Bang Bang Chicken Skewers

If you’re looking for a new recipe to add to your collection of appetizers, easy dinners or party foods, you’ll definitely want to try these Bang Bang Chicken Skewers. These chicken skewers come together easily in the oven, grill or air fryer with tender chicken and flavorful bang bang sauce!

What Are Bang Bang Chicken Skewers?

Bang Bang Chicken Skewers are a delicious appetizer made with bite-sized pieces of seasoned chicken. The skewers are topped with a sweet and spicy Bang Bang Sauce made from mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, paprika, ginger, and pepper.

The sweet and spicy bang bang sauce is the star of the this recipe. This creamy mayo-based sauce is a favorite for drizzling over meats, seafood and more. It comes together easily and elevates the flavor of many dishes.

Bang bang chicken kabobs are the perfect appetizer for parties or as a tasty main course. The addition of the bang bang sauce gives these skewers their unique flavor and helps make the chicken stay juicy.

Why This Recipe is the Best ❤️

Enjoy these chicken skewers with sweet and tangy bang bang sauce as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or easy weeknight dinner. The skewers come together in under 30 minutes!

• Bang Bang Sauce – The creamy flavorful bang bang sauce is made with just a few ingredients. While the sauce in this recipe is mild, you can easily adapt to fit your taste.
• Grill, Bake or Air Fry – This bang bang chicken skewers recipe is a versatile dish that you can grill, bake or air fry. Make them year round and enjoy a flavorful chicken dish any time.
• Great for Meal Prep – Make the chicken skewers in advance for meal prep. They taste great with a side of rice, roasted vegetables or a simple side salad. You can also save time at dinner while seasoning the chicken and making the sauce in advance, then store until you are ready to cook.

Here is what a few readers think about this chicken recipe:

“These were so good! My son and hubby loved them so much I’ve made them 3 times already!” – Isaida

“This one was amazing, me and my whole family loved this. Put it in the oven for 20 minutes and it was perfect. I let the chicken marinate in the dressing for two hours before cooking it was super soft and juicy 🤤” – Ava

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe comes together with a few simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

NOTE: The full list of ingredients with measurements is provided in the recipe card below.

• Chicken: I like to use a mixture of boneless skinless chicken thighs and boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can use whatever you have. A mixture of chicken or just chicken thighs, chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins are a good choice.
• Seasonings: You will need paprika, ground ginger, salt and pepper.
• Mayonnaise: This forms as the creamy base of the bang bang sauce. You could substitute with sour cream or Greek yogurt, if desired.
• Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds so much flavor to the sauce. If you don’t have sweet chili sauce, you can mix equal parts honey and hot sauce to create a sweet and spicy flavor combination.
• Soy Sauce: I use low sodium soy sauce.
• Garnish (Optional): I like to garnish with scallions, green onions, cilantro or freshly chopped parsley.

You can serve the bang bang chicken skewers on their own or with a side dish like rice.

Steps to Make Bang Bang Chicken 😋

This easy recipe comes together with just a few quick steps to create tender chicken and a creamy sauce.

Before you prepare the chicken skewers, soak the wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.

1. Prepare the Sauce: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, paprika, and ground ginger, until well combined.

2. Prepare the Chicken: Preheat the oven to 375°F or an air fryer to 400°F. Cut the chicken into 1″ cubes and season on all sides with the paprika, ground ginger, salt and pepper.

3. Make the Skewers: Thread the seasoned chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers, alternating between chicken breasts and chicken thighs. Baste the chicken skewers with the bang bang sauce and set on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (or in the basket of your air fryer.)
4. Cook the Skewers: Bake the skewers in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest pieces reads 165°F. Alternatively, air fry the skewers for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking.
5. Serve: When the chicken comes out of the oven, baste with more sauce, coating each pieces of chicken well. Garnish with freshly chopped chives, green onions or parsley and serve hot.

Grilling Instructions

If you want that nice char on the chicken, then I recommend grilling chicken skewers.

To grill the chicken skewers, preheat a grill to medium-high heat. Grill the skewers for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reads 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

Recipe Tips and Variations

• Type of Chicken: If you want juicier and more flavorful chicken, then use chicken thighs or a combination of chicken thighs and chicken breasts. Cut the chicken into even sized pieces so they cook evenly.
• Add Heat: If you’re looking to add more spicy flavors to the sauce, you can add some sriracha sauce or crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce. Adding a pinch or two of cayenne pepper to the sauce will also increase the heat. Adjust the heat to taste.
• Wooden Skewers or Metal Skewers: You can use either wooden skewers or metal skewers. Just make sure to soak any wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before using. This helps prevent the skewers from burning while cooking. I use 8″ wooden skewers, but if you have longer skewers you can break them in half.
• Use a Thermometer: To check for doneness, make sure to use an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest piece of chicken. Air fryers and even ovens can vary, so you always want to check to make sure your chicken is cooked through.
• Leftover Sauce: This recipe makes plenty of bang bang sauce. If you have extra sauce, you can use it on shrimp or salmon, or serve as a side dipping sauce.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

Storage: You can cook the chicken skewers in advance and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It’s best to remove the chicken from the skewers, if storing for meal prep.

To reheat chicken, heat them in an oven or grill until heated through.

Prep Ahead: Alternatively, you can season the chicken, add them to the skewers and store them separately from the sauce in sealed containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to cook the skewers, divide the sauce between two bowls and baste them with one of the bowls. Cook and then baste with the remaining sauce.

Serving Suggestions

Bang Bang Chicken Skewers taste great on their own when served as an appetizer. Or serve them with your favorite sides for a complete meal. Here are a few of my favorite sides to serve with them.

• Cucumber Tomato and Feta Salad
• Cilantro Lime Rice
• Cajun Butter Corn

The skewers also taste great with a plate of white rice or a side of roasted or steam vegetables. Serve it however you like to make it your own!