Description
This Crispy Popcorn Chicken recipe is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a fun party snack. The chicken is coated in a crispy cornflake crust and can be baked, air-fried, or deep-fried to perfection.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
For the Egg Mixture:
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
For Coating:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 1/2 cups cornflakes cereal (lightly crushed)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place chicken pieces in a bowl or ziplock bag and toss with flour to coat completely. Set aside.
- Prepare the Egg Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Set aside.
- Coat the Chicken: In another shallow bowl, combine the crushed cornflakes. Dip each flour-coated chicken piece into the egg mixture, then press into the cornflakes, ensuring an even coating.
- Cook the Chicken:
- To Bake: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Place chicken pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and bake for an additional 5-8 minutes, or until fully cooked.
- To Air Fry: Lightly coat the air fryer basket with non-stick spray. Arrange half of the chicken pieces in a single layer, then spray the tops with cooking spray. Air fry at 360°F for 3 minutes. Flip the chicken, spray the tops again, and increase the temperature to 400°F. Continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes, or until golden and crispy.
- To Deep Fry: Heat vegetable oil in a pot to 350°F. Working in batches, gently lower the chicken pieces into the oil and cook for 3-4 minutes, until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Serve: Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauces, such as BBQ sauce, hot honey, ranch, Chick-fil-A sauce, or honey mustard.
Notes
- Yield: About 40 pieces of popcorn chicken. A serving is approximately 6-7 pieces.
- Make Ahead: Coat the chicken in flour, then cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before proceeding with the recipe.
- To Reheat:
- Air Fryer: Reheat for 2-3 minutes at 360°F until crispy and hot.
- Oven: Preheat to 325°F and bake for 10 minutes, or until hot and crispy.
- Freezing: Let the chicken cool to room temperature, then spread on a baking sheet and freeze for about 1 hour until mostly frozen. Transfer to a freezer bag and store for up to 3 months. To reheat, bake at 425°F for 15 minutes, or until heated through.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking, Air Frying, Deep Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (6-7 pieces)
- Calories: 355 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0.02g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 160mg
