Introduction

Popcorn chicken is a crispy, bite-sized chicken snack that’s perfect for sharing or enjoying as a fun meal. Coated with a crunchy cornflakes crust, this recipe offers a deliciously tender inside and a satisfying crunch outside. You can bake, air fry, or deep-fry it to your liking.

Crispy Popcorn Chicken with Dipping Sauces Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 2-3 large breasts)
2 large eggs
¼ cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 ½ cups corn flakes cereal, lightly crushed
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon paprika

Instructions

Step 1: Place the chicken pieces in a bowl or ziplock bag and add the flour. Stir or shake to coat the chicken completely, then set aside.
Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
Step 3: In another shallow bowl, place the crushed corn flakes.
Step 4: Dip each piece of the flour-coated chicken into the egg mixture, then coat it with the crushed corn flakes, gently pressing to adhere the coating well.
Step 5: Choose your cooking method:

To Bake: Arrange the coated chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes, then flip and bake for another 5-8 minutes until cooked through.
To Air Fry: Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Place half the chicken pieces in a single layer, spray tops with cooking spray, and air fry at 360°F for 3 minutes. Flip, spray tops again, increase temperature to 400°F, and cook for 2-3 more minutes until crisp and cooked through.
To Fry: Heat vegetable oil in a pot to 350°F. Fry the chicken in batches for 3-4 minutes until cooked through. Drain on paper towels.

Step 6: Serve the popcorn chicken warm with your favorite dipping sauces like BBQ, hot honey, ranch, or Chick-fil-A sauce.

Tips & Variations

For extra flavor, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika to the flour or egg mixture.
Use gluten-free flour and corn flakes to make this recipe gluten-free.
For a healthier option, air frying is an excellent alternative to deep frying.
If you want more crunch, double-coat the chicken by dipping into the egg and corn flakes mixture twice before cooking.

Storage

Store leftover popcorn chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or air fry at 360°F for 3-5 minutes to restore crispiness.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use dark meat chicken instead of breast?

Yes, dark meat like thighs can be used and will add more juiciness and flavor. Just cut into bite-sized pieces and follow the same coating and cooking process.

Is it necessary to crush the corn flakes by hand?

You can crush corn flakes by hand in a sealed bag or pulse briefly in a food processor. Just avoid over-processing, as you want small, crunchy pieces rather than a fine powder.

Crispy Popcorn Chicken with Dipping Sauces Recipe

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4.6 from 142 reviews

Crispy and flavorful Popcorn Chicken made with tender bite-sized chicken pieces coated in a seasoned flour and egg mixture, then coated with crunchy crushed corn flakes. This versatile recipe can be baked, air fried, or deep-fried to perfection, making it a perfect snack or meal served with your favorite dipping sauces.

Author: zara
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Category: Snack
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 2–3 large breasts)
2 large eggs
¼ cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 ½ cups corn flakes cereal, lightly crushed

Seasonings

½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon paprika

Instructions

Coat Chicken: Place the bite-sized chicken pieces into a large bowl or a ziplock bag and add the all-purpose flour. Stir or shake gently to coat each piece thoroughly with the flour. Set this coated chicken aside.
Prepare Egg Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika until fully combined. Set aside. In another shallow bowl, place the crushed corn flakes ready for coating.
Coat with Egg and Cornflakes: Dip each piece of the flour-coated chicken first into the egg mixture, then transfer it to the crushed corn flakes. Gently press the cereal onto the chicken pieces to fully coat and adhere the crunch layer.
Choose Cooking Method: Decide how you want to cook your popcorn chicken: baking, air frying, or deep frying. Follow the corresponding instructions below based on your preference.
Baking: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip each piece over and bake for another 5 to 8 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and crispy.
Air Frying: Preheat the air fryer. Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Place half the chicken pieces into a single layer in the basket and spray the tops with cooking spray. Air fry at 360°F for 3 minutes. Flip the pieces, spray the tops again, then increase the temperature to 400°F and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes until crisp and cooked through.
Deep Frying: Heat a few inches of vegetable oil in a deep pot to 350°F (175°C). Fry the chicken pieces in batches carefully, cooking each batch for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove cooked pieces with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Serving: Serve the popcorn chicken warm with your choice of dipping sauces such as BBQ sauce, hot honey, ranch dressing, Chick-fil-A sauce, or any favorite dip.

Notes

Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket or the frying pot to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
For extra crunch, lightly smash corn flakes instead of pulverizing them to a powder.
You can swap out chicken breasts for chicken thighs for more juiciness.
Adjust seasoning in the flour or egg wash to suit your flavor preference.
Leftovers can be reheated in an oven or air fryer to regain crispiness.

Keywords: Popcorn Chicken, crispy chicken bites, air fryer popcorn chicken, baked popcorn chicken, fried chicken snack