Description
This recipe for Popcorn Chicken delivers crispy, flavorful chicken bites that are perfect for snacking or as a main dish. Marinated in buttermilk and a blend of spices, these bite-sized pieces are coated in a seasoned flour mixture and fried to golden perfection. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
For the Coating:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a large bowl, combine buttermilk and hot sauce. Add the chicken pieces, stir to coat, and marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
- Prepare the Coating: In another bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Coat the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting the excess drip off, then dredge each piece in the flour mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat about 2 inches of oil in a deep skillet or pot to 350°F. Fry the chicken in batches for 3–4 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through, turning as needed.
- Drain and Serve: Transfer the fried chicken to a paper towel–lined plate to drain. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
- For extra crunch, double-dip the chicken by dredging it in the flour mixture, dipping back in buttermilk, and coating again.
- You can bake or air-fry for a lighter version, though texture may vary.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus marinating time)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
