Popcorn Chicken

4.72 from 7 votes

Bite-sized fried chicken coated in seasoned flour and cooked until crisp.

Prep Time6

Cook Time8

Total Time14

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken nuggets, popcorn chicken

Servings: people

Calories: 1086kcal

Author: Daisy Merano

Sprinkle salt and ground black pepper all over the chicken pieces. Let it stay for 10 minutes.
1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 lb. boneless chicken breasts cubed
Combine all the breading ingredients in a bowl. Mix well.
1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Heat oil in a wok.
1 1/2 cups cooking oil
As the oil heats-up, dip a small batch of cubed chicken in the bowl with beaten egg, and then dredge it into the breading mixture. Note: Make sure to shake-off excess breading before frying.
2 eggs
Start frying the breaded chicken using medium heat setting until the color turns light to golden brown.
Remove chicken popcorn from the wok. Arrange over a wire rack and let to let the oil drip.
Serve with your favorite sauce. Share and enjoy!

Cut the chicken evenly. Uniform sizing helps the pieces cook at the same pace. If some cubes are larger than others, the small ones dry out while the big ones stay undercooked. Stick to about 1-inch pieces for even frying. I use a kitchen scale sometimes to check portions.
Don’t let the flour clump. Wet egg and dry flour can create sticky patches. Shake off any excess flour before frying each piece. Clumps soak oil and lead to uneven coating. I always stir the flour between batches to keep it loose.
Keep your oil at medium heat. Too hot, and the breading burns fast. Too low, and the coating absorbs too much oil. I usually test with a single piece to check sizzle level before frying the whole batch. If it bubbles gently right away, it’s ready.
Rest on a rack, not paper towels. Paper towels trap steam, especially if you pile the chicken on top of each other. This makes the coating soggy in minutes. Use a wire rack and let air circulate under the chicken while it cools. This step makes a big difference.