Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
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One of my go-to summer recipes, these grilled Bang Bang Chicken Skewers are super juicy and tender and have SO much flavor in every bite, they practically melt in your mouth. The secret is in the punchy, slightly spicy mayonnaise-based sauce made with Thai sweet chili sauce, honey, and sriracha which is brushed onto the chicken as a glaze, and also served as the ultimate dipping sauce for the skewers. It's the perfect quick weeknight dinner that can be made in under 30 minutes and this post has instructions for grilling, air frying or broiling the skewers!
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients
For The Chicken Skewers
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (see notes)
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons honey
For The Bang Bang Sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise (see notes)
- 1/3 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- 3-4 Tablespoons Sriracha (see notes)
- 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon honey
Instructions
- If using wood skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning.
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and cut into 1- to 1½-inch cubes. (Some chicken thigh pieces are very thin so cut them a little bigger for folding onto the skewer.)
- Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl and toss with olive oil to coat. Sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, salt, and honey. Toss again, ensuring all pieces are coated well. Thread the chicken onto skewers, making sure the pieces are tightly close together. You should have 6 to 8 skewers total.
- Heat the grill to medium-high (about 475ºF) and lightly oil the grates.
- While the grill is heating, make the bang bang sauce. In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, Thai sweet chili sauce, sriracha, rice vinegar, and honey. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, then pour 1/2 cup of the sauce into another small bowl to use for brushing the chicken while it is grilling.
- When grill is ready, grill the skewers for 2 minutes with the lid closed, then flip and grill with the lid closed another 2 minutes. Flip again and start brushing the chicken skewers with bang bang sauce. Continue flipping and brushing until chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165ºF and it's golden brown with a few charred spots, about 15 total.
- Transfer the skewers to a platter and serve with reserved bang bang sauce on the side.
- Air fryer: Make your skewers small enough to fit in the air basket. Brush the skewers lightly with bang bang sauce and air fry, in a single layer, at 400ºF for 7-8 minutes. Flip the skewers and brush again with more sauce. Continue to air fry for another 5 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. TIP: You want to leave about 1/2-inch space between each skewer so cook them in batches if needed. Serve with reserved bang bang sauce on the side.
- Broiler: Place the chicken skewers in a lightly greased sheet pan or line it with aluminum (don't use parchment paper). Position a rack in the middle of the oven (not directly under the broiler!) and broil for 6-10 minutes per side or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Notes
Chicken: Boneless, skinless breasts will also work well but keep in mind they will cook more quickly than thighs.
Sriracha: I use a 4 tablespoons of sriracha and I don't find the chicken very spicy at all. That said, if your heat tolerance is very low, or if you are feeding them to children, start with just 1 to 2 tablespoons and go from there.
Clean and oil the grill grates – To reduce the risk of your chicken skewers sticking to the grates, make sure to clean and oil the grates really well.
Soak wooden skewers – Whether you are cooking the bang bang chicken in the air fryer, grill or under the broiler, it is important to soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes so they don't burn as easily.
Leftovers: Chicken can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 350ºF oven until warmed though or microwave gently for 2-3 minutes.