Best Bang Bang Chicken and Rice Bowls

I’ve been absolutely obsessed with these bang bang chicken and rice bowls lately, and I’m so excited to share this recipe with you! The crispy chicken gets coated in tapioca starch before frying, then tossed in the most addictive sweet and spicy sauce made with honey and chili sauce. Trust me, once you try these bowls, they’ll become a regular in your dinner rotation!

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1600-1850
• Protein: 85-100 g
• Fat: 48-58 g
• Carbohydrates: 205-240 g

Ingredients

For the chicken coating:

• 1/3 cup tapioca starch
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 1/2 lb chicken breasts (cut into 1-inch bite-sized chunks)
• 2 tbsp avocado oil

For the bang bang sauce:

• 3 tbsp mayo
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 tbsp chili sauce
• 2 tbsp hot sauce
• 2 tsp garlic (freshly minced)
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp salt

For the vegetables:

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 1/2 cups carrots (shredded or matchsticks)
• 2 cups cabbage (thinly sliced)
• 1/2 tsp ginger (freshly grated)
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

For assembly:

• 2 cups rice (cooked and warm)
• 1 cucumber (thinly sliced into half-moons)
• 2 tsp lime juice
• 2 scallions (finely sliced)
• 1 tsp black sesame seeds

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Coating and Mise en Place

• 1/3 cup tapioca starch
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 1/2 lb chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch bite-sized chunks
• 3 tbsp mayo
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 tbsp chili sauce
• 2 tbsp hot sauce
• 2 tsp garlic, freshly minced
• 1 tsp soy sauce

Mix the tapioca starch, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika in a small bowl to create the seasoning coating.

While this sits, cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch bite-sized chunks and set aside.

Measure out all sauce ingredients (mayo, honey, chili sauce, hot sauce, minced garlic, soy sauce, and salt) into separate small bowls so everything is ready when you need it.

I find having all ingredients prepped prevents scrambling mid-cooking and ensures the chicken doesn't overcook while you're measuring.

Step 2: Coat and Pan-Fry the Chicken

• chicken chunks from Step 1, coated in seasoning mixture
• 2 tbsp avocado oil

Coat the chicken chunks thoroughly in the tapioca starch mixture from Step 1, shaking off excess.

Heat 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.

Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, cook the chicken for 5-8 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.

Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and let it rest briefly.

Step 3: Build the Bang Bang Sauce and Coat Chicken

• cooked chicken from Step 2
• 3 tbsp mayo
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 tbsp chili sauce
• 2 tbsp hot sauce
• 2 tsp garlic, freshly minced
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp salt

While the chicken rests, whisk together 3 tablespoons of mayo with the honey, chili sauce, hot sauce, minced garlic, and soy sauce to create the bang bang sauce base.

Reserve 1/4 cup of this sauce in a separate bowl for the final drizzle.

Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss it with the remaining sauce until fully coated.

Let the sauced chicken warm through for 1-2 minutes, then set aside.

I always reserve some sauce before mixing to ensure you have a bright, fresh drizzle for the top rather than using what clings to the chicken.

Step 4: Sauté the Vegetables

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 1/2 cups carrots, shredded or matchsticks
• 2 cups cabbage, thinly sliced
• 1/2 tsp ginger, freshly grated
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the shredded carrots and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and lightly caramelize.

Add the sliced cabbage along with the ginger, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then cook for another 5-7 minutes until the cabbage is tender but still slightly crisp.

The vegetables should have a nice char and be fragrant when done.

Step 5: Assemble the Bowls

• 2 cups rice, cooked and warm
• 1 cucumber, thinly sliced into half-moons
• 2 tsp lime juice
• sautéed vegetables from Step 4
• bang bang chicken from Step 3
• 2 tbsp mayo
• reserved sauce from Step 3

Divide the warm cooked rice among bowls.

Arrange the sliced cucumber in half-moons on top of the rice and drizzle with lime juice.

Top each bowl with the sautéed vegetables from Step 4 and the bang bang chicken from Step 3.

Whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons of mayo with the reserved 1/4 cup sauce from Step 3 to create a creamy drizzle.

Step 6: Finish and Garnish

• creamy mayo-sauce mixture from Step 5
• 2 scallions, finely sliced
• 1 tsp black sesame seeds

Drizzle the creamy mayo-sauce mixture from Step 5 generously over each bowl.

Top with sliced scallions and black sesame seeds for color and a subtle nutty flavor.

Serve immediately while the rice and chicken are still warm.

Best Bang Bang Chicken and Rice Bowls

Delicious Best Bang Bang Chicken and Rice Bowls recipe with step-by-step instructions.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 1725

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

For the chicken coating

• 1/3 cup tapioca starch
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 1/2 lb chicken breasts (cut into 1-inch bite-sized chunks)
• 2 tbsp avocado oil

For the bang bang sauce

• 3 tbsp mayo
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 tbsp chili sauce
• 2 tbsp hot sauce
• 2 tsp garlic (freshly minced)
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp salt

For the vegetables

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 1/2 cups carrots (shredded or matchsticks)
• 2 cups cabbage (thinly sliced)
• 1/2 tsp ginger (freshly grated)
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

For assembly

• 2 cups rice (cooked and warm)
• 1 cucumber (thinly sliced into half-moons)
• 2 tsp lime juice
• 2 scallions (finely sliced)
• 1 tsp black sesame seeds

Method

 

1. Mix the tapioca starch, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika in a small bowl to create the seasoning coating. While this sits, cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch bite-sized chunks and set aside. Measure out all sauce ingredients (mayo, honey, chili sauce, hot sauce, minced garlic, soy sauce, and salt) into separate small bowls so everything is ready when you need it. I find having all ingredients prepped prevents scrambling mid-cooking and ensures the chicken doesn't overcook while you're measuring.
2. Coat the chicken chunks thoroughly in the tapioca starch mixture from Step 1, shaking off excess. Heat 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, cook the chicken for 5-8 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and let it rest briefly.
3. While the chicken rests, whisk together 3 tablespoons of mayo with the honey, chili sauce, hot sauce, minced garlic, and soy sauce to create the bang bang sauce base. Reserve 1/4 cup of this sauce in a separate bowl for the final drizzle. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss it with the remaining sauce until fully coated. Let the sauced chicken warm through for 1-2 minutes, then set aside. I always reserve some sauce before mixing to ensure you have a bright, fresh drizzle for the top rather than using what clings to the chicken.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shredded carrots and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and lightly caramelize. Add the sliced cabbage along with the ginger, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then cook for another 5-7 minutes until the cabbage is tender but still slightly crisp. The vegetables should have a nice char and be fragrant when done.
5. Divide the warm cooked rice among bowls. Arrange the sliced cucumber in half-moons on top of the rice and drizzle with lime juice. Top each bowl with the sautéed vegetables from Step 4 and the bang bang chicken from Step 3. Whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons of mayo with the reserved 1/4 cup sauce from Step 3 to create a creamy drizzle.
6. Drizzle the creamy mayo-sauce mixture from Step 5 generously over each bowl. Top with sliced scallions and black sesame seeds for color and a subtle nutty flavor. Serve immediately while the rice and chicken are still warm.