Tender chicken in a rich, creamy, spicy sauce, this Bang bang chicken pasta has it all. When craving something warm and delicious with a kick, then this bang bang chicken recipe is your go to!
In my household we're huge fans of pasta and chicken. My son just has to mention those two words and immediately this bang bang chicken recipe comes to mind. It's a no brainer. Combine the two with the fabulous ingredients mentioned below and you get a love child of flavor that just has to be shared with everyone around you!
Bang Bang Chicken Recipe
This was inspired by my creamy chicken parmesan pasta recipe and Marry Me Chicken Pasta on this site, and pairs well with this butter crunch cookie recipe for dessert.
Ingredients
The ingredient list for this recipe is nothing complicated. A few basic ingredients and some spices are all it takes to make it! It's a simple recipe that anyone can make.
For the Chicken
- Chicken breasts
- Penne noodles
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Olive oil
- Chopped green onions
For the Bang Bang Sauce
- Thai Sweet Red Chili Sauce
- Sriracha
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Soy sauce
- Black pepper, divided
- Heavy cream
- Unsalted butter
See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities.
Instructions
Making this dish is as straightforward as the ingredient list. In just a few simple steps, you'll be enjoying a big bowl of this tasty dish.
Step 1: Cook the Noodles
Cook the noodles according to the package directions and drain. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the Bang Bang Sauce.
In a small mixing bowl combine red chili sauce, Sriracha, mayonnaise, sour cream, soy sauce, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and heavy cream. Whisk well to combine.
Next, add butter to a saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, whisk in the mayonnaise mixture to make the bang bang sauce. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, whisking every 2 minutes as it cooks.
Step 3: Cook the Chicken
Heat a skillet over high heat. Add olive oil and swirl to coat. Then, season both sides of the chicken with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes per side. Remove from the heat.
Step 4: Put it All Together
Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. Grab noodles.
Add chicken, bang bang sauce, pepper, and green onions in a large pot.
Stir well to mix and serve!
Hint: If possible, use a cast iron skillet to cook the chicken. It holds heat exceptionally well.
Substitutions
Don't have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this bang bang chicken recipe.
- Short Noodles - If you don't have penne noodles, you can use any short noodle like macaroni.
- Greek Yogurt - Greek yogurt is an excellent substitute for sour cream.
- Half and Half - Use half and half if you don't have heavy cream on hand.
Variations
Want to personalize this bang bang chicken pasta recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.
- Peas - Try adding peas to this dish for some extra veggie goodness.
- Cheese - Top this dish with cheese before serving for an added layer of cheesy deliciousness.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this bang bang cauliflower, jalapeno mac and cheese or our baked rigatoni recipe!
Storage
You can store this recipe for between 3 and 4 days in the refrigerator. I don't recommend freezing this dish as the texture could change.
Tips
This recipe is incredibly straightforward but I do have some tips that will help take this recipe from good to great.
- Always cook the pasta al dente. You don't want mushy noodles.
- Don't try to freeze this recipe! The mayonnaise can break after thawing, and the texture will be off.
Pork Chops and Pasta is the perfect meal that has a good balance of nutrition. It is a staple meal in all households.
FAQ
Do you have questions about this bang bang chicken recipe? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about bang bang chicken pasta.
Bang Bang sauce gets its name from the Chinese street vendors who made the dish. They would bang the chicken with mallets or heavy wooden sticks to tenderize it. Thus, bang bang.
Cooked chicken will last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Mayonnaise doesn't thaw well, and neither do noodles. This recipe has both.
The easiest way is simply to pop it in the microwave. You can also place it in a pot on low heat and heat it through.
Video
More Chicken Pasta Recipes
Do you like chicken? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
Bang Bang Chicken Pasta
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Bang bang chicken pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne noodles
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup chopped green onions
Bang Bang Pasta Sauce
- 1 cup Thai Sweet Red Chili Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon black pepper divided
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients needed
- Cook noodles according to package and drain. Set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl combine red chili sauce, Sriracha, mayonnaise, sour cream, soy sauce, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and heavy cream. Whisk well to combine.
- Add butter to a saucepan over medium low heat. Once the butter has melted, whisk in the bang bang sauce. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Whisk every 2 minutes as it cooks.
- Heat a skillet over high heat. Add olive oil and swirl to coat.
- Season both sides of chicken with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Add chicken to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes per side. Remove from heat and cut into bite sized pieces.
- Combine noodles, chicken, bang bang sauce, pepper, and green onions in a large pot. Stir well to mix. Serve immediately and enjoy!
- Serve and Enjoy every bite
Video
Notes
- Always cook the pasta al dente. You don't want mushy noodles.
- Don't try to freeze this recipe! The mayonnaise can break after thawing, and the texture will be off.
Nutrition
Jenny says
Is the red chili sauce in this recipe like the Heinz brand, or is it an Asian chili sauce?
Karin and Ken says
I apologize for the confusion. Thai sweet red chili sauce! Thank you for asking me so I can correct this recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as we all do. All the best. Karin