Description
Bang Bang Chicken Skewers are a flavorful and spicy appetizer featuring tender, juicy chicken cubes marinated with paprika and garlic, air fried to perfection, and coated with a creamy, sweet, and spicy bang bang sauce made from mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey. Perfect for gatherings or a quick, tasty snack.
Ingredients
Chicken and Seasoning
- Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Bang Bang Sauce
- 1 ¼ cups (290 g) mayonnaise
- ⅔ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha, or more to taste
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a large bowl, combine the cubed chicken breasts with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Toss everything until the chicken is evenly coated with the seasonings.
- Thread Chicken onto Skewers: Take one wooden skewer at a time and thread 4-5 pieces of the seasoned chicken cubes onto it, ensuring they are packed but not too tight.
- Prepare the Bang Bang Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey until smooth and well combined.
- Apply Initial Sauce Coating: Divide the prepared bang bang sauce in half. Brush half of this sauce generously over the chicken pieces on the skewers, coating each piece well. Reserve the other half of the sauce for serving later.
- Arrange Skewers in Air Fryer: Place the chicken skewers into the basket of your air fryer in a single layer. Depending on the air fryer size, you may need to cook in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Set the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) and cook the chicken skewers for 11-12 minutes. Flip the skewers halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Finish with Sauce and Serve: Transfer the cooked skewers to a serving plate. Drizzle or brush the reserved bang bang sauce over the hot chicken skewers and serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before threading to prevent burning in the air fryer.
- Adjust the amount of Sriracha in the sauce according to your preferred spice level.
- Cook skewers in batches if your air fryer basket cannot accommodate all at once to ensure even cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature for perfectly cooked, safe chicken.
- For a lower calorie option, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, though this will alter the traditional sauce texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American-Asian Fusion
