Description
This Crispy Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken recipe delivers tender, juicy chicken bites coated in a flavorful, crunchy panko crust, all cooked quickly and healthily in an air fryer. Perfect as a snack or meal, this easy-to-make dish combines simple seasonings with a buttermilk marinade for maximum flavor and crispiness without deep-frying.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces (450g)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Coating Mixtures
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (60g)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ cup buttermilk (120mL)
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs (112g)
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Season the chicken pieces all over with salt and ground black pepper to enhance flavor evenly.
- Prepare coating mixtures: In a shallow dish, combine the all-purpose flour, garlic powder, and paprika. In another shallow dish, beat the buttermilk and egg together. Place the panko breadcrumbs in a separate medium bowl.
- Dredge the chicken: Toss a few chicken pieces at a time in the flour mixture, shaking off excess. Next, coat them in the buttermilk and egg mixture allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, coat thoroughly in the panko breadcrumbs. Arrange the breaded pieces on a baking sheet or plate.
- Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and let it preheat for a few minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Air fry the chicken: Place the chicken pieces in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, making sure pieces don’t touch; cook in batches if necessary. Lightly spray the chicken with olive oil spray for crispiness.
- Cook and flip: Cook the chicken for 5 minutes, then flip each piece and spray lightly again with oil. Continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes or until the chicken is golden and crispy.
- Serve: Serve the hot popcorn chicken immediately with your favorite dipping sauce for a delicious snack or meal.
Notes
- For best results, cut chicken into uniform small pieces to ensure even cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to maintain crispiness; cook in batches if necessary.
- Light spraying of olive oil helps achieve a golden crispy crust without deep frying.
- Serve with dipping sauces like honey mustard, ranch, or spicy mayo for added flavor.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated in the air fryer to retain crispiness.
