Description
Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken is the ultimate comfort food that offers a perfect balance of crispy, golden-brown coating and juicy, flavorful chicken. This delightful dish is easy to prepare and customizable, making it a favorite for family movie nights or casual gatherings. With minimal effort, you can create a mouthwatering snack that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Cooking spray or olive oil (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and soak in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix flour, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Dredge each chicken piece in the breadcrumb mixture until well coated.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes.
- Arrange chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil.
- Cook for 12-15 minutes until golden brown, shaking the basket halfway through for even crispiness.
- Let cool slightly before serving with your favorite dipping sauce.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 4 oz (113g)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: For extra crunch, double-dip the chicken pieces in the breading. Customize by adding spices like cayenne pepper or herbs to the breadcrumb mixture.