There’s something seriously satisfying about these little bites of spicy, crispy joy — that’s exactly why I’m excited to share my Bang Bang Chicken Sliders Recipe with you. Each slider is bursting with bold flavors and perfect crunch, making them a standout anytime snack or party treat.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Honestly, this Bang Bang Chicken Sliders Recipe has become an instant favorite in my kitchen because it balances spicy, sweet, and creamy flavors with an incredible crunch. I love serving them when friends drop by because they’re easy to assemble but still feel special.
- Flavor Explosion: The bang bang sauce combines sweet chili, hot sauce, and tangy vinegar for a delicious kick that isn’t overwhelming.
- Textural Perfection: You get that crispy golden crust from panko breading, contrasted with soft rolls and fresh lettuce.
- Quick & Fun to Make: With just a few straightforward steps, you’ll have impressive sliders ready in under an hour.
- Perfect Party Food: They’re bite-sized and portable, making them ideal for casual gatherings or game days.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient here plays a part in creating that crave-worthy slider. The chicken provides a tender base, while the spices in the flour bring warmth without overpowering. And trust me, don’t skip the panko — it’s the secret to that unbeatable crunch!
- Chicken Breast: Butterflied and pounded thin to cook evenly and stay juicy inside the crispy coating.
- Egg & Water: Acts as a glue to hold the flour and panko on your chicken — the key for a solid crispy layer.
- All-Purpose Flour: Mixed with spices, it gives flavor and helps form the first coating.
- Garlic Powder, Cayenne, Coriander, Salt & Pepper: These spices add complexity and a subtle heat that wakes up your taste buds.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Light and airy, they fry up crisp without absorbing too much oil.
- Avocado or Vegetable Oil: For frying, chosen because it handles heat well and keeps the chicken crispy without greasiness.
- Mayonnaise: The creamy base of the bang bang sauce, balancing the heat and sweetness.
- Sweet Chili Sauce: Brings that gentle sweetness and sticky texture that’s essential to bang bang sauce.
- Hot Sauce: I like Tabasco, but any you prefer works; it adds the right amount of zing.
- Rice Wine Vinegar: Gives a subtle tang that brightens the sauce and cuts through the richness.
- Hawaiian Rolls: Soft, slightly sweet buns that complement the spicy chicken perfectly.
- Lettuce Leaves: Crisp and fresh, adding crunch and balance to each bite.
Make It Your Way
I love experimenting with different heat levels and toppings here. Sometimes I add a little shredded carrot or thin cucumber slices for freshness, or swap the hot sauce for sriracha if I want a smokier flavor. Your kitchen, your rules!
- Mild Version: Use less cayenne and hot sauce if you’re serving kids or folks sensitive to spice; still delicious without the fire.
- Gluten-Free: Swap out the flour and panko for gluten-free alternatives and you’re good to go without losing crunch.
- Grilled Chicken: For a lighter take, grill chicken instead of frying, then brush with bang bang sauce before serving.
- Extra Saucy: Drizzle some sauce on top after assembling for those who love every bite bursting with flavor.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Bang Bang Chicken Sliders Recipe
Step 1: Prepare and Flatten the Chicken
Start by butterflying your chicken breasts and pounding them to an even, thin thickness. This step really helps the chicken cook quickly and stay tender. I like to put the chicken pieces between two sheets of plastic wrap to avoid any mess when pounding. After that, cut each piece into smaller slider-sized pieces — about 12 total.
Step 2: Set Up Your Breading Station
You’ll want three shallow bowls: one with egg and water beaten together, one with your seasoned flour mix, and one with panko breadcrumbs. The order is important — dip first in egg, then flour, back to egg, and finally coat with panko. This double dip helps the panko stick stubbornly well, so don’t rush this part!
Step 3: Chill the Coated Chicken
Once all the pieces are nicely coated, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and pop it in the fridge while you whip up the sauce and heat your oil. Chilling helps the breading set so it stays put during frying — trust me, it’s worth the wait.
Step 4: Make the Bang Bang Sauce
Mix together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, and rice vinegar in a small bowl. If you have a squirt bottle, that’s perfect for neat application later, but a spoon or knife works just fine too. It’s sweet, tangy, and just spicy enough to keep you coming back for more.
Step 5: Fry the Chicken Until Golden
Heat avocado or vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Fry the chicken pieces in batches — avoid overcrowding — about 3 minutes per side until they're golden and cooked through. Use a meat thermometer if you want to be precise (165°F is the safe mark here). Transfer cooked pieces to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
Step 6: Toast and Assemble Your Sliders
Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half and toast them lightly — this step adds a nice contrast to the tender chicken. Spread a good dollop of bang bang sauce on the bottom half, layer on fresh lettuce, place 1 piece of chicken, add a little more sauce, and top with the other half. That’s it — pure slider happiness!
Top Tip
Through many batches of testing this recipe, I’ve found these tips really bring out the best in your bang bang chicken sliders—small tweaks can make a big difference.
- Chill Before Frying: Don’t skip refrigerating the breaded chicken. It helps the coating stick and crisp up instead of falling off when frying.
- Use Panko Breadcrumbs: Regular breadcrumbs just don’t give that amazing crunch and light texture. Panko is worth the extra effort.
- Oil Temperature Matters: Keep your oil at medium heat—not too hot or the crust will burn before the chicken cooks inside.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Fry a few pieces at a time to keep the oil temperature steady and the crust crisp.
How to Serve Bang Bang Chicken Sliders Recipe
Garnishes
I usually keep it simple with crisp lettuce — iceberg or romaine works great. Sometimes I toss in a few thinly sliced green onions or a little shredded carrot for a pop of color and crunch. A lime wedge on the side also brightens things up if you want a fresh zing.
Side Dishes
These sliders pair amazingly well with sweet potato fries or a crisp cucumber salad. I also love serving them with some pickled jalapeños or a simple coleslaw to contrast the spicy chicken.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, try stacking the sliders on a tiered platter with little flags stuck in each for easy grabbing. Or make a platter with small bowls of different sauces alongside, encouraging everyone to customize their own bang bang experience.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover chicken stores well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like to keep the sauce and rolls separate until just before serving to keep everything fresh and the rolls from getting soggy.
Freezing
I’ve frozen the fried chicken pieces successfully by letting them cool completely, then freezing them on a tray before transferring to a freezer bag. They reheat quickly and retain their crunch if you bake or air-fry them instead of microwaving.
Reheating
To warm leftovers, I pop the chicken pieces into a 375°F oven or air fryer for about 5-7 minutes until heated through and crisp again. Reheating in a skillet works too — just keep an eye so they don’t burn.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes! You can bake the breaded chicken pieces at 425°F for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. They won’t be quite as crispy as frying, but it’s a healthier option that still tastes great.
The spice level is moderate thanks to the cayenne in the breading and the hot sauce in the bang bang sauce. You can easily adjust heat by cutting back on cayenne or choosing a milder hot sauce, making it perfect for all spice tolerances.
Hawaiian rolls are ideal because their sweetness balances the spicy chicken perfectly, plus their soft texture contrasts the crispy chicken. But you can use small brioche buns or slider rolls if you prefer.
Absolutely! The sauce keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Give it a good stir before serving, and if it thickens, add a tiny splash of rice vinegar or water to loosen it.
Final Thoughts
Making this Bang Bang Chicken Sliders Recipe has been such a fun way for me to brighten up gatherings and weeknight dinners alike. It’s simple to put together but full of flavor and texture that’ll wow anyone you share it with. I genuinely hope you get as much joy from assembling and eating these as I do. So go on, invite some friends over, grab those Hawaiian rolls, and let’s get cooking!
Print
Bang Bang Chicken Sliders Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Description
Crunchy and flavorful Bang Bang Chicken Sliders featuring crispy pan-fried breaded chicken breasts, a zesty homemade bang bang sauce, and fresh lettuce served on soft Hawaiian rolls. Perfect for a fun summer meal or casual gathering.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1.5 pounds chicken breast, butterflied and pounded thin
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 1 to 2 cups avocado oil or other vegetable oil
Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce, such as Tabasco
- 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
Assembly
- 1 (12 count) package Hawaiian rolls
- 12 lettuce leaves, rinsed and patted dry
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients: Gather all ingredients and line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
- Cut chicken: Cut the butterflied and pounded thin chicken breasts into about 12 pieces.
- Set up dredging stations: In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and water. In another shallow bowl, mix the flour, garlic powder, cayenne, ground coriander, salt, and black pepper. Place the panko bread crumbs in a third shallow bowl.
- Coat chicken: Dip each chicken piece first into the egg wash, then into the flour mixture. Dip again into the egg wash, and finally coat thoroughly with the panko bread crumbs. Place the coated chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate to chill.
- Make bang bang sauce: In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, and rice wine vinegar until smooth. Transfer to a squirt bottle if desired, and set aside.
- Heat oil and fry chicken: Heat avocado oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Prepare a large platter by covering it with paper towels and place near the stove. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and carefully add pieces one at a time to the hot oil.
- Cook chicken: Fry the chicken for about 3 minutes on one side until golden brown, then flip and fry an additional 3 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside. Use an instant read thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius). Remove cooked chicken to the paper towel-lined platter. Repeat with remaining pieces.
- Toast rolls: Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally and lightly toast them.
- Assemble sliders: Spread or squeeze bang bang sauce on the bottom half of each toasted roll. Layer 2 lettuce leaves, then place one piece of fried chicken on top. Add more bang bang sauce over the chicken and cover with the top half of the roll. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, ensure the oil is hot enough before frying (about 350°F).
- You can adjust the spiciness of the bang bang sauce by adding more or less hot sauce.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the skillet when frying chicken to maintain oil temperature and even cooking.
- Substitute Hawaiian rolls with slider buns or small dinner rolls if unavailable.
- Leftover bang bang sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 251 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 406 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 33 mg
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