Bang Bang Salmon Bites
Bang Bang Salmon Bites is a salmon dish of small bite-sized pieces, baked, and then coated in a Bang Bang sauce. The sauce is spicy-sweet, made with Greek yogurt, Thai sweet chili sauce, sriracha, lime, and honey. It’s the best salmon dish for hosting, a weeknight meal, and a fun appetizer. I love that this salmon recipe is baked, not fried. If you’re a lover of salmon, be sure to try my Easy Salmon with Barbecue Chips, too.
I’ve been a salmon lover for years! This Bang Bang Salmon Bites recipe is not only easy, it’s a great healthy appetizer that is made with small chunks of salmon, seasoned and served with a homemade tangy bang bang sauce! Bang Bang Salmon Bites are delicious to share for any holiday celebration, like Father’s Day, 4th of July, or Memorial Day. It’s always a crowd favorite. I love that it’s extremely versatile –you can serve it as a main dish (with rice) or an appetizer. Yum!
Why is it called bang bang sauce?
Bang Bang Sauce is typically made with a mayonnaise base. The name “bang bang” comes from the sound of banging (pounding or tenderizing) the traditional Sichuan Chinese Bang Bang Chicken dish! The American invention of the sauce name is rooted in this classic Chinese dish, with a slightly spicy profile.
Ingredients needed to make Bang Bang Salmon Bites:
- Bang Bang Sauce: The sauce is everything for this recipe! The Greek yogurt base with sweet chili sauce, sriracha, lime, and honey is the perfect recipe for dipping salmon into. The more sriracha, the more of a “kick” the sauce will have.
- Salmon: For baked salmon bites, it’s recommended to use a skinless, boneless salmon fillet (center cut), about 1-inch thick. Using the “center” ensures the pieces are all the same size. Atlantic, King, or wild-caught salmon are good choices.
- Seasoning for the salmon: Simple pantry spices like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne with olive oil, are used for preparing the salmon pieces.
- Optional garnish and serving: Bang bang salmon bites is best served with white or brown rice, cauliflower rice, avocado slices, or cucumber salad. Optional garnishes include fresh cilantro, green onions, and sesame seeds.
- Cooking method: Bang bang salmon bites are baked (roasted), but they can also be pan-fried or air-fried. The method chosen can affect the texture and crispiness of the salmon.
How do you make Salmon Bites with Bang Bang Sauce?
Make the salmon bites:
- Using paper towels, pat the salmon dry. This tip will help make a crispy texture on the outside of the salmon bites. Remove any skin and cut the salmon into 1-inch bite-sized cubes.
- In a large bowl, place the salmon pieces and drizzle with olive oil, also adding the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper is optional depending on if you want a “kick” to the recipe.
- Toss the salmon gently with a spatular to coat the salmon evenly with the seasoning.
Make the Bang Bang sauce:
- Whisk together the Greek yogurt, Thai sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, and lime juice in a small bowl until blended and smooth.
- Season to taste with either more sriracha (for more of a kick) or honey if you want more sweetness. Set the sauce aside.
Bake the salmon:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the salmon pieces onto the lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, flipping the salmon over at about 8 minutes. The salmon should be an internal temperature of 145°F, tender and flaky inside and a little crispy on outside.
Sandy’s tips and substitutions:
- Optional to add more ingredients to the salmon, like lemon, coconut crust, bread crumbs (or pank crumbs).
- Make ahead and crisp it back up in the air-fryer before serving.
- Sauces: Serve with a mango salsa, teriyaki sauce, Ranch dressing, or buffalo sauce.
- Storage: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Serving
Drizzle it: Place the salmon bites on a serving platter and drizzle the sauce over them. Or, you can toss it by adding the salmon bites to a bowl, and pouring the sauce over, and gently tossing to coat.
Serve salmon over rice and garnish each serving with a fresh chopped cilantro and finely diced green onions. Optional to sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
Serve it in a big bowl for happy hour with your favorite cocktail. Set out little forks or toothpicks. Enjoy with an dinner party salad, and this Banana Cake with Chocolate Icing for dessert.
More salmon recipes to try while you are here:
Get the Recipe:
Bang Bang Salmon Bites
Ingredients
Salmon Bites:
- 1 ½ pounds salmon fillets, skin removed, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional, for extra heat
Bang Bang Sauce:
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1 Tbsp sriracha sauce
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp lime juice, freshly squeezed
Optional Garnish:
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Green onions, sliced
- Sesame seeds
Serve:
- White or brown rice
- Side cucumber salad
Instructions
Make the salmon bites:
- Using paper towels, pat the salmon dry. This tip will help make a crispy texture on the outside of the salmon bites. Remove any skin and cut the salmon into 1-inch bite-sized cubes.
- In a large bowl, place the salmon pieces and drizzle with olive oil, also adding the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper is optional depending on if you want a “kick” to the recipe.
- Toss the salmon gently with a spatular to coat the salmon evenly with the seasoning.
Make the Bang Bang sauce:
- Whisk together the Greek yogurt, Thai sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, and lime juice in a small bowl until smooth and blended.
- Season to taste with either more sriracha (for more of a kick) or honey if you want more sweetness. Set the sauce aside.
Bake the salmon:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the salmon pieces onto the lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, flipping the salmon over at about 8 minutes. The salmon should be an internal temperature of 145°F, tender and flaky inside and a little crispy on outside.
- Drizzle it: Place the salmon bites on a serving platter and drizzle the sauce over them. Or, you can toss it by adding the salmon bites to a bowl, and pouring the sauce over, and gently tossing to coat.
- Serve salmon over rice and garnish each serving with a fresh chopped cilantro and finely diced green onions. Optional to sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
