Description
Delight in the crunch and flavor of homemade popcorn chicken, a snack that’s perfect for any occasion! These crispy bites of tender chicken are easy to prepare and will have everyone coming back for more. With a juicy interior and golden, panko-crusted exterior, they offer the perfect contrast in texture. Ideal for parties or family lunches, this recipe is versatile enough to be served with various dipping sauces or as a topping on salads. Plus, you can easily customize the spice level to suit your taste. Gather your ingredients and get ready to impress with this fun finger food!
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 ounces each)
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 dashes Cholula hot sauce (or Tabasco hot sauce)
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- Vegetable oil (for frying – at least 4 cups)
Instructions
- Dice chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine buttermilk and hot sauce in a bowl for marinating.
- Mix flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder in a shallow bowl; place panko breadcrumbs in another.
- Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven to 350°F using a candy thermometer.
- Coat chicken pieces first in the flour mixture, then the buttermilk mixture, and finally in panko breadcrumbs.
- Fry coated chicken pieces until golden brown and cooked through (about 2-3 minutes).
- Drain excess oil on paper towels before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers & Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 70mg