Description

Bang Bang Chicken Bake is a flavorful and comforting Asian-American dish featuring tender, bite-sized chicken pieces coated in a spicy-sweet mayonnaise-based sauce, topped with melted mozzarella and a crispy panko breadcrumb crust. This easy-to-make casserole is perfect for weeknight dinners and can be served alongside rice, noodles, or steamed vegetables.

Ingredients

Chicken and Seasoning

1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon sriracha (adjust to taste)
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Topping

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons melted butter

Garnish

2 green onions, sliced
Fresh chopped cilantro

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat and prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent the chicken from sticking during baking.
Season and sear chicken: Season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 2–3 minutes per side until lightly browned, but not fully cooked. This step adds flavor and texture.
Make the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, rice vinegar, garlic powder, and onion powder until smooth and well combined.
Combine chicken and sauce: Place the seared chicken in the prepared baking dish, pour the sauce over the top, and toss gently to coat all chicken pieces evenly with the sauce.
Add cheese and topping: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the coated chicken. In a small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter to create a buttery crumb topping, then sprinkle it evenly over the cheese layer.
Bake: Bake the dish uncovered in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the topping is golden brown and crispy.
Rest and garnish: Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Garnish with sliced green onions and fresh cilantro before serving.

Notes

For a milder flavor, reduce or omit the sriracha sauce.
This dish pairs excellently with steamed rice, noodles, or a side of steamed vegetables.
You can prepare the sauce and sear the chicken ahead of time for quicker assembly and baking when ready to serve.
For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs and ensure the sweet chili sauce is gluten-free.