Skillet Bang Bang Chicken Thighs Recipe
Skillet Bang Bang Chicken Thighs is a quick and flavorful dish featuring perfectly seasoned, pan-cooked chicken thighs coated in a spicy, creamy bang bang sauce. This easy recipe delivers tender, juicy chicken with a deliciously tangy and spicy sauce, garnished with fresh green onions for a vibrant finish. Ready in just 22 minutes, it makes for a perfect weeknight dinner that’s both comforting and exciting.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Bang Bang Sauce
- 1 recipe bang bang sauce, or 1 cup storebought bang bang sauce
Garnish
- Green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Combine seasonings: In a small bowl, mix together kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika until evenly combined.
- Season the chicken: Evenly coat the boneless, skinless chicken thighs with the seasoning mixture.
- Heat oil in skillet: Place a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the vegetable oil. Heat until hot and shimmering.
- Cook chicken first side: Add the seasoned chicken thighs to the skillet in a single layer. Depending on skillet size, cook in batches if needed. Cook for 5 minutes without moving to develop a golden crust.
- Cook chicken second side: Flip the chicken thighs over, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, ensuring the chicken is fully cooked and tender. Adjust cooking time depending on chicken size.
- Remove chicken and keep warm: Transfer cooked chicken to a plate and tent loosely with foil to keep warm while preparing the sauce.
- Simmer bang bang sauce: Pour the bang bang sauce into the same skillet, stirring and scraping up the browned bits from the pan bottom. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes until heated through and slightly thickened.
- Coat chicken with sauce: Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, turning to coat each piece thoroughly in the warm bang bang sauce.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped green onions over the coated chicken thighs and serve immediately for a flavorful, spicy meal.
Notes
- Cooking times may vary slightly depending on the size and thickness of the chicken thighs; always use a meat thermometer to ensure an internal temperature of 165°F.
- If you don’t have homemade bang bang sauce, storebought versions work well and save time.
- This dish pairs well with steamed rice, noodles, or a fresh green salad to complement the bold flavors.
- For extra crispiness, pat the chicken dry before seasoning and cooking.
- Adjust the amount of bang bang sauce according to your preferred spice and creaminess level.
Keywords: Bang Bang Chicken, Chicken Thighs, Skillet Chicken, Quick Dinner, Spicy Chicken, Easy Weeknight Meal