Wanderbrush

“What’s for dinner?” That dreaded question is asked every single night, and let me tell you, it’s the last thing I expected to be a challenge after graduating college. When I crossed the stage and started plotting my post-grad life, I was busy worrying about budgeting, finding a new eye doctor, and navigating the whole “living with my boyfriend” thing. Dinner? That seemed like the least of my concerns.

Fast forward a year and a half, and the choice of what to have for dinner has become one of the most dreaded decisions of my day. Why? Because now, it’s not just what we’re eating — it’s what we both want. And that’s where the challenge comes in.

Back in college, it was a lot simpler. I could cook whatever I felt like, order takeout, or just throw together a “girl dinner” — a concept that became a viral TikTok trend and basically defined my approach to meals during those years. Girl dinner was all about piecing together a dinner from whatever was in my pantry and fridge. No rules. Just vibes. A bowl of grapes and buttered noodles? Perfect. Microwave popcorn with a Yoplait yogurt? Even better.

Then I moved in with my boyfriend, and suddenly the easy, snack-based approach was no longer cutting it. Gone were the days of grazing on random bits of food; now, meals had to include actual protein and a little more planning. For someone who once prided themselves on the simplicity of girl dinners, this was a big shift.

But let’s be real — life is busy. Some nights, I just want something easy that doesn’t require hours of prep. That’s where this recipe comes in: Bang Bang Chicken. It’s simple, quick, and satisfies both my need for an easy dinner and my boyfriend’s protein cravings. It’s the girl dinner hack that still works even after graduation.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper

Bang Bang Sauce:

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup sriracha
• ¼ cup chili crunch oil (or substitute with chili garlic sauce for a similar kick)

Instructions:

1. Start by patting your chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. Drizzle olive oil over them and rub it in on both sides.
2. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, and cayenne. Make sure it’s evenly coated.
3. Transfer the chicken breasts to your air fryer and set the temperature to 390°F. Cook for about 22–24 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and juicy.
4. While the chicken cooks, mix together your Bang Bang Sauce: combine mayonnaise, sriracha, and chili crunch oil in a small bowl.
5. When the chicken is done, remove it from the air fryer and generously coat the top with your Bang Bang Sauce.
6. Serve with the remaining sauce on the side, and enjoy!

I like to pair this with simple sides like white rice and roasted broccoli. Both are easy to make: throw the rice in the cooker and pop the broccoli in the oven, and you’ve got yourself a complete meal. Of course, you can mix it up with any sides you like. It’s a versatile recipe, perfect for any weeknight where you don’t want to think too hard but still want a meal that feels satisfying.

The Bang Bang Sauce gives a nice hit of spice that adds a depth of flavor to the chicken. Plus, it’s an easy, no-fuss dinner that makes both me and my boyfriend happy. For those of us who’ve had to give up our carefree girl dinner days, this recipe is a simple way to bring a little piece of that joy back, with just enough substance to keep everyone satisfied.