Popcorn Chicken
Our easy Popcorn Chicken recipe is healthier than store-bought but still deliciously crispy and crunchy, and juicy on the inside. Cooked it in the oven, air fryer, or deep-fry.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces (about 2-3 large breasts)
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 1/2 cups corn flakes cereal lightly crushed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
Coat Chicken: Place chicken pieces in a bowl or ziplock bag and add flour, stirring or shaking to coat completely. Set aside.
Add eggs, milk, salt and pepper, garlic powder and paprika to a bowl and stir to combine. Set aside. In another shallow bowl combine crushed cornflakes.
Dip each piece of flour-coated chicken into the egg mixture, followed by the cornflakes, gently pressing the cornflake mixture into the chicken.
Cook in Oven, Air Fryer, or Deep-fry:
To Bake. Place chicken on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Flip chicken and bake for another 5-8 minutes or until cooked through.
To Air Fry: Spray the bottom of the fry basket with nonstick cooking spray and place half of the chicken pieces into a single layer in the basket. Generously spray the top of each piece of chicken with cooking spray. Air Fry at 360F for 3 minutes. Open air fryer, flip chicken pieces to the other side, and spray tops again with cooking spray. Increase air fryer temperature to 400F degrees and cook for 2-3 more minutes, or until crisp and cooked through.
To Fry: Heat a few inches of vegetable oil in a pot. Once hot (350 degrees F), work in batches to lower the chicken into the oil and cook for 3-4 minutes, until cooked through. Remove to a paper towel lined plate.
Serve warm with BBQ sauce, Hot Honey, ranch, Chick-fil-A sauce, honey mustard, or another favorite dipping sauce.
Yield: Makes about 40 pieces. Serving Size: about 6-7 pieces.
Make Ahead Instructions: Cut the chicken into pieces and coat in flour. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before continuing recipe.
To Reheat Popcorn Chicken:
- Air Fryer: Spread into a single layer and air fry for 2-3 minutes, or until crispy and warm.
- Oven: Preheat oven to 325°F then arrange chicken on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cook for 10 minutes, or until hot and crispy.
Freezing Instructions: Allow chicken to cool to room temperature, then space the chicken out on a baking sheet that will fit into the freezer. Keep chicken in freezer for about 1 hour or until mostly frozen, then transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, place frozen popcorn chicken on a baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees F for about 15 minutes or until heated through. Keyword fried chicken, popcorn chicken
