Chicken popcorn with garlic sauce
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5 from 2 votes

Crispy Homemade Popcorn Chicken Recipe

Our popcorn chicken recipe is quite simple and easy to make. It is juicy, crispy, tender, and full of flavors. Bet you can't have just one!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time20 mins
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Popcorn chicken
Appliance: Stove, Saucepan, Knife
Servings: 4
Author: Sakina Kheriwala

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless chicken breasts cubed
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp garlic salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk for the marinade
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil canola

Instructions

  • In a medium pan, add 2 tbsp of vegetable oil and heat it on medium flame.
  • Take a small bowl and mix flour and garlic salt. In another bowl, add buttermilk. In a third bowl, add the panko crumbs. Place all three bowls in a line. 
  • Dip the chicken pieces in the flour mixture, follow it with buttermilk, and then coat it with the crumbs. Dip the chicken pieces ensuring all sides are coated with every ingredient. 
  • Place a paper towel on a plate and keep it next to the stove near the hot oil.
  • In batches, place the chicken pieces in the hot oil for frying. Fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side until they appear golden brown. Once the pieces are fried, remove them using tongs and place them on the paper-towel-lined plate.
  • Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
    Homemade crispy popcorn chicken with barbecue sauce

Notes

  • For a double coating, dip the chicken pieces in the buttermilk a second time and then in the panko crumbs. This is for a crispier and crunchier taste.
  • Use half-frozen chicken breasts and a sharp kitchen knife to cut into even beautiful pieces. 
  • Marinate the chicken in buttermilk for a minimum of one hour. The marinade helps the chicken to be flakier and crispier.
  • You can mix different spices with panko crumbs like paprika, cayenne pepper, chipotle flakes, or red chili flakes. 
  • You can use seasoned or plain bread crumbs, crushed Ritz crackers, or crushed cornflakes as an alternative to the panko crumbs. 
  • Raw chicken cubes can be coated and kept overnight in the fridge until ready to fry.
  • Once the chicken poppers are cooked, allow it to cool, and store it in an airtight freezer container. You can freeze the cooked popcorn chicken for up to 3 months.