Bang Bang Chicken Skewers (Printable)
Marinated chicken grilled on skewers, topped with creamy sweet-spicy Bang Bang sauce and lime.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken Skewers
01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
02 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
03 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 tablespoon honey
07 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
08 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
09 - Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes, or metal skewers
→ Bang Bang Sauce
10 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
11 - 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce, adjust to taste
13 - 1 tablespoon honey or sugar
14 - 1 teaspoon lime juice
15 - Salt to taste
→ Garnish
16 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro or scallions
17 - 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
18 - Lime wedges
# How-To:
01 - In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, honey, rice vinegar, and black pepper. Add the chicken pieces and toss thoroughly to coat. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes, or refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor penetration.
02 - While the chicken marinates, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, lime juice, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl until smooth and well blended. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
03 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto skewers, leaving a small gap between each piece for even cooking.
04 - Place skewers on the grill and cook for 6 to 8 minutes per side, until the chicken is cooked through and develops a light char on the edges.
05 - Arrange the grilled skewers on a serving platter. Drizzle generously with Bang Bang sauce, then sprinkle with chopped cilantro or scallions and sesame seeds. Serve with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce is the kind of thing you will want to put on everything from rice to roasted carrots, and it takes about ninety seconds to make.
- Chicken thighs stay incredibly juicy on the grill, and even breast meat comes out tender if you follow the marinade timing.
- It looks like you went to serious effort but the whole thing comes together in about half an hour from fridge to plate.
02 -
- If you forget to soak wooden skewers they will catch fire on the grill, which I learned the hard way during a dinner party that ended with more smoke than food.
- Thighs need about two extra minutes per side compared to breast meat but they are nearly impossible to overcook, so when in doubt go with thighs.
03 -
- Let the chicken rest for two minutes off the grill before saucing so the juices redistribute and every bite stays moist.
- If your grill grates are not perfectly clean the chicken will stick and tear, so heat the grill well and brush the grates with oil right before laying the skewers down.