Make Once Eat Twice Or Feed A Crowd
I was skeptical of using the air fryer for chicken at first, but it’s fantastic. The chicken is cut up into small cubes, marinated for at least a couple of hours, then breaded, dunked in the marinade again, and breaded a second time.
NOTE: you can totally skip the second marinade dunk and breading step if you want to use less breading. Just know that your chicken will not look as crispy as the one I made here. Because more breading = crispier crunchier chicken.
You can actually halve the ingredients if you just want to make enough for 4-6 people for dinner.
This recipe makes enough to serve 4-6 people for one dinner, and then enough to freeze for the future. I love the Make Once, Eat Twice way of cooking with my family since my kids can take them out of the freezer and pop them in the oven or microwave to warm up for after-school snacks.
It’s also a great recipe to make if you are feeding a large crowd. It’s an awesome Game Day Recipe – just serve with options of dipping sauces like BBQ sauce, ranch, and honey mustard.
Want More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
I love coming up with new ways to use my air fryer you have to try these recipes, too!
- You can make the best Fried Chicken in your air fryer that is just as crispy and juicy as deep-frying but so much healthier with less oil.
- Make Air Fryer Wings for dinner or for a party they are so good!
- My Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is just as good as any restaurant but so much better without all the fat and oil.
- Make juicy, flavorful Air Fryer Drumsticks for a really easy weeknight dinner.
- Boneless, Skinless Air Fryer Chicken Breasts are seasoned with a delicious spice rub and easy to make!
What Is Popcorn Chicken
Made famous by KFC and now available in grocery stores everywhere, popcorn chicken are small pieces of breaded chicken. Smaller than nuggets and irregular in shape and size, popcorn chicken is perfect for dunking, snacking, or enjoying as a part of a hearty meal.
For this recipe, Im using Tysons Popcorn Chicken in the air fryer, but any brand will do. Just be sure to keep it frozen until youre ready to cook, and having an instant-read thermometer on hand will ensure that the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat.
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Why Use Chicken Thighs
Again for me, its all about taste. Yes Im sure the chicken breasts are slightly healthier. However after putting this recipe into the Weight Watcher Smart Points app, for this recipe it didnt matter whether you used boneless, skinless breasts or boneless, skinless thighs same points. So if its the same, then use thighs. They taste so much better! More tender, more flavor. My grandmother was right thighs are the best!
Tips For Great Popcorn Chicken
Cutting Up the Chicken:Cut the bite sized pieces of chicken uniformly in size. This way the pieces will all cook in the same timeframe.
Use a Marinade:If time allows, I suggest marinating the chicken in pickle juice or buttermilk for 1-2 hours before the breading process. This will add flavor and tenderness.
Spices:If you want to add a bit of heat to your popcorn chicken, try adding some extra spice. Mix some cayenne pepper in with the flour or the panko breadcrumbs.
Dont Have Panko?Try crushed potato chips or cornflakes for a nice crispy crust!
Dipping Sauce:You can use just about any dipping sauce with this popcorn chicken. My favorites are Ranch, Spicy Mayo, Honey-Mustard, Ketchup, and Tartar Sauce.
Different air fryer models may cook food at different times. It will decide on the size and style of air fryer.
I suggest keeping a close eye on the popcorn chicken as it cooks to make sure it doesnt burn.
Be sure to shake the basket, or flip the pieces over halfway through the cook time and spray with oil.
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How To Make Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
Step 1. In a medium size bowl marinade the chicken in buttermilk, set aside
Step 2. Combine in a separate medium size bowl garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and flour
Step 3. In a small bowl whisk eggs. In another small bowl add the cornstarch
Step 4. Remove chicken from buttermilk shaking off the excess milk. Then roll the chicken in the cornstarch. Next, dip the chicken into the egg wash. Finally, add chicken to flour mixture and coat well, shake off excess.
Step 5. Lightly coat air fryer basket with olive oil. Set Air Fryer to 390 degrees F and add chicken into the basket.
Step 6. Cook for 5-10 minutes, depending on the air fryer, or until the chicken is no longer pink inside, shaking halfway through.
Enjoy!Be sure to have a variety of dipping sauces available! My family loves these with honey mustard dipping sauce and French Fry Dipping Sauce!
Why Make This Recipe
- Easy Coat the chicken and toss it in the air fryer.
- Kid-friendly Kids love chicken, and it never hurts to have a new chicken recipe.
- Versatile this dish is great as an appetizer or as a main course. And simply double the recipe to feed a crowd.
- Healthier way less calories than using a deep fryer.
- Frugal Serve with some sides and a little chicken goes a long way.
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How To Store Air Fryer Bbq Popcorn Chicken
Air Fryer BBQ Popcorn Chicken can be easily made ahead of time for a quick make-ahead meal. Let the popcorn chicken cool to room temperature, then place it in an airtight container. They will last for 2 to 3 days.
To reheat, place your refrigerated chicken into the basket and set the temperature to 330 degrees F, air fryer setting until warmed through. For even more flavor, add some BBQ sauce before adding it to the air fryer.
What To Serve With Tyson Frozen Popcorn Chicken
The easy way to serve Tyson Popcorn Chicken is with a dipping sauce such as ketchup, mayo, and chili sauce. You can also serve popcorn chicken as a side dish with salad, soup, or fried rice. I saw some people use fired Tyson popcorn chicken as an ingredient in salad or pasta.
To get more ideas about what to serve with Tyson Anytizer Popcorn Chicken, Check this list:
Dipping Sauces:
- cucumber and carrot salad with mayonnaise
- Cauliflower Gnocchis
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Helpful Products Used In Making This Recipe:
Instant Pot Vortex Plus:Instant Vortex Plus 7-in-1 Air Fryer Oven with built-in Smart Cooking Programs, Digital Touchscreen, Easy to Clean Basket, 10 Quart Capacity, and a Stainless Finish
Silicone Tongs:MJIYA Silicone Kitchen Tongs , High Heat Resistant to 480°F, Stainless Steel with Non-Stick Silicone Tips
Crispy Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken is ready in only 30 minutes and makes the perfect main for family dinners or party appetizer! Pair with a variety of sauces for the perfect finish.
Easy chicken dinners are a favorite weekday meal for my family. These Air Fryer Chicken Bites are breaded, then air fried resulting in a crispy texture. The mild flavor can be paired with a variety of sauces for the perfect bite.
Popcorn chicken makes the perfect party appetizer perfect for both kids and adults. This recipe is ready in only 30 minutes and can even be frozen for a quick lunch. If you are in a real pinch for time, I have included instructions for heating store-bought popcorn chicken in the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer as well.
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Popcorn Chicken In Air Fryer
And youll need your machine too of course
Theres a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but heres a quick step by step.
Time needed: 10 minutes.
Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
Rinse, cut chicken into 1 pieces and pat them dry with paper towels. Sprinkle all seasonings on outsides, toss in seasoning mix. Let this sit for about 10 minutes to marinate.One at a time, dip chicken pieces into flour. Shake off excess, then dip into egg, then into the bread crumbs. Place coated pieces on a piece of parchment paper to rest while youre coating remaining. Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.
Spray inside of air fryer basket with olive oil spray. Lay pieces inside in one layer. Spray top of pieces with olive oil and cook the chicken for 10 minutes, flipping after 5. Total time will depend on the size of your bites.
How To Make Frozen Popcorn Chicken In The Air Fryer
The frozen popcorn chicken in the air fryer is cooked straight from frozen, and no extra oil is required. Firstly we have to spread frozen chicken in the air fryer basket into a single layer. Cook it at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Make sure to flip the chicken over about halfway cooking, around the 5-minute mark.
Air fryer frozen popcorn chicken is well served hot out of the air fryer. Leftovers should stay relatively crispy and crunchy overnight is depending on the brand, until you either eat them cold or heat them again in the air fryer.
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Tyson Panko Popcorn Chicken Air Fryer
For a quick weeknight main dish, you could also air fry Tyson popcorn chicken . You need 8 ounces of frozen popcorn chicken for this recipe. Dont defrost the chicken first.
Here are the steps for making air fryer popcorn chicken:
Healthy Homemade Air Fried Popcorn Chicken Recipe:
Easy air fried popcorn chicken recipe from scratch is gluten-free, sugar-free, soy-free, low-carb, and actually healthy. This flavorful, fun, and delicious air fryer popcorn chicken cooks in 10 minutes and makes a great appetizer or snack. Add some to the salad and make it a complete meal!
Who doesnt like popcorn chicken? As long as I know everyone loves popcorn chicken. Like seriously, who can say no to the little scrumptious chicken bites that satisfy both sweet and savory tastes. Even better, this air fried popcorn chicken is made from scratch, packed with flavors from boneless chicken thighs, fresh herbs, and spices, and free from the hefty calories of deep frying. Equally, this air fried popcorn chicken has no flour breading how awesome?
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Why Use Light Cream Cheese In The Batter
In many breaded or battered recipes, you will see milk, buttermilk, or egg as the binding agent for the batter. In this recipe I use cream cheese. Why? Not only does the cream cheese help tenderize the chicken but it is thick, and it helps the batter stay on each piece which is essential when youre using an air fryer. To read more about light cream cheese and how its healthier than the regular version, check out this article.
Air Fryer Popcorn Rooster
Popcorn rooster is a enjoyable, snackable solution to get your protein repair . Initially developed in Taiwan within the 70s after which launched within the US at Kentucky Fried Chicken in the 90s, popcorn rooster is small bites of crunchy rooster youll be able to eat like popcorn. Its historically deep fried and scrumptious however clearly, not the healthiest possibility on the menu. Making this from scratch is straightforward and one other wholesome solution to get pleasure from air fryer chicken breast. Extra of my favourite air fryer fried rooster recipes are these air fryer chicken nuggets, air fryer chicken tenders, and air fryer chicken sandwiches.
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Tyson Popcorn Chicken In Air Fryer
Tyson Popcorn Chickens favorite frozen popcorn chicken in the air fryer is ready to cook. If you want crispier Tyson frozen popcorn chicken, cook for more 2.Nutrition of Tyson Popcorn ChickenIn the 84g Serving you will find Calories: 170kcal,Carbohydrates: 14g,Protein: 14g,Fat: 9g,Cholesterol: 25mg,Sodium: 600mg,Fiber: 2g
How Do You Make Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
First, make your dipping sauce and coleslaw. Theyre both super easy making the mustard and coleslaw takes about 10 minutes. Stir dipping sauce ingredients together and divide it into 4 sauce cups. Refrigerate them. For the coleslaw, stir mayonnaise, honey, ACV, sea salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Add coleslaw mix and stir thoroughly. Put the coleslaw in the fridge until the popcorn chicken is ready. Now, to cook the chicken.
Grab a tray or sheet pan and line it with parchment paper. Slice the chicken breast into 1-inch pieces on a cutting board. Then crack an egg into a shallow bowl and beat. In a separate bowl, stir together almond flour, sea salt, garlic, sea salt, and pepper. Dip each chicken slice into the egg, shake off the excess, and dip into flour mix coating thoroughly. Place each battered piece of chicken breast on the lined tray or sheet.
Preheat your air-fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit. Place chicken in the basket in a single layer and fry for 6 minutes. Repeat until all the chicken is fried.
Bring out your honey Dijon mustard and coleslaw to serve with the popcorn chicken. Thats it! A tasty lunch, dinner, or snack in under 30 minutes.
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What To Serve With Popcorn Chicken:
Ive been known to serve popcorn chicken as a main meal alongside some hearty sides, so here are some ideas worth trying.
- This Panzanella Salad is a hearty bread salad with greens and vegetables with a fabulous vinaigrette.
- This Sweet Potato Goat Cheese Salad has all the components of a terrific salad and extra nutrition from the sweet potatoes.
- This summer Corn Chowder is creamy and hearty with tender potatoes, fresh corn and bacon bits.
- For a healthier version of fries, try these Air Fryer Carrot Fries. You can make them ahead and reheat them in 10 minutes to serve with the popcorn chicken.
- Or try these Air Fryer Garlic Fries. You can keep them in a warmer and serve with the popcorn chicken.
- For a family dinner, pair the popcorn chicken with this healthier Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese. Its super creamy and will become everyones favorite with hidden nutrition.
- Another hearty dish is Dairy-free Mashed Potatoes! No more gummy potatoes with tips and tricks included.
If youre serving popcorn chicken as an appetizer, try this easy Mozzarella Bruschetta or these simple Goat Cheese Balls.
Popcorn Chicken Air Fryer
Popcorn chicken in the air fryer is an easy kid-friendly snack, lunch or dinner that the whole family will love. This homemade popcorn chicken is made easier with the air fryer, and cooking them wont heat up the house like using an oven or deep fryer. Instructions for frozen popcorn chicken in the air fryer are also included! They can even be made gluten-free or paleo.
Almost everyone is back to school, and what better way to treat the little ones than to quickly make some popcorn chicken. Or maybe youre having a small gathering or sleepover and want an easy appetizer. This air fryer popcorn chicken is the way to go!
Are you just looking to make frozen popcorn chicken in the air fryer? You can also find those directions in the recipe box.
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Adjust The Cooking Time And Temp
After that, what you need to do is to pick the correct temperature and time for the Popcorn Chicken cooking. As we said earlier, the cooking time may vary a bit based on the air fryer and ingredient. Make sure to check the food frequently while cooking to prevent burning and overcooking. The recommended time for cooking is 8 to 10 minutes. Adjust the time accordingly by utilizing the temperature control dial.
The temperature of the Popcorn Chicken will be the same as preheating and hence it doesnât require any adjustment. Once you adjusted the settings, begin the cooking. After cooking the halftime, flip the Popcorn Chicken. It will assure better consistency and crispiness.
How To Make Frozen Popcorn Chicken In Air Fryer
This chicken couldnt be easier to make and is cooked straight from frozen and no extra oil required.
Step one: Place frozen chicken in air fryer basket. Spread out into a single layer.
Step two: Cook at 400 degrees F for a total of 10 minutes. Make sure to shake or flip chicken over about halfway through cooking, around the 5 minute mark. Serve hot.
Optional: You can add a little extra seasoning immediately after cooking while they are still hot. Try a little sprinkle of seasoned salt, garlic powder, or even cayenne pepper for an extra flavor boost.
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