Craving the creamy, spicy, and slightly sweet flavors of Bang Bang Chicken without the guilt? This keto-friendly version delivers all the taste you love, without the carbs. Bang Bang Chicken is a popular dish that originated from Chinese cuisine and is known for its explosion of flavor in your mouth! Almost all recipes feature chicken that’s cooked in a sweet and tangy sauce.
What is Bang Bang Chicken?
Bang Bang Chicken is a popular dish that originated from Chinese cuisine. It typically consists of crispy chicken pieces tossed in a creamy, spicy sauce. Typical ingredients found this sauce are mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha sauce and honey or sugar.
Why Keto Bang Bang Chicken?
Traditional Bang Bang Chicken, like fried rice and hunan chicken, often contains high amounts of sugar and carbohydrates, making it unsuitable for those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet. This keto-approved recipe uses clever substitutions to recreate the classic flavors without the added sugar and carbs.
The Star of the Show: Bang Bang Sauce
The key to any Bang Bang Chicken recipe is the sauce. This keto version uses a creamy, spicy sauce that is both easy to make and incredibly flavorful.
Ingredients for the Sauce:
- Mayonnaise
- Chili garlic sauce or sriracha
- Sugar-free honey or brown sugar substitute (optional, for added sweetness)
- Rice vinegar
Making the Sauce:
In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, chili garlic sauce (or sriracha), sugar-free honey (or brown sugar substitute), and rice vinegar together, mixing well to combine. Taste and adjust the spiciness by adding more chili garlic sauce or sriracha, if desired. Cover and refrigerate for later use. This recipe makes a lot of sauce, so you may not use it all. You can use the bang bang sauce to make other recipes, too; for example, keto bang bang cauliflower.
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Crispy Keto Chicken: Two Ways to Cook
The chicken can be cooked in the air fryer or in a skillet.
Air Fryer Method: Crispy and Convenient
For a healthier and quicker option, the air fryer is the way to go.
Ingredients:
- Chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Almond flour
- Pork panko (optional, for extra crispiness)
- Egg
- Lime juice
- Sea salt
- Chips or plantains, crushed (optional, for added crunch and texture)
Instructions:
- Begin by prepping the chicken. In a shallow bowl, combine the almond flour, sea salt, and crushed up chips or plantains (if using).
- In a separate bowl, whisk together lime juice and egg.
- Take each chicken piece and dip into the egg mixture first, allowing the excess to drip off, then dip into the flour/chip mixture, gently pressing to coat all sides of each piece.
- Place all chicken pieces in one layer in the air fryer (you may have to do in batches if you have a small air fryer). You want to avoid stacking the chicken so that it cooks properly.
- Spray the basket of the air fryer with non-stick cooking spray and preheat to 400 degrees.
- Set the air fryer to 380 and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Flip over each chicken piece and cook for another 6-8 minutes, or until nice and crispy.
- Once chicken is done, place on a large plate and drizzle with sauce. You can also use as a dipping sauce.
Skillet Method: Sear to Perfection
Instructions:
- Place the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat.
- Sear the chicken until cooked through and browned on both sides.
Oven Method:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees while you prepare the chicken.
- Lightly grease a large sheet pan.
- Place each chicken piece on the sheet pan and bake for 12 minutes, flip over the chicken, and bake another 10-12 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve the Bang Bang Chicken over cauliflower rice.
- Garnish with chopped green onions.
- Serve with Keto Shrimp Egg Roll In A Bowl or Keto Egg Roll Wraps.
Tips and Variations
- Chicken Thighs vs. Chicken Breasts: Chicken thighs can be used as a delicious alternative to chicken breasts in this recipe. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly as thighs may require a bit longer to cook through.
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of chili garlic sauce or sriracha to reach your desired level of spiciness. For even more heat, add chopped jalapenos to the sauce.
- Sweetness: If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add a small amount of sugar-free honey or brown sugar substitute.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the bang bang sauce and marinate the skewed chicken ahead of time. Store them separately in the refrigerator until ready to cook. The breading for the chicken can be prepared ahead of time.
- Other Protein Options: You can use other proteins like shrimp or tofu to make Keto Bang Bang Chicken. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly based on the protein you choose.
- Extra Crispy Texture: For an extra crispy texture, lightly coat the chicken skewers with a thin layer of cooking spray before air frying.
Storage Instructions
For optimal crunchy texture of the chicken, it’s best to eat Bang Bang Chicken right away. It’s not recommended to freeze Keto Bang Bang Chicken once it’s been coated in the sauce, as the texture may change.
To store leftover bang bang chicken skewers, allow them to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. Place the container in the refrigerator and store for up to 3 days. To reheat, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and place the skewers in the basket. Air fry for 5-7 minutes, or until heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. For best results, drizzle a little extra bang bang sauce over the chicken before reheating to keep it moist and flavorful.
Keto Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
These Low Carb Air Fryer Bang Bang Chicken Skewers are coated in a zesty, spicy sauce that's sure to please. A perfect low-carb and diabetic-friendly recipe for those who love big flavor without the carbs.
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Ingredients:
- Soy sauce
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Ground turmeric
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Onion powder
- Chili powder
- Mayonnaise
Instructions:
- Soak skewers in water for 10-15 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, black pepper, salt, ground turmeric, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and chili powder.
- Mix sauce ingredients (except mayonnaise) in a saucepan over medium heat, then turn down to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Allow to completely cool, then whisk into the mayonnaise.
- Air fry for an additional 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
- Serve the chicken skewers with extra bang bang sauce drizzled on top or as a dipping sauce.
- To make this recipe in the oven instead of the air fryer, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Follow the same steps for preparing the bang bang sauce and marinating the chicken as outlined in the original recipe.
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