Craving something crispy, spicy, and absolutely irresistible? This Spicy Popcorn Chicken Recipe is the perfect bite-sized snack — crunchy on the outside, juicy inside, and packed with bold seasoning. These golden fried chicken bites are perfect for tea-time, game nights, or weekend family gatherings.
Inspired by KFC-style popcorn chicken, this homemade version has the same satisfying crunch but with a spicy kick that makes it even better!
I understand that this recipe attracts a lot of attention, and the irresistible scent of deep-fried popcorn chicken is hard to overlook. With its crispy and crunchy exterior, combined with a soft, tender, and juicy interior, it serves as an ideal appetizer or snack to pair with your preferred dipping sauce. Don’t you agree?
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What is Popcorn Chicken?
Popcorn chicken is undoubtedly the most favored and delightful chicken snack recipe, made with small, boneless pieces of chicken. Whether deep-fried, baked, or air-fried, each variation of these crispy, crunchy bites is a favorite among many.
The concept of these bite-sized fried chicken pieces originated from KFC in the 1990s and has since spread globally, with every café, restaurant, and fast food chain creating their own take on popcorn chicken.
Making it at home is simple and convenient. You can prepare a large batch and freeze it for later frying. The best approach is to cut chicken breasts into small pieces, marinate them with salt and pepper, then coat them in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs before deep-frying to achieve perfectly golden brown chicken pops.
Why Do I Love This Spicy Recipe
- It’s simple, easy, and quick to make at home.
- You have the option to tailor the recipe to your preferences. I experimented with coatings like cornflakes, oats, and just breadcrumbs. Additionally, adjust the spice level to suit your palate.
- To avoid deep frying, you can also bake in the oven or use air fryer to get crispy popcorns.
- It's a family favorite recipe. Kid's will surely love it! My son has no issues with it, even though it has a bit of spice.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Chicken – It is best to take a fillet of chicken breast and cut it into 12 to 15 small pieces.
Corn flour/starch + Baking powder: Both ingredients will assist in making the chicken crispy.
Seasoning: Salt - to taste, Red chili powder, Black pepper, Dark soya sauce, Grated Garlic, Vinegar
Egg – A beaten egg will help to bind the coating.
Breadcrumbs – Regular or panko breadcrumbs are best.
All purpose flour: Use flour with 8 to 12% protein.
Rice flour – Will help to create strong crunch on chicken.
Oil – Use any vegetable or canola oil for frying.
How to Make Spicy Popcorn Chicken
Prepare Chicken Marinade
- In a bowl, add corn flour, baking powder, salt, red chili powder, black pepper, dark soya sauce, grated garlic, vinegar, and egg and mix well to form a smooth paste.
- Now add chicken in the paste and marinate for about 1 hour.
Prepare Chicken Coat
- In a bowl, add breadcrumbs, all-purpose flour, rice flour, salt and black pepper and mix together through spoon.
- Now coat the chicken one by one and keep it on a side for about 10 minutes to get it stick. You can also place chicken after coating in the freezer for about 7 to 8 minutes.
Deep Frying
- Pour oil in a pan for deep frying.
- Add the popcorn chicken one by one on medium temperature.
- Keep it frying until you get light golden brown color.
- Take it out on kitchen pepper and serve it with your favorite sauce or simply serve with tomato ketchup.
Suggestion: For best frying experience, explore how to deep fry at home without deep fryer.
Tips and Variations for Crispy Chicken
- Small pieces of chicken will make it crispier and crunchier in texture compared with big chunks. Popcorn chicken needs to pop with a crunch sound in your mouth, and it makes sense while eating this.
- Manage the spice level using chili powder. To make it extra hot and spicy use cayenne paper.
- Temperature management is vital to deep fry crispy food. Here is the guide with tips to fry at home.
- Double or triple coating with beaten eggs and flour will make a crunchy layer on the chicken.
- Rice flour will help to add a crunch to chicken.
What To Serve with Popcorn Chicken
French Fries: Yes, chicken and potatoes make the best combination together.
Honey Butter Skillet Corn: It's easy to make skillet corn in 5 minutes to serve with fried chicken as a side.
Coleslaw: Here is simple and easy recipe that can pair up with spicy chicken popcorn.
Mac and Cheese: Here is spicy cajun style macaroni and pasta to pair up.
House Sauce: It's a secret fry sauce recipe of restaurants. Best dipping sauce for popcorn chicken.
Honey Garlic Sauce: Sweet and sour sauce for wings makes a perfect combination with this recipe.
Fruit Salad: Perfect to serve condensed milk fruit salad.
Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Nothing can beat the flavor of mashed potatoes with these handheld fried chicken.
You can combine the above ingredients to make a KFC spicy popcorn chicken bowl.
Freeze and Reheat Popcorn Chicken
Refrigerate: Keep leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for a maximum of 2 days. To maintain their crispiness, reheat in the oven or air fryer — avoid using the microwave. You can freeze uncooked marinated chicken for as long as a month; simply thaw and fry it when you're ready to use it.
To freeze the uncooked popcorn chicken, arrange the breaded pieces on a tray and place them in the freezer for approximately one hour until they become firm. After that, transfer the frozen chicken into a freezer-safe Ziploc bag and store it for up to one month. Avoid keeping it longer, as it lacks food preservatives.
Reheating the Popcorn Chicken: To reheat, either defrost it in the microwave or remove it from the freezer 3 to 4 hours prior to allow it to naturally thaw at room temperature. Next, fry the chicken or bake it in the oven at 425°F for 20 to 25 minutes. If you prefer, you can also air fry it to achieve perfectly golden brown popcorn chicken.
Q & A
How to make popcorn chicken bowl
It's easy to make your own popcorn chicken bowl at home inspired with KFC bowls. In a bowl, add mashed potatoes, corns, popcorn chicken, drizzle creamy sauce, and sprinkle shredded cheddar or mozzarella. Bake it for about 10 to 15 minutes at 425F and enjoy your own DIY popcorn bowl.
It depends upon making of popcorn chicken. As a standard, 50g chicken popcorn contain 15 gram of carbohydrate.
Simply place it on preheat skillet and heat it up for about 5 minutes from all sides. Don't cover as it will get soggy with steam. You can also reheat in oven or airy fryer as per the choice.
Chili powder, cayenne powder, paprika, black pepper, and white pepper can help to make the spicy version of popcorn chicken.
After breading place the popcorn chicken in preheated air fryer basket. Spray the oil to make it crispy. Air fry for 15 minutes, at 200°C or 400°F. Change the side after 8 minutes to get evenly golden brown color.
Yes! Chicken thighs are juicier and great for frying — just cut into small pieces.
Popcorn chicken is smaller, spicier, and has a crunchier coating than nuggets.n popcorn chicken and nuggets?
Fried Chicken Recipes
Try these snacks: Baked Chicken Breast | Pakora Chicken Fritters | Pan Fried Eggplant | Crispy Potato Fingers | Chapati Roll
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Spicy Popcorn Chicken (Crispy, Juicy & Addictive)
Ingredients
- 15 Pieces Boneless Chicken 1 Breast fillet cut into 15 pieces
- 1 tablespoon Corn flour/starch
- ½ teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt To taste
- ½ teaspoon Red chili powder Extra spicy: add ½ teaspoon cayenne peppers
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dark soya sauce
- 1 teaspoon Grated Garlic
- 1 teaspoon Vinegar - 1 Tsp
- 1 Egg
- 1 tablespoon Breadcrumbs Regular or panko
- 1 tablespoon All purpose flour Maida - 1 Tbsp
- 1 teaspoon Rice flour
- Oil For deep frying
Instructions
Preparation of Chicken Marinade
- In a bowl, add corn flour, baking powder, salt, red chili powder, black pepper, dark soya sauce, grated garlic, vinegar, and egg.
- Whisk all the ingredients to make a smooth paste.
- Add all the chicken pieces and give it a good mix.
- Cover and marinade for 45 minutes to penetrate the flavor in the chicken.
Prepare Chicken Breading
- In a bowl, add breadcrumbs, all-purpose flour, rice flour, salt, and black pepper and mix together with a spoon.
- Now coat the chicken one by one and keep it on a side for about 10 minutes to get it to stick. [Tip]: You can also place chicken after coating in the freezer for about 7 to 8 minutes.
Deep Frying
- Add oil in a pan for deep frying.
- Add the popcorn chicken one by one on medium temperature.
- Keep it frying until you get a light golden brown color.
- Take it out on kitchen absorbent paper. Serve it with Mayo garlic sauce or just with tomato ketchup.
Video
Notes
- Small pieces of chicken will make it crispier and crunchier in texture compared with big chunks. Popcorn chicken needs to pop with a crunch sound in your mouth, and it makes sense while eating this.
- Manage the spice level using chili powder. To make it extra hot and spicy use cayenne paper.
- Temperature management is vital to deep fry crispy food.
- Double or triple coating with beaten eggs and flour will make a crunchy layer on the chicken.
- Rice flour will help to add a crunch to chicken.
Hinz
Quick and easy recipe of popcorn chicken that anyone can try and make at home with fewer ingredients.