Hey everyone, Chef Mark here! Are you one of those people staring into the fridge at 7 PM, needing something amazing, flavorful, and fast? Trust me, I get it. After my football injury sidelined my training, I needed serious fuel that still felt like comfort food. I was desperate for something satisfying that wouldn’t derail my ketogenic goals, but boy, was I craving flavor!
That struggle led me straight to this incredible **Bang Bang Chicken Bowl**. The first time I whipped up that spicy, creamy sauce and tossed it with tender chicken chunks, it brought me right back to those post-game feasts with my teammates. It’s delicious, ready in under 30 minutes, and it proves that healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring. This bowl is my go-to power-up, and I promise it’ll become yours too!
Why This Bang Bang Chicken Bowl Is Your New Weeknight Staple
I developed this recipe because I needed serious speed without sacrificing that ‘wow’ factor. If you’re living an active life—whether you’re training hard or just juggling work and family—you don’t have time for fuss. Trust me on this one!
- It’s lightning fast! Total time is just 27 minutes, so you get an amazing meal really quickly.
- The flavor payoff is huge; that spicy, creamy sauce makes everything taste gourmet.
- It’s perfect fuel for an active lifestyle. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to get that incredible takeout experience right in your own kitchen. Seriously, forget waiting for delivery! Check out my best meal prep tips to make this even faster next time!
Gathering Ingredients for Your Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
Okay, grabbing ingredients is the easy part, but listen up: precision matters here. This recipe has three main players—the sauce, the chicken, and the fresh assembly—and getting the ratios right guarantees that perfect spicy-creamy bite every single time. Let’s get this organized!
For the Creamy Bang Bang Sauce
This is the star! You’ll want 1 and 1/4 cups of mayonnaise—don’t skimp or substitute that base, it needs the richness. Then we mix in 2/3 cup of Thai sweet chili sauce, which brings the sweetness. Add 2 tablespoons of honey to round things out. Now for the kick: start with 2 teaspoons of Sriracha, but seriously, taste it before you add the last drop. If you like it fiery, go ahead, add more!
- 1.25 cups mayonnaise (about 290 g)
- 0.67 cup Thai sweet chili sauce (about 177 g)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha (or more if you dare!)
For the Seasoned Chicken
We need 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and you absolutely must chop these into uniform 1-inch cubes. Uniformity helps them cook evenly in the air fryer—we want perfect little bites!
We’re seasoning them simply but powerfully. Toss them with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil first, then add your spices: 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and a half teaspoon of black pepper. Make sure every single piece is coated before they hit the heat.
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
For Assembling the Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
This is where the texture comes alive! For the base of our **Bang Bang Chicken Bowl**, grab 4 cups of hot, prepared white rice (that’s about a cup per bowl). Then, for crunch, you need 2 cups of red cabbage, thinly sliced. Don’t forget 1 large carrot, julienned—those little matchsticks add great color. Slice up 1 medium cucumber, halved first, and don’t forget those beautiful slices of avocado!
Finally, have some fresh cilantro chopped up and sesame seeds ready for garnish. These finishing touches make your take-out at home look restaurant-ready!
- 4 cups prepared white rice, warmed, divided
- 2 cups red cabbage, thinly sliced, divided
- 1 large carrot, julienned, divided
- 1 medium cucumber, halved and sliced, divided
- 1 large avocado, thinly sliced, divided
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Perfect Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
Now that we have every single ingredient prepped and organized, it’s time for the fun part! Getting this **Bang Bang Chicken Bowl** assembled isn’t hard, but we need to follow the steps in order so that hot chicken gets coated perfectly while the rice is still warm. Don’t worry, this whole system takes less than 25 minutes!
Making the Signature Bang Bang Sauce
This is the easiest step, I promise. Just grab your medium bowl and toss in the mayonnaise, the Thai sweet chili sauce, the honey, and your Sriracha. You just need a whisk or a sturdy fork to stir this until it looks smooth and fully blended. Once it’s creamy, pop it in the fridge for just a minute while we deal with the main event.
Preparing and Air Frying the Chicken for Your Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
Remember those beautiful cubed chicken pieces coated in the oil and spices? Spread those seasoned cubes out in your air fryer basket. This is key—you must cook them in a single layer. If you pile them up, they steam instead of crisping up, and we want that nice bite!
Set your air fryer to 400°F. Cook them for 11 to 12 minutes total, but make sure you pull the basket out halfway through and flip those pieces. We are looking for an internal temp of 165°F. If you don’t have an air fryer, you can check out this other great recipe for Bang Bang Chicken Bowl ideas, but for speed, the air fryer wins!
- Place the coated chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 400°F for 11 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Assembling Your Flavorful Spicy Chicken Bowl
This is the moment everything comes together. Immediately take the hot, cooked chicken and toss it gently in a large bowl with about half a cup of that incredible sauce we made earlier. You want every piece glistening but not swimming! Now, get those 4 bowls ready.
Start with a cup of warm rice in the bottom of each. Then layer on the veggies: half a cup of shredded cabbage, a good sprinkle of julienned carrots, and some sliced cucumbers. Top that stack with your saucy chicken and your beautiful strips of avocado. Drizzle on any remaining **Bang Bang Chicken Bowl** sauce, and finish with cilantro and sesame seeds. Seriously, look at that beautiful stack of flavor!
Want to see another recipe that uses high-heat cooking? These baked wings are amazing too!
Tips for Success When Making a Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
You’ve got the recipe down, but trust me, a few little tricks will elevate this **spicy chicken bowl** from great to unbelievable. Texture is everything here. When you toss the hot, just-out-of-the-air-fryer chicken with the sauce, do it immediately but gently. If the chicken cools down too much, the sauce won’t coat as nicely, and you lose that warm, gooey center we are aiming for.
Another huge time-saver for these **rice bowl recipes**? Meal prep those veggies! Slice up your cabbage, julienne your carrots, and dice your cucumber the night before. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge. When dinner time hits, throw the chicken in the air fryer and you’re basically done in 15 minutes! That’s efficiency right there. If you’re looking for more fast dinner ideas, check out my 20-minute winners.
Oh, and a quick word on the sauce: never toss *all* the sauce with the chicken. Always reserve about a third of it. That reserved sauce is for drizzling right on top at the end—it keeps the presentation looking fresh and vibrant!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for the Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
Listen, I know we all cook a little differently, and sometimes you just don’t have an ingredient on hand, or maybe you need to tweak this for your active lifestyle goals. That’s totally fine! The beauty of this **Bang Bang Chicken Bowl** is that the sauce base is super forgiving, but a couple of swaps really make a difference, especially if you’re watching your carb count.
For the base, we used white rice here because it’s traditional for a **takeout at home** feel. But if you are following a ketogenic lifestyle—and I know many of you are, just like I was recovering from my injury—you absolutely must swap that rice out. Cauliflower rice is your best friend here, or even just layering the chicken and veggies over a big bed of mixed greens works perfectly for a low-carb, higher-volume meal.
Why air frying? I rely on the air fryer because it gives you that amazing crisp texture with very little oil, which aligns perfectly with needing clean fuel for training. It mimics deep frying without all the saturated fats. If you don’t have one, you can always bake those seasoned chicken cubes on a sheet pan at 400°F, but give them closer to 18 minutes and flip them twice so they brown up nicely on all sides.
Another thing about the sauce—feel free to experiment with your toppings! If you love creamy, fresh avocado, you might also love making a quick batch of lime cilantro yogurt dressing on the side. You can check out my favorite lime cilantro recipe here, though honestly, the avocado in the bowl usually handles that freshness requirement!
Serving Suggestions for Your Spicy Chicken Bowl
We’ve nailed the main event, but presentation and pairing make the whole experience feel special, even on a Tuesday night. When I serve this **Bang Bang Chicken Bowl**, I like to make sure the colors really pop. Instead of just serving it in a plain bowl, sometimes I serve the rice mixture on a platter and arrange the sauced chicken and fresh veggies artfully on top—it just looks better!
To round out this meal and make it a complete fitness feast, keep the side dish simple so the chicken flavor shines. My go-to is a quick-roasted vegetable. You can’t go wrong with a little bit of Parmesan roasted asparagus; it takes almost no effort. And for a drink? A cold glass of sparkling water with a fresh lime wedge cuts right through the richness of that creamy sauce. Perfect!
Storing and Reheating Leftover Bang Bang Chicken
If you manage to have any of this amazing **Bang Bang Chicken Bowl** left over—which, let’s be honest, is sometimes tough—storage is key to keeping it tasting nearly as good as fresh. The biggest enemy here is the sauce mixing too early with the fresh stuff! You want to keep your components separate for as long as possible.
When you pack your leftovers, make sure you keep the sauced chicken totally separate from your rice and your crisp vegetables like cabbage and cucumber. If you keep them all layered like in the bowl, the rice gets mushy and the veggies get soggy overnight. That’s a texture disaster, and we avoid those!
For the chicken? Store it in a small, airtight container. When you’re ready to eat it, I never reheat it in the microwave if I can avoid it—microwaving sauced chicken can make it rubbery. Instead, I toss the sauced chicken in a small skillet over medium-low heat for just a few minutes, stirring constantly until it’s warmed through.
Once the chicken is warm, then you can assemble your quick **spicy chicken bowl** again: warm up the rice separately, and pile those fresh, crisp veggies on top. It’s almost like making it fresh again! If you’re getting ahead for the week, you can see some of my favorite batch cooking advice over at my meal prep guide. It really makes those busy weeknights feel effortless!
Frequently Asked Questions About the Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
I know you guys always have questions when you’re trying a new dish, especially one that aims to be so quick! I’ve gathered up the most common things I hear about nailing this **Bang Bang Chicken Bowl**. Getting these details right is what moves this from a good dinner to a truly fantastic **rice bowl recipe**!
Can I make this Bang Bang Chicken Bowl without an air fryer?
Oh, absolutely! While the air fryer speeds things up and gives a great coating, you can totally bake or pan-fry the chicken. If you’re baking, lay those seasoned cubes on a sheet pan—don’t let them touch!—and bake at 400°F for about 18 minutes, flipping them halfway through until they hit that internal temp.
If you prefer the hob, use a large skillet over medium-high heat with a little extra oil. Pan-fry in batches until golden brown and cooked through. It might take a few extra minutes for that perfect color on your **bang bang chicken**, but the flavor is still there!
How do I make this a keto-friendly spicy chicken bowl?
This is a big one, especially for those of us watching our macros! If you want to switch this into a true keto meal, the change is super easy: forget the white rice. Instead of 4 cups of rice, use roughly the same volume of warm cauliflower rice. Or, for maximum greens, just pile everything over a big bed of shredded lettuce or even spinach!
Since the main carb hits are the rice and the honey/sweet chili in the sauce, you might want to reduce the honey in the sauce by half or use a keto-approved sweetener replacement if you’re being strict. But swapping that rice base instantly turns this into the perfect **keto-friendly spicy chicken bowl**!
How long does the Bang Bang Chicken take to cook?
This is why I love it so much! If your cutting and sauce prep is done, the active cooking time for the chicken itself takes about 11 to 12 minutes in the air fryer. That’s it! In total, with minimal sauce mixing, you’re looking at maybe 27 minutes for the entire **Bang Bang Chicken Bowl** from start to finish. It’s perfect for those nights when you’re starving!
For all my other favorite quick meals that let you get back to your training or downtime faster, take a look at my whole collection of fast recipes here.
Nutritional Estimates for the Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
I get asked all the time about the fuel behind this amazing dish. When you’re focused on performance and an active lifestyle, you need to know what you’re putting in. Since this recipe has rich components like mayonnaise and honey balanced with lean chicken and veggies, the numbers give you a great picture of what a powerful meal this is!
Keep in mind that these are just estimates for one serving, assuming you use the standard recipe with white rice. If you swap rice for cauliflower to make it lower carb, those numbers will definitely shift in your favor! Also, the exact brand of mayo or chili sauce you grab off the shelf can always make a minor difference.
Here is a general look at what you can expect per bowl:
- Estimated Calories: Around 650-700 kcal
- Protein: Approximately 45 grams (Hello, muscle fuel!)
- Fat: Roughly 38 grams (Those healthy fats from the mayo balance out the spices nicely)
- Total Carbohydrates: Expect about 40 grams (This includes the rice base)
Because this recipe is so customizable, especially if you’re digging into **keto chicken recipes** territory, these numbers are a starting point. But even in this standard format, you’re getting a huge dose of protein to keep you satisfied long after you finish enjoying your **Bang Bang Chicken Bowl**!
Share Your Experience Making This Bang Bang Chicken
Alright team, we’ve gotten through the prep, the cooking, and the assembly of what I think is one of the most satisfying **rice bowl recipes** out there. But cooking isn’t solo work—it takes a community in the kitchen!
Now it’s your turn. I genuinely want to know how this came out for you. Did you stick with the 2 teaspoons of Sriracha, or did you dial it up to ‘emergency fire’ level? Let me know in the comments below! Your feedback helps me keep perfecting these recipes for everyone who needs quick fuel.
Please take a snap of your finished **spicy chicken bowl**! Tag me on social media so I can see your incredible plating skills. It’s so rewarding seeing this **Bang Bang Chicken** show up on plates all over the place. We built this meal to fuel active lives, so show me how you’re powering up next!
If you run into any logistical questions while cooking, or maybe you just want to share a substitution idea that worked perfectly, don’t hesitate to reach out directly via my contact page!
Bang Bang Chicken Bowl
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- For the Bang Bang Sauce: Add mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, honey, and Sriracha to a medium bowl. Stir to combine. Set aside.
- For the Chicken: Combine oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Add the chicken cubes to the seasoned oil mixture. Gently toss to coat all pieces.
- Place the coated chicken in a single layer into the air fryer basket. You may need to cook in batches depending on your air fryer size.
- Air fry at 400°F for 11 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Add the cooked chicken to a large bowl. Add ½ cup of the prepared bang bang sauce and toss to coat the chicken thoroughly.
- To assemble the bowls: Set out 4 medium-sized bowls. To each bowl, add 1 cup of warm rice, ½ cup of cabbage, ¼ cup of carrots, and ¼ cup of cucumbers.
- Top each bowl with equal portions of sliced avocado and the coated bang-bang chicken.
- Garnish each bowl with the remaining bang bang sauce, chopped cilantro, and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
