Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
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Craving a crunchy, juicy game-changer? Look no further than learning how to make popcorn chicken in the air fryer, an easy chicken dinner guaranteed to leave you wanting more.
With a crispy exterior and tender, juicy interior, these mouth-watering bites are the perfect treat for any occasion. Perfect for any time, any day. Trust us, one bite and you’ll be in heaven!
Using air frying technology, these popcorn chicken bites are delicious and healthier than traditional deep-fried options.
Choosing the Right Chicken for Air Frying
Choosing the proper chicken is crucial when making delicious air fryer chicken bites. It is recommended to opt for chicken thighs or chicken breasts, as they cook quickly and evenly in the air fryer.
Before cooking, it’s important to cut the chicken into bite-sized chicken chunk pieces. Aim for uniformity in size to ensure consistent cooking times.
Popcorn Chicken Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken breast cut into 1″ cubes
- 4 cups panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 egg
It’s important to note that every air fryer can operate slightly different. We use a 6 quart Ninja Foodi All In One in this recipe. Please check your machines manual if it operates differently.
Whether hosting a game night, a family dinner, or simply enjoying a night in, these delicious chicken bites will surely be a hit.
Serve them as an appetizer, a snack, as part of a chicken and waffles recipe, or a simple dinner and watch as they disappear in no time.
Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Marinate the chicken.
In a mixing bowl, combine 1 lb. of 1″ chicken breast cubes with 1/2 teaspoon each of brown sugar, onion powder, chili powder, and paprika, 1/4 teaspoon each of cumin and cayenne pepper, one tablespoon of flour, one tablespoon of cornstarch, and one egg.
Mix well to ensure the chicken pieces are evenly coated.
Cover the bowl and let it sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to marinate, allowing the flavors to infuse into the chicken.
Coat the popcorn chicken.
- Spread 4 cups of panko bread crumbs into a large dish.
- Add the marinated chicken cubes to the panko, cover, and shake well to ensure each piece is thoroughly coated with the bread crumbs.
Preheat and cook:
How long to air fry popcorn chicken?
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
- Arrange the coated chicken cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch. You might need to cook in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Lightly spray the chicken with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook for 10–13 minutes or until the pieces of chicken are golden brown and crispy to your liking.
Serve popcorn chicken with these Dipping Sauces
While these air fryer chicken bites are delicious on their own, they truly shine when paired with a variety of your favorite dipping sauces.
Whether you prefer something tangy, spicy, or creamy, there’s a dipping sauce for you!
- For a classic option, you can’t go wrong with barbecue sauce or ketchup.
- Or try one of the many sauce recipes we have here, like copycat Cane’s sauce, Yum Yum Sauce, Tzatziki sauce, or zesty cowboy butter.
Recipe Variations and Flavor Combinations
While the classic air fryer chicken bites are undeniably delicious, don’t be afraid to experiment with different flavors and your favorite seasoning mix to create your own unique chicken recipe.
- Sweet and Spicy: Toss the chicken bites in honey, soy sauce, and chili flakes before air frying.
- Garlic Parmesan: Season the chicken bites with garlic powder, grated Parmesan cheese, and dried Italian seasoning before coating them in breadcrumbs.
- Asian-inspired: Marinate the chicken bites in soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil before air frying. Other Asian inspired flavors you can use are the seasoning set up from salt and pepper chicken or crispy sesame chicken. Serve with a sweet chili sauce or a soy dipping sauce.
- This recipe also takes great with the honey butter fried chicken recipe too!
Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- air fryer In this recipe, we use a Ninja Foodi All In One 6 quart
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast cut into 1″ cubes
- 4 cups panko bread crumbs
Marinade
- 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a mixing bowl, combine 1 lb. of 1" chicken breast cubes with 1/2 teaspoon each of brown sugar, onion powder, chili powder, and paprika, 1/4 teaspoon each of cumin and cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon of flour, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, and 1 egg. Mix well to ensure the chicken cubes are evenly coated.
- Cover the bowl and let it sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to marinate, allowing the flavors to infuse into the chicken.
- Coat the Chicken: Spread 4 cups of panko bread crumbs into a large Tupperware dish. Add the marinated chicken cubes to the panko, cover, and shake well to ensure each piece is thoroughly coated with the bread crumbs.
- Preheat and Cook: Preheat your air fryer at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Arrange the coated chicken cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch. You might need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Lightly spray the chicken with nonstick cooking spray. Cook for 10-13 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown (remember chicken doneness is 165 degrees F) and crispy to your liking.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve your crispy air-fried chicken cubes hot with ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce. Perfect for a snack, appetizer, or a tasty addition to any meal!
Notes
- If each 1-inch chunk is roughly cubic and considering chicken’s density, you might expect to get around 16 to 24 chicken bites per pound. This estimate accounts for some variation in chunk size and the irregular shape of chicken breasts.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
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