Irresistible Bang Bang Chicken Bowls: Your Ultimate Easy Weeknight Meal & Meal Prep Solution
Bang Bang Chicken Bowls are the quintessential solution for anyone craving a quick, easy, and undeniably delicious weeknight dinner. Imagine succulent, perfectly marinated chicken and fluffy rice, generously topped with a homemade sweet and spicy Bang Bang sauce that delivers a delightful kick. Add a vibrant array of crunchy fresh vegetables like crisp cabbage, cool cucumbers, and zesty green onions, and you have a hearty, satisfying, and visually appealing meal all in one bowl! This isn’t just a dinner; it’s an experience that awakens your taste buds with every bite.
You might think the most challenging part of this Bang Bang Chicken recipe is perfecting the cooking technique, but truthfully, it’s just waiting for your chicken to marinate! While that might sound like a joke, the marination is key to incredibly juicy and flavorful chicken. If you’re on the hunt for a healthy-ish meal prep recipe that doesn’t compromise on taste, these Bang Bang Chicken and Rice Bowls are absolutely going to become a staple in your kitchen.
Your Go-To Easy Meal Prep Recipe
One of the most appealing aspects of making Bang Bang Chicken Bowls is their incredible suitability for meal prep. Almost all the components can be prepared in advance – think up to a day or two ahead of time. This means when dinnertime rolls around, the actual cooking process is minimal, and a delicious, homemade meal can be on your table in record time, freeing you up to enjoy your evenings.
The Secrets to Truly Amazing Bang Bang Chicken Bowls
While simple in concept, there are two pivotal elements that elevate this recipe from good to absolutely amazing, ensuring every spoonful is packed with flavor and texture.
#1 The Flavorful Marinade
The first secret lies in the simple yet powerful marinade. This blend of ingredients works wonders, tenderizing the chicken breasts and infusing them with incredible depth of flavor. It’s what transforms ordinary chicken into something truly special, ensuring each bite is moist, juicy, and packed with savory goodness. Don’t skip this step – even a short marination time makes a significant difference! It preps the chicken to become perfectly golden and delicious when cooked.
#2 The Irresistible Homemade Bang Bang Sauce
The second, and arguably most celebrated, secret is the homemade Bang Bang sauce. If you’ve never experienced Bang Bang sauce before, prepare to be amazed! Despite being made with just three simple ingredients, this sauce is a real showstopper. It hits all the right notes: creamy, delicately sweet, savory, and with a customizable spicy kick. You’ll soon find yourself wanting to drizzle it on everything! While it’s absolutely fantastic on chicken, its versatility means it also pairs wonderfully with salmon, shrimp, tofu, or even as a dip for fries. Feel free to experiment by swapping out your protein or adding different toppings, and voilà – you’ve created a whole new meal with the same fantastic sauce as your base.
At first glance, these Bang Bang bowls might appear to be just chicken, rice, and a few veggies. However, when you combine all these meticulously prepared elements – the tender, marinated chicken, the fluffy rice, the crisp, fresh vegetables, and that glorious homemade sauce – the result is a symphony of flavors and textures that is truly wonderful and deeply satisfying.
Customize Your Spice and Keep Leftovers Fresh
I always recommend adding the Bang Bang sauce to individual bowls just before serving. This approach offers several advantages. Firstly, it allows everyone at the table to customize the sauce level to their personal taste. If you’re a heat enthusiast, pile it on! If you prefer a milder flavor or are looking to keep your serving a bit lower in calories, a lighter drizzle works perfectly. Secondly, and crucial for meal preppers, this method ensures that you have ample sauce for each serving throughout the week, and prevents your leftovers from becoming dry or soggy. No one likes a dry chicken bowl or limp veggies, and separating the components until serving time is key to maintaining their optimal texture and freshness.
You Might Also Like These Easy Weeknight Chicken Recipes:
- Wonton Chicken Taco Salad
- Southwestern Chicken Egg Roll Bake
- One Pot Italian Chicken and Orzo
- Crockpot Catalina Chicken
Here’s What You’ll Need to Make Your Bang Bang Bowls:
Gathering your ingredients is the first step towards creating these delectable bowls. Most items are likely already in your pantry or easily found at your local grocery store.
For the Homemade Bang Bang Sauce:
- Mayonnaise (for that creamy base)
- Sweet Chili sauce (for a touch of sweetness and mild heat)
- Sriracha sauce (to bring the fiery kick – adjust to your preference!)
For the Flavorful Marinated Chicken:
- Chicken breasts (boneless, skinless are best for quick cooking)
- ¼ cup water or chicken broth (helps distribute the marinade)
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce (for umami and saltiness)
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar (for a hint of sweetness and caramelization)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil (helps the spices adhere and for cooking)
- 1 teaspoon paprika (for color and mild flavor)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder (for aromatic depth)
- ½ teaspoon ginger (adds a warm, zesty note)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (for general seasoning)
- ½ teaspoon rice vinegar (for a touch of acidity to brighten flavors)
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes (for an extra layer of heat if desired)
- Salt if needed (taste before adding, as soy sauce is salty)
Additional Ingredients for Assembling Your Bowls:
- Rice (white rice, brown rice, or even riced cauliflower work beautifully as the base for this dish, offering versatility for different dietary preferences)
- Shredded cabbage (adds crunch and freshness)
- Sliced Cucumber (for a cool, refreshing contrast)
- Sliced spring onions (for a mild onion flavor and garnish)
Other Topping Ideas to Customize Your Bowl:
- Chopped cilantro (for an herbal freshness)
- Sliced avocado (for creamy richness)
- Bean sprouts (for extra crunch)
- Mushrooms (sautéed or fresh)
- Shredded carrots (for sweetness and color)
- Lime juice (a squeeze brightens everything up)
- Sesame seeds (for nutty flavor and texture)
- Chopped Broccoli (steamed or roasted)
- Crispy wonton strips (for an extra layer of irresistible crunch)
- …or whatever sounds good to you! Don’t be afraid to get creative with your toppings.
Step-by-Step Instructions: Crafting Your Perfect Bang Bang Chicken Bowls
Step 1: Prepare Your Irresistible Bang Bang Sauce. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha until thoroughly combined and smooth. When adding sriracha, start with one tablespoon and taste test, then gradually increase to your desired level of spiciness. Remember, you can always add more heat, but it’s impossible to take it away once it’s in! If you prefer your sauce a little sweeter, a small touch of honey can perfectly enhance its flavor profile. This sauce is fantastic for making ahead; you can prepare it 3-4 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
Step 2: Marinate Your Chicken for Maximum Flavor. Take a large Ziploc bag (or a medium-sized bowl) and add all the marinade ingredients. Next, add your chicken breasts, ensuring they are cut into manageable pieces (e.g., 2 large breasts cut in half, or 4 small breasts). Seal the bag securely and gently turn it over several times, massaging the chicken to ensure every piece is thoroughly coated with the aromatic marinade. Place the sealed bag in the refrigerator to marinate for a minimum of 20-30 minutes. For even deeper flavor and tenderness, you can marinate the chicken for up to a day ahead of time, making it an excellent step for advanced meal preparation.
Step 3: Perfectly Cook Your Marinated Chicken. Once you’re ready to cook, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or saute pan over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, carefully add the marinated chicken breasts to the skillet. Cook them for approximately 8 minutes without flipping to achieve a beautiful golden-brown crust. If you’re using thinner-cut breasts, 5 minutes per side should suffice. After the initial side is done, flip the chicken and cook on the second side until it’s well browned and thoroughly cooked through. To ensure safety and ideal tenderness, the internal temperature should reach 165ºF (74ºC) when measured with a meat thermometer.
Step 4: Rest, Slice, and Assemble Your Flavorful Bowls. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the skillet and allow it to rest for 3-5 minutes on a cutting board. This crucial resting period ensures that the juices redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in exceptionally tender and flavorful chicken. After resting, slice each breast across the grain into uniform strips. Now it’s time to assemble your beautiful Bang Bang Chicken Bowls! Start with a generous base of your chosen rice. Layer on the sliced chicken and an abundance of fresh, crunchy veggies. Finally, drizzle generously with your homemade Bang Bang sauce and any additional desired toppings like green onions or sesame seeds. Serve immediately and enjoy the burst of flavors!
Tips for Storing Leftovers and Meal Prepping:
When storing leftovers, or if you are diligently meal prepping this delightful dish for the week, it is highly recommended to keep the cooked rice and chicken separate from the fresh vegetables and the Bang Bang sauce. This simple separation is a game-changer; it prevents the fresh veggies from becoming limp, soggy, or discolored, and ensures the chicken and rice don’t dry out when reheated. I find it most effective to store the chicken and rice together in a heat-proof, airtight container and keep the crisp veggies in a separate Ziploc bag or container. The sauce can be stored in a small, lidded container. This way, each component retains its ideal texture and flavor, making your meal prep efforts truly pay off when you reheat and assemble a fresh-ttasting bowl later!
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Bang Bang Chicken Bowls
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Ingredients
For Bang Bang Sauce
- ¾ cup Mayo
- ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
- 3 Tablespoons sriracha
For the Marinated Chicken:
- 2 large chicken breasts cut in half (or 4 small chicken breasts)
- ¼ cup water or chicken broth
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon rice vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
- Salt if needed
To serve:
- 4 cups cooked jasmine rice (or rice of preference)
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- 1 cucumber (chopped)
- 1 green onion (chopped)
- Wonton strips (Optional)
- Sesame seeds (Optional)
Instructions
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In a medium sized bowl, or gallon sized Ziploc bag, add the marinade ingredients and chicken breasts. Toss to make sure the chicken is evenly coated and place in the fridge to marinate for at least 20-30 minutes.*
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While the chicken is marinating, make the bang bang sauce by mixing mayo, sweet chili sauce and sriracha in a medium sized bowl. Place in fridge until needed.
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After the chicken is done marinating, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or saute pan over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and cook for about 8 minutes without flipping (5 minutes for thin-cut breasts). Flip the chicken and then cook on the second side until well browned and cooked through (internal temperature of 165ºF).
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Allow the chicken to rest for 3-5 minutes. Then slice each breast.
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To assemble the bowls you’ll add 1 cup of rice, ½ cup of cabbage, and ¼ cup of cucumbers. Top with equal portions of wonton strips and one sliced chicken breast.
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Garnish each bowl with bang bang sauce, green onions and sesame seeds. Serve.
Notes
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