Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Absolutely—chicken thighs are juicy, full of flavor, and cook up beautifully in this recipe. Just make sure they’re boneless and adjust the bake time if needed; they might need a few extra minutes.

What’s in Bang Bang sauce, and can I make it myself?

Bang Bang sauce is a creamy, mildly spicy blend—usually mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and a touch of Sriracha or hot sauce. You can whip up a homemade version in minutes, adjusting ingredients and heat level to your taste.

Can I prep this ahead of time?

Definitely! You can season and sauce your chicken in advance, then cover and refrigerate until ready to bake—just add a couple minutes to the cook time if it's going into the oven cold.

Is this dish spicy? Can I make it milder?

That’s entirely up to your Bang Bang sauce. Most versions have a pleasant kick but aren’t overwhelmingly spicy. If you’re sensitive to heat, reduce the hot sauce or use a sweet chili sauce heavy on the sweet and light on the spice.

Bang Bang Chicken Bake Recipe

Description

This Bang Bang Chicken Bake is a quick and flavorful main course featuring juicy chicken breasts baked with a bold, creamy Bang Bang sauce. The dish is easy to prepare, requires minimal hands-on time, and is perfect for a weeknight dinner. It’s served over brown rice and finished with fresh parsley for a vibrant, satisfying meal everyone will love.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Chicken

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Seasonings

1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Sauce

1 1/2 cups (336 g) Bang Bang sauce, divided

To Serve

Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Cooked brown rice, for serving

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels for better browning. Slice each breast in half horizontally, so you have 6 thinner chicken cutlets.
Season the Chicken: Place the cutlets onto the lined baking sheet. Drizzle them with olive oil and rub the oil over both sides. In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Sprinkle this seasoning blend evenly over both sides of the chicken cutlets.
Add the Sauce: Arrange the seasoned chicken in a single layer on the baking sheet. Spoon 1 cup of the Bang Bang sauce over the chicken, spreading it to cover each piece thoroughly. Reserve the remaining sauce for serving.
Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF (75ºC).
Finish and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and garnish with chopped parsley. Serve the chicken over cooked brown rice and drizzle with the remaining Bang Bang sauce for extra flavor.

Notes

If you like extra heat, add a dash of cayenne pepper or chili flakes to the seasoning mix.
Bang Bang sauce usually combines mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha; you can use homemade or store-bought.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
This bake works well with other proteins like shrimp or tofu for variety.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 chicken cutlet with sauce and rice
Calories: 320
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 610mg
Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 19g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 33g
Cholesterol: 80mg