Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
Popcorn chicken is a fun, snackable way to get your protein fix (30 grams per serving!). Originally developed in Taiwan in the 70s and then introduced in the US at Kentucky Fried Chicken in the 90s, popcorn chicken is small bites of crunchy chicken you can eat like popcorn. It’s traditionally deep fried and delicious but obviously, not the healthiest option on the menu. Making this from scratch is easy and another healthy way to enjoy air fryer chicken breast. More of my favorite air fryer recipes are these air fryer chicken nuggets, air fryer chicken tenders, and air fryer chicken sandwiches.
Healthy Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
I loved the idea of making popcorn chicken healthier with much less oil and processed ingredients in the air fryer. After testing several batches, I found the breading wouldn’t brown in the short time that it took the chicken to cook (five minutes), so I had to get creative. The solution: Toasting the panko crumbs in a little oil before breading the chicken. It adds about five minutes to your prep time but eliminates the often- messy task of spritzing oil on each piece before air frying. The result is juicy little bites of guiltless, crispy chicken.
What is popcorn chicken made of?
You’ll need to set up a dredging station with the popcorn chicken ingredients:
Flour: Put all-purpose flour and salt on a large plate. Egg: Whisk one egg with a teaspoon of water in a bowl. Seasoned Panko: Toast the panko in olive oil and then mix it with garlic powder, onion, powder, oregano, cayenne (if using), and black pepper on a large plate. Chicken: Cut a pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-size pieces – about the size of a dice – and season with salt and pepper.
How long do you put popcorn chicken in the air fryer?
Since popcorn chicken is so little, it cooks fast.
How to Freeze Popcorn Chicken
This popcorn chicken is easy to freeze and perfect to pull out when you need a quick snack, appetizer, or lunch.
Your comments are helpful! If you’ve tried this popcorn chicken recipe or any other recipe on Skinnytaste, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts, variations, and feedback. And if you took a photo of what you cooked, share it with me on Instagram so I can reshare it on my stories.
More Fried Chicken Recipes You’ll Love:
Oven Fried Chicken (Air Fryer Fried Chicken) Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets Pickle-Brined Baked Chicken Tenders Coconut Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette Air Fryer Chicken Milanese with Mediterranean Salad
