{"id":2078709,"date":"2024-11-12T15:18:37","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T06:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?post_type=recipe&p=2078709"},"modified":"2024-12-20T10:51:27","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T16:51:27","slug":"popcorn-chicken-recipe","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/popcorn-chicken-recipe\/","title":{"rendered":"Popcorn Chicken"},"content":{"rendered":"
Popcorn chicken is one of those dishes that I simply cannot resist. The bite-sized morsels of chicken are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and since they’re boneless, they’re super easy to pop into your mouth. Like picnic-style buttermilk fried chicken<\/a>, these tiny fried chicken bites are soaked in buttermilk before being dredged in flour and fried. They’re a perfect game day snack<\/a> or potluck recipe<\/a>. They also happen to make a great family meal when served with some sauces and your favorite sides. Your kids will love how savory and bite-sized they are, and you’ll love how easy they are to make.<\/p>\n While these fried chicken bites are similar, there are some key differences between popcorn chicken and chicken nuggets. Chicken nuggets are made of ground chicken bound into uniform pieces. On the flip side, popcorn chicken uses boneless chicken breasts cut into large chunks and marinated in buttermilk before being fried. The fry coating on each piece of popcorn chicken is a little different, which is part of what makes them so tasty, and they tend to have a thicker coating than chicken nuggets. The most famous nuggets are probably the McDonald’s chicken nuggets<\/a>, and popcorn chicken originally comes from KFC.<\/p>\n In a large bowl, place the buttermilk and chicken and mix well. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the chicken for at least 30 minutes. Drain the buttermilk and discard it, then pat the chicken dry.<\/p>\n Editor’s Tip:<\/em> For a tangier flavor and extra tender chicken, soak the chicken in the buttermilk overnight or up to 24 hours.<\/p>\n In a large bowl, combine the flour with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and cayenne. Mix the blend well, then add the chicken and toss to coat it.<\/p>\n Editor’s Tip:<\/em> Press the chicken into the flour so it sticks. Clumps will probably start to form when the buttermilk hits the flour. Use them! They create great craggy bits on the fried chicken pieces.<\/p>\n Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry the chicken pieces until they’re browned on all sides and cooked to 165\u00b0F. This should take 8 to 10 minutes.<\/p>\n Drain the chicken on paper towels when it comes out of the fryer. Serve immediately.<\/p>\n Editor’s Tip:<\/em> Avoid a common deep-frying mistake<\/a> by shaking off any excess flour on the chicken before putting it in the fryer. This helps get a better fry and also keeps the frying oil cleaner.<\/p>\n Popcorn chicken is easy to store. It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days, and it freezes well, too.<\/p>\n You can reheat popcorn chicken in the oven or air fryer. Reheat it until the coating is crispy and starting to bubble a bit. It’s also pretty delicious straight from the fridge, if I do say so!<\/p>\n To prevent it from clumping into one frozen mass, allow the chicken to cool and place it on a baking sheet in a single layer. Freeze until the popcorn chicken pieces are solid, then store them in an airtight, freezer-safe container, like a resealable bag, for up to three months.<\/p>\n If you don’t want to use chicken breast, you can use a different cut of chicken<\/a>. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are even juicier since thighs tend not to dry out as easily as breasts.<\/p>\n You can definitely bake popcorn chicken. Place it on a greased baking sheet and bake it at 400\u00b0 for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. The chicken should register 165\u00b0 on a digital thermometer.<\/p>\n Popcorn chicken is a great dish to make in an air fryer. Set the air fryer to 400\u00b0 and place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer, with some space between the pieces. Spray them with oil and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through. You’ll have to cook them in batches, but it will be worth it.<\/p>\n Use your popcorn chicken to top a club salad or a Caesar salad<\/a>. Wrap it in a tortilla with a crisp coleslaw for a quick lunch. Serve crispy popcorn chicken on top of fettuccine Alfredo or other pasta dishes. Make a popcorn chicken po’boy and stuff the chicken inside a soft hoagie roll with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.<\/p>\n First and foremost, sauces<\/a>! Pair your popcorn chicken with homemade ranch, honey mustard or barbecue sauce. If you’re serving it as a main course, it will go great with sides like sauteed green beans<\/a>, braised collard greens<\/a>, a cabbage slaw and rolls.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This popcorn chicken recipe features chunks of chicken breast soaked in buttermilk, dredged in flour and fried to a perfect crisp.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7061,"featured_media":2092433,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"tags":[304032,307335,307330,304328,304993,304177,304292,304007,304338,303966,304988,303887,306848,304347,304188,304268,307307,324623,304005,304150,303883],"categories-v2":[308623,310372,310369,308984,308481,308940,309457,308305,308554,308992,308495,308935,308478,309603,308998,309536,259483,310342,309177,308549,309434,308476],"coauthors":[340582],"recommended_recipes":[{"post_title":"Cornflake 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Popcorn","post_link":"\/recipes\/spicy-popcorn\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Spicy-Popcorn_EXPS_FT21_29331_F_0224_1-1.jpg"},{"post_title":"Cornbread Chicken Tenders","post_link":"\/recipes\/cornbread-chicken-tenders\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/exps33815_SD990853D24A.jpg"},{"post_title":"Cauliflower Popcorn","post_link":"\/recipes\/cauliflower-popcorn\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Cauliflower-Popcorn_exps144223_TH2236622PG08_26_6b_RMS.jpg"},{"post_title":"Barbecue Popcorn","post_link":"\/recipes\/barbecue-popcorn\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/BBQ-Popcorn_EXPS_FT21_261842_F_0709_1.jpg"},{"post_title":"Popcorn Snacks","post_link":"\/recipes\/popcorn-snacks\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/exps1390_BS1753641D81.jpg"},{"post_title":"Cornbread Chicken","post_link":"\/recipes\/cornbread-chicken\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/exps23271_QC10596D41A.jpg"},{"post_title":"Peanut 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Editor's Tip: For a tangier flavor and extra tender chicken, soak the chicken in the buttermilk overnight or up to 24 hours.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Popcorn-Chicken_TOHD24_278442_ChristineMa_1.jpg?fit=700,1024"},{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Dredge the chicken","text":"In a large bowl, combine the flour with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and cayenne. Mix the blend well, then add the chicken and toss to coat it. Editor's Tip: Press the chicken into the flour so it sticks. Clumps will probably start to form when the buttermilk hits the flour. Use them! They create great craggy bits on the fried chicken pieces.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Popcorn-Chicken_TOHD24_278442_ChristineMa_2.jpg?fit=700,1024"},{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Fry the chicken","text":"Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry the chicken pieces until they're browned on all sides and cooked to 165\u00b0F. This should take 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the chicken on paper towels when it comes out of the fryer. Serve immediately. Editor's Tip: Avoid a common deep-frying mistake by shaking off any excess flour on the chicken before putting it in the fryer. This helps get a better fry and also keeps the frying oil cleaner.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Popcorn-Chicken_TOHD24_278442_ChristineMa_3.jpg?fit=700,1024"}],"recipeYield":"6 servings","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Risa Lichtman"}],"nutrition":{"@type":"NutritionInformation","calories":" 451 calories","fatContent":"25g fat (3g saturated fat)","cholesterolContent":"84mg cholesterol","sodiumContent":"580mg sodium","carbohydrateContent":"21g carbohydrate (0 sugars","fiberContent":"1g fiber)","proteinContent":"34g protein."},"aggregateRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":0,"reviewCount":0,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5}},"video":{"data":{"status":204},"message":"No shortcode found in recipe"},"rms_legacy_id":"278442","romance_copy_dek":"For this popcorn chicken, chunks of chicken breast are soaked in buttermilk and then fried to golden perfection. 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Ingredients for Popcorn Chicken<\/h2>\n
\n
Directions<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Brine the chicken<\/h3>\n
TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Step 2: Dredge the chicken<\/h3>\n
TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Step 3: Fry the chicken<\/h3>\n
TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Popcorn Chicken Variations<\/h2>\n
\n
How to Store Popcorn Chicken<\/h2>\n
How do you reheat popcorn chicken?<\/h3>\n
Can you freeze popcorn chicken?<\/h3>\n
Popcorn Chicken Tips<\/h2>\n
Do you have to use chicken breast for popcorn chicken?<\/h3>\n
Can you bake popcorn chicken?<\/h3>\n
Can you make popcorn chicken in the air fryer?<\/h3>\n
What are some other ways to use popcorn chicken?<\/h3>\n
What can you serve with popcorn chicken?<\/h3>\n