doesn’t get rubbery. Rice reheats fine with a little water.

The vegetables don’t keep well mixed with sauce. Store them plain and add fresh sauce when you reheat. Avocado doesn’t keep at all so eat that first.

Emily’s Kitchen Secret: Put a damp paper towel over rice before microwaving it. Makes it fluffy instead of hard. I learned this from my mom and now I’m passing it on to you.

FAQs

Can I make this spicier?

Add more Sriracha. Sometimes I put red pepper flakes in the chicken seasoning too.

What if I don’t have an air fryer?

Use a pan. Works just as well, might take a few minutes longer.

Can I use different rice?

Sure. Brown rice, quinoa, whatever you like. I’ve even used cauliflower rice when I was trying to be healthy.

How long does the sauce keep?

About a week in the fridge. Sometimes longer but we usually eat it all first.

Why did my sauce get weird?

Probably the ingredients were different temperatures. Whisk harder or add a splash of warm water.

💬 Try this and let me know what your family thinks! Did your kids actually eat the vegetables? Did you have to hide extra sauce from your husband like I do? I want to hear all about it.