Ingredients Needed
Skinless Chicken breasts. Boneless chicken thighs can also be used. Flour. I used all purpose flour. Eggs. Panko bread crumbs. Smoked paprika. Oregano. Garlic powder. You can use onion powder too, or as a substitute. Salt and black pepper. Other seasonings like cayenne pepper, dried herbs or chilli flakes can be used too.
For the jalapeño ranch:
Sour cream. Greek yogurt can be substituted. Mayonnaise. Jalapeños. Dill. Parsley. Chives. Salt and black pepper. Lime juice.
How to make popcorn chicken
Can I make this ahead?
The popcorn chicken can be breaded and placed on a lined baking tray and placed in the freezer to allow the chicken to freeze solid for at least 6 hours. Transfer the chicken to a zip top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To cook, air fry or deep fry from frozen until cooked through, crisp and golden. The cooked chicken nuggets can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days and reheated in the air fryer until hot and crisp.
Can I fry popcorn chicken?
Yes, you can deep fry or bake popcorn chicken.
What to serve with popcorn chicken
I love serving crispy chicken with a dip or sauce. Ketchup or BBQ sauce are great for everyday snacking but this jalapeño ranch takes things up a notch. Fries or potato wedges are also a great side dish and if you want something a little healthier, a zesty salad is always a good idea.
Honey-mustard dipping sauce Easy oven baked fries Easy spicy garlic baked potato wedges
Crispy chicken recipes
Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Crispy Air Fryer Ravioli Air Fryer Tater Tots Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
I always use my Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer when developing air fryer recipes. It is by far the most efficient air fryer I’ve used and the basket size is excellent for a family of 4. This post isn’t sponsored but I am partnered with Instant Pot South Africa.
