Fried Chicken Bao Buns

These Fried Chicken Bao Buns are incredibly delicious + simple and easy to make! Soft and fluffy bao buns, crispy fried chicken with fresh flavors – You can’t go wrong!

Fried chicken Bao Buns

These Fried Chicken Bao Buns are one of my favorite recipes on rotation at the moment. They don’t take long at all to make and I never get tired of them!

There are so many different options for fillings but I don’t think you can really get better than this fried chicken. It’s incredibly crispy and paired with pickled cucumber and soft and fluffy bao buns, it’s a perfect match in flavor as well as texture.

Easy Fried Chicken Bao Buns

My favourite way of serving these is ‘make your own’ style. Place all the ingredients in the middle of the table, you can even add in a few different sauces and fillings, then everyone can serve themselves which makes them perfect for feeding a crowd!

Bao Bun Fillings

If you’re ever thinking ‘what to eat with bao buns’ there are no shortages! They’re usually inspired by Asian style flavors on the more traditional side but I’ve also tried amazing Cheeseburger Bao so really anything goes!

This recipe with for Fried Chicken Boa is one of my favorites but here are a few other options

• Crispy Pork Belly Bao Buns with Char Sui Sauce
• Pulled Pork Bao Buns with Asian Slaw
• Chicken Teriyaki Bao Buns with pickled Cucumber
• Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce Bao Buns

What are Bao Buns?

What are Bao Buns made of?

Bao Buns are made from a simple bread dough of flour, yeast, sugar, salt, baking powder and oil. They are proved, shaped and then steamed instead of baking in the oven like most other types of bread.

Can you buy ready made Bao Buns?

You can find ready made Bao Buns frozen in most Asian supermarkets. They have become really trendy in recent years so even some supermarkets now carry them. All thats required is to defrost and reheat the boa buns in a bamboo steamer or according to package instructions.

Who Created Bao Buns?

Bao Buns were originally created by Zhuge Liang in China but since then there have been many variations from different cuisines. These include Korean, Taiwanese and Vietnamese and Japanese.

Fried Chicken Bao Bun Ingredients

Crispy Fried Chicken

500g / 1lb Chicken Thigh – Chicken breast can be substituted here but I prefer thigh as it is much more tender.

2 Garlic Cloves

1 Tbsp Soy Sauce

1/2 tsp Sesame Oil

1 Egg White – Check out recipes that use an egg yolk here.

1 Cup Corn Flour / Corn Starch – Potato starch can be used here if you have it on hand.

Oil for frying – Peanut oil, Canola oil or Vegetable oil work best here.

Pickled Cucumber

1/2 Cucumber

1/4 Cup / 60ml Rice Vinegar

1/2 tsp Salt

1 tsp Sugar

Sauce

1/4 Cup / 60ml Japanese Kewpie Mayonnaise

1 Tbsp Sriracha – Or your favorite hot sauce

For Serving

8 Bao Buns – These can be made yourself (here is a great recipe) but I prefer to buy mine especially when its a weeknight!

1 Carrot – Sliced finely with a knife or use a Julienne Peeler to make the job so much quicker and easier!

1/2 Cup Cilantro / Coriander2 Tbsp

2 Tbsp Chopped Peanuts

How to Make Fried Chicken Bao Buns

Marinate the Chicken

Cut each chicken thigh into strips and add it to a medium sized bowl. Add in your soy sauce, sesame oil and egg white. Use a microplane the grate the garlic into the bowl or use a garlic crusher.

Give the chicken a good mix so it’s well coated in the marinade. Cover the bowl and place into the fridge for at least 30 minutes but if you have time overnight is best.

When you are ready to make the fried chicken bao remove the chicken from the fridge. Add the corn flour / corn starch to another bowl and using tongs coat each piece of chicken in the flour.

The secret to a really good coating on your chicken – leave the flour to hydrate from the marinade for 15 minutes while your oil heats up and you prepare the other ingredients.

Pickle the Cucumber

Slice the cucumber on an angle and place it into a small bowl. Pour over the rice vinegar and add enough water to cover all of the cucumber. Add the salt and sugar to the bowl and give the ingredients a quick mix together. Leave the cucumber to pickle for about 15 minutes or until you’re ready to assemble the bao buns.

Prep the veggies

Finely slice the carrot or use this amazing gadget that makes it so quick and easy!

Make the Sauce

In a small bowl add the Japanese Mayonnaise and the Sriracha Sauce. Give it a quick mix together and top with some chopped peanuts for some crunch.

Fry the chicken

Fill a large frypan with a few inches of oil and heat over medium heat. When the oil is hot add your chicken in batches and fry on each side for 3-4 minutes or until browned. If the chicken is browning to quickly turn down the heat.

Place the fried chicken on paper towels to absorb any excess oil.

Assemble the Fried Chicken Bao Buns

Heat the bao buns in a bamboo steamer or according to package instructions. Remove the cucumber from the pickling liquid and drain on paper towels.

To assemble the fried chicken bao buns fill with a spoonful of the sriracha mayo, a piece of the fried chicken, a few pieces of pickled cucumber, carrot and finally some coriander or cilantro.

Common Questions about these Fried Chicken Bao Buns

Are Bao Buns Healthy?

Bao Buns are a yeasted bread dough so it really depends what you fill them with. Fried Chicken isn’t the most nutritious option but there are many different vegetarian and fresh vegetable options.

How to Pronounce Bao

Bao is pronounced “Bow” as in take a bow.

What does Bao mean?

Bao means steamed bun in english so if you say Bao Bun it translates to steamed bun bun so only Bao is needed.

More Chicken Recipes

• Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich with Honey Butter
• Chicken Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing
• Chicken Tikka Masala
• Chicken Teriyaki
• Chilli Lime Chicken