Alright, let me tell you about this air fryer bang bang chicken. You know, that fancy name, but it’s just fried chicken with a zingy sauce, kinda like what them city folks eat, but we can make it better, right here at home.
First off, you gotta get your chicken. I like them boneless, skinless breasts. Easier to chew, you know? Cut them up into little bite-sized pieces. Not too small, not too big. Like, you know, about the size of your thumb, maybe a little bigger. My old hands ain’t so good with the measurin’ no more, so just eyeball it, you’ll be fine.
Then, the important part, the batter. Don’t go buyin’ that store-bought stuff, it’s full of who-knows-what. We’ll make our own. Get some flour, all-purpose is good. Put it in a bowl. Then, crack in some eggs. Two should do it, maybe three if you got a lot of chicken. Add a splash of milk. Don’t measure, just pour. You want it kinda thick, not runny, like pancake batter but a bit thinner.
- flour
- eggs
- milk
Now, for the bang bang, the spice! This is where it gets good. Get some of that chili garlic sauce. You know, the red stuff in the jar. Spoon some of that in, a good dollop, maybe two, depends how much kick you want. Then, a little bit of soy sauce, for that salty taste. And a squirt of honey, just a little, to make it sweet and sticky. Mix it all up real good.
Dip them chicken pieces in the batter, make sure they’re coated all over. Then, pop them in the air fryer. Now, I don’t know about your fancy air fryers with all the buttons and settings. Mine just has a timer and a temperature thingy. I set it to about 400 degrees and let it cook for, I don’t know, 15-20 minutes? Just keep an eye on it. You want it golden brown and crispy. If you ain’t got no air fryer, just fry it in a pan with some oil, like the old days. Works just as good.
While the chicken is cookin’, let’s make the sauce. This is the real bang bang part. Get some mayonnaise. Yes, mayonnaise. I know, I know, sounds weird, but trust me. Put it in a bowl. Then add more of that chili garlic sauce, same as before. A good squeeze of sriracha, if you got it. If you don’t, just use more chili garlic sauce. And a little bit more honey. Mix it all up real good. Taste it. If it ain’t spicy enough, add more chili garlic sauce. If it ain’t sweet enough, add more honey. You get the idea.
Once the chicken is done, take it out of the air fryer and toss it in the sauce. Make sure every piece is coated real good. And that’s it! Air fryer bang bang chicken. It’s crispy, it’s spicy, it’s sweet, it’s…well, it’s good. My grandkids love it, and they’re picky eaters, so that’s saying something.
Now, I ain’t no chef, I just cook what tastes good. And this here bang bang chicken, it tastes good. It’s easy to make, even for an old woman like me. And you don’t need no fancy ingredients or equipment. Just chicken, some spices, and a little bit of love. That’s all you need. Serve it up with some rice or some noodles, or just eat it by itself. It’s good any way you have it.
And don’t you worry about making it perfect. Cooking ain’t about perfection, it’s about making something that fills your belly and makes you happy. So go ahead, give this air fryer bang bang chicken a try. You might just surprise yourself.
And listen, if you don’t have an air fryer, don’t fret about it. Just fry it up on the stove top. Just make sure you don’t burn it! You want it golden brown, not black. And don’t overcrowd the pan, or the chicken won’t get crispy. Do it in batches if you need to.
This bang bang chicken is real good for get-togethers too. You know, when family comes over, or there is a potluck at the church. It always goes fast, so you might want to make a double batch. And you can adjust the spice level to your liking. Like I said, I like it with a good kick, but if you have young ‘uns, or people who don’t like spice, just use less chili garlic sauce. Or you could make two batches, one spicy and one not.
So there you have it, my secret to making air fryer bang bang chicken. It’s not really a secret, I guess, but it’s my way of making it. And it’s a darn good way, if I do say so myself. So go on, get in the kitchen and start cooking. Your family will thank you for it.
