Ah, popcorn chicken—little bites of crispy, juicy goodness that take me back to those long-ago summer fairs with their endless rows of food stalls. There’s something magical about recreating that nostalgia right in your own kitchen, especially with the ease of an air fryer. You won’t believe how simple it is—just a few steps, and you’ve got a plate of golden perfection.
Steps
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium-low heat and toast the panko breadcrumbs with a little salt until golden, stirring frequently. Once toasted, transfer the breadcrumbs to a plate.
- Cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into small cubes, season with salt and pepper, and prepare your dredging station. Arrange flour with a pinch of salt on one plate, whisk an egg with water in a bowl, and combine the toasted panko with garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cayenne pepper, and black pepper on another plate.
- Working in batches, coat the chicken pieces in flour, then dip them in the egg allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, coat the chicken in the seasoned panko, pressing the crumbs to ensure they adhere well.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F and coat the basket with olive oil spray. Place about 30 pieces of the chicken in the basket, ensuring they are not touching, and spray the tops with oil.
- Cook the chicken for five minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking. Serve the crispy popcorn chicken immediately.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into ¾-inch cubes
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt (for toasting panko)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (for seasoning chicken)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- Cayenne pepper, optional, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Nutritional Values
Calories: 1132 kcal | Carbohydrates: 84 g | Protein: 120 g | Fat: 32 g | Saturated Fat: 6 g | Cholesterol: 516 mg | Sodium: 1540 mg | Fiber: 6 g | Sugar: 8 g
FAQ
- What are the main ingredients needed for Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken?
- To make Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken, you will need boneless, skinless chicken breasts, all-purpose flour, an egg, panko breadcrumbs, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt.
- How long does it take to cook popcorn chicken in an air fryer?
- Popcorn chicken cooks quickly in an air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F, place about 30 pieces of chicken in the basket, ensuring they are not touching, and cook for 5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- What is the recommended method for freezing popcorn chicken?
- For best results, freeze popcorn chicken before cooking. Arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer in a freezer-safe container lined with parchment paper. When you’re ready to cook, air fry them at 400°F for 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Can you reheat cooked popcorn chicken in the air fryer?
- Yes, you can reheat cooked popcorn chicken in the air fryer. First, let the chicken cool completely, then freeze it. To reheat, set the air fryer to 350°F and cook for 5-6 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- How can I ensure the panko coating browns properly?
- To ensure the panko coating browns evenly, toast the panko breadcrumbs in a bit of olive oil before using them to coat the chicken. This step adds a few extra minutes to your preparation time but results in a crispy, golden coating.
Tips
- Toast the panko breadcrumbs in a little oil before using them for breading. This step, although adding a few extra minutes to your preparation time, ensures a golden and crispy coating without needing to spray each piece with oil before air frying.
- When setting up your dredging station, use tongs to handle the chicken pieces. This helps in wiping off excess egg from each piece, allowing for a more uniform coating of panko breadcrumbs.
- To ensure the chicken cooks evenly and turns out crispy, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Leave space between each piece and consider cooking in batches if necessary.
- For convenient meal prep, freeze the uncooked breaded chicken pieces in a single layer using parchment paper between layers. This way, you can easily cook a batch straight from the freezer whenever needed.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Olive Oil Sprayer (for spraying oil in the air fryer basket)
- Freezer-Safe Container (for freezing uncooked chicken)
- Parchment Paper (for lining freezer-safe containers)
