Whip up these chicken bites for a delicious and convenient crowd-pleaser.
One of my favorite types of chicken has always been popcorn chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken helped to popularize popcorn chicken in the U.S. during the 1990s, which is when I first enjoyed this dish. To my surprise, popcorn chicken gets even better when you’re able to make it at home, especially since you know that it’s so universally liked that nobody will voice any complaints.
If you’re going to make popcorn chicken at home, my best advice would be to use an air fryer. For starters, it helps to cut down on the fat and grease to make the dish as healthy as possible. The air fryer also helps to give the chicken a crunchy outside while keeping it juicy inside. Obviously, this is always the goal when cooking chicken. But it’s an even better combination with bite-sized popcorn chicken.
Is Air-Fryer Popcorn Chicken Healthy?
Homemade air-fryer popcorn chicken is likely to be a little lighter and healthier than any popcorn chicken you’ll find in a restaurant. Since air fryers use a minimal amount of oil, the fat content is reduced compared to similar recipes. Don’t forget that boneless, skinless chicken breast is a good source of lean protein. Plus, this recipe also offers a good dose of both iron and potassium.
Spice It Up
One thing I like about this recipe is that the garlic powder and paprika give the chicken flavor, so you don’t have to overdo it with the salt and pepper. However, the mix of herbs and spices that you use is entirely up to you. If you’re a fan of spicy chicken, I would mix in some cayenne and red pepper flakes. For a milder taste that still has plenty of flavor, oregano, Italian seasoning, and basil are excellent additions as well. As always, you can choose just how you want to spice things up, so feel free to get creative!
How do I store leftovers?
Leftover popcorn chicken should be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 or 4 days. You can reheat it in an air fryer or a toaster oven.
Serving Suggestions
Naturally, one of the keys to great popcorn chicken is the right dipping sauce. You can’t go wrong with a good BBQ Sauce, including Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce. At times, I like to spice things up with Buffalo Sauce or perhaps keep things simple with a Homemade Honey-Mustard Sauce.
Meanwhile, if you want to turn popcorn chicken into a meal and you need a side dish, consider making this Grilled Corn On The Cob or a vegetable like Grilled Broccoli.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. In a shallow bowl, mix flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. In another bowl, beat the eggs. Place panko breadcrumbs in a third bowl.
- Dip each chicken piece in the flour mixture, then the beaten eggs, and finally coat with panko breadcrumbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F. Place the coated chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch. Spray lightly with olive oil. Cook for 10 minutes, turning halfway through and spraying again. Chicken should be golden and cooked through.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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