Who doesn’t like popcorn chicken? I’m sure you want to eat popcorn chicken in a healthier version. An air fryer can now make it easier for you to make this dish without adding extra oil as the traditional deep fry does.
You can snack on these crispy chicken bites, serve them as an appetizer, or even serve them for dinner. Trust me, once you try this recipe, it’s going to become a staple in your home. The best part? There are only a few ingredients you need to make this and most of them are probably already in your pantry. Here’s how to make popcorn chicken.
What you need:
Ingredients
- Chicken of your choice (thigh, tender, breast)
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- Vegetable oil
- Chopped onion for garnish
- Sesame seed for garnish
Sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ tablespoon vinegar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
How to make popcorn chicken in an air-fry
- In a bowl, beat 1 egg.
- Cut the chicken into cubes.
- In a separate bowl, add chicken with the egg, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, pepper, cayenne powder, onion powder, and minced garlic.
- Mix well and marinate for 30 minutes.
- Air-fry the chicken at 330 °F for about 10 – 15 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Make sure to oil-spray the air fryer to prevent the chicken from sticking.
- Heat up a skillet on medium heat, and sauté the garlic with vegetable oil.
- Add in cornstarch, honey, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, vinegar, water, and sriracha. Heat over medium heat and stir until the sauce thickens.
- Once the chicken is cooked, toss it in the sauce and garnish with chopped onion or/and sesame seeds.
- Serve and enjoy!
I prefer chicken thighs over chicken breasts because they are more flavorful and moist. As chicken thighs have a higher fat content, they are kept juicy and tender while air-frying. I think they are better for frying than chicken breasts since they don’t dry out as quickly. However, you can always use the cut you prefer.
A great thing about an air fryer is that it cooks chicken evenly without adding oil as a deep fryer would. Don’t forget to flip them halfway through so they crisp up evenly. Make sure you check your doneness after cooking depending on the size of your chicken pieces.
Whether you’re having popcorn chicken as an appetizer, a main course, or a snack, you will find it to be a very versatile dish.
FAQs
Is it okay to use different breading for air-frying the chicken?
Yes, popcorn chicken can be baked in the air fryer using any breading you choose. Some popular breading options include panko breadcrumbs, cornflakes, or crushed cereal. As for flour, there are several options, including all-purpose flour, self-raising flour, or gluten-free flour. Feel free to experiment with different options to find the one you like best.
What’s the best way to tell when popcorn chicken is done?
Using a meat thermometer, you can check if your popcorn chicken is cooked. When it’s done, the internal temperature should be 165F (74C).
Is popcorn chicken better with chicken breasts or thighs?
Popcorn chicken can be cooked from both chicken breast and chicken thighs in an air fryer. Chicken breast is leaner, and will cook faster, while chicken thighs are moister and have more flavorful.
Do air fryers reheat popcorn chicken?
Popcorn chicken can be reheated in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.
Does the chicken need to marinate before airfrying?
Adding extra flavor and tenderness to the chicken can be achieved by marinating it for 30 minutes, but it is not essential.
Popcorn Chicken Air Fryer
Ingredients
- Chicken of your choice (thigh, tender, breast)
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- vegetable oil
- chopped onion for garnish
- sesame seeds for garnish
Sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon vinegar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
Instructions
- In a bowl, beat 1 egg.
- Cut chicken thighs into cubes.
- In a separate bowl, add chicken with the egg, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, pepper, cayenne powder, onion powder, and minced garlic.
- Mix well and marinate for 30 minutes.
- AIr-fry the chicken at 330 °F for about 10 -15 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Make sure to oil-spray the air fryer to prevent the chicken from sticking.
- Heat up a skillet on medium heat, and saute the garlic with vegetable oil.
- Add in cornstarch, honey, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, vinegar, water and sriracha. Heat over medium heat and stir until the sauce thickens.
- Once the chicken is cooked, toss it in the sauce and garnish with chopped onion or/and sesame seeds.
- Serve and enjoy!
