Your taste buds are not going to know what hit them with this deceptively healthy Bang Bang Chicken recipe. Crispy herbed gluten free panko bread crumbs, sweet and spicy Bang Bang Sauce and juicy chicken thighs come together in a delicious marriage of flavors. It’s so tasty that no one will even realize it’s a heart healthy chicken dish.
There are many reasons to give this recipe a thumbs up. For one, it’s easy to make and doesn’t have complicated directions or unusual ingredients. You’ll also love how flavorful the healthy Bang Bang sauce is – but your body will appreciate how much less sodium, fat and calories this version of the popular appetizer has even though it tastes as good as what you would order at a restaurant.
Although the sauce is the star of the show in this baked chicken recipe, the seasoning also adds lots of flavor. Most restaurant Bang Bang Chicken dishes have a lot of sodium, but we made this low sodium chicken dish by replacing most of the salt with flavorful herbs and spices. The Bang Bang seasoning includes garlic and onion powder, paprika, thyme and pepper, along with a touch of salt.
Bang Bang sauce can make almost anything taste good, but the key is to make the sauce to your liking. The instructions for making the sauce are easy, as it only requires 4 ingredients. To find just the right mix of flavor, feel free to add a little more Thai chili sauce, sriracha or honey to up the sweetness or spiciness profile, depending on your preference.
When you’re in the mood for breaded chicken, it’s sometimes hard to find a gluten free chicken recipe that tastes good. But this one fits the bill. Using gluten free bread crumbs and almond flour makes this appropriate for people following gluten free diets. But the sauce is what really makes this a standout dish, as it’s sweet, spicy and oh so good!
You may decide to make Bang Bang Chicken because it’s delicious, but this version of the popular chicken appetizer is also healthy. One serving is only 254 calories, making it a good option if you’re looking for a low calorie chicken meal or snack. It also contains only 174mg of sodium and 2g of saturated fat. That adds up to a heart healthy dish that also satisfies your taste buds.
Recipe yields 6 servings
In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve with the chicken.
Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Place three medium mixing bowls in a line. In the first bowl, add the flour. In the second, whisk together the eggs, water, black pepper and salt. In the third, mix together the bread crumbs, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika.
In small batches, coat the chicken in the flour, then dredge in the egg mixture and then coat with the panko mixture. Place on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining chicken.
Lightly spray the chicken with cooking spray. Bake for 15 minutes until the top of the chicken is lightly golden. Remove from the oven, gently turn the chicken over with tongs and lightly spray with cooking spray again. Return to the oven and bake for another 12 to 15 minutes, or until crispy and lightly golden brown. Transfer to a serving bowl.
Drizzle the Bang Bang sauce lightly over the top of the chicken and garnish with sliced green onion. Serve the remaining sauce in a small dipping bowl.
Looking for other chicken recipes that are loaded with flavor while being good for you, too? Check out our selection of healthy chicken recipes for lunch, dinner and appetizers. Many are lower in calories, fat and sodium than their traditional counterparts and fit into many types of healthy diets.