Description
Make crispy, golden-brown homemade popcorn chicken with this easy recipe! Perfect for snacks, parties, or quick meals, with frying, baking, and air fryer options.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for spice)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- Cooking oil (vegetable or canola) for frying
Instructions
Step 1: Marinate the Chicken
- In a bowl, combine chicken pieces, buttermilk, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight for deeper flavor).
Step 2: Prepare the Breading Stations
- In a shallow dish, mix the flour, cornstarch, and baking powder.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together.
- In a third dish, place the panko breadcrumbs.
Step 3: Coat the Chicken
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off.
- Dredge each piece in the flour mixture, then dip into the egg wash, and finally coat with panko breadcrumbs. Press gently to ensure an even coating.
Step 4: Fry the Chicken
- Heat about 2 inches of oil in a deep pan or fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry the chicken in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
- Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or spicy mayo.
Notes
- Baked Version: Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Air Fryer Method: Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally.
- Gluten-Free Option: Substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour and use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Extra Spicy: Add more cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the marinade.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- marinate time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Popcorn chicken recipe, crispy chicken bites, homemade chicken snack, easy fried chicken, crunchy chicken appetizer