Zesty Chicken Popcorn Bites are a crispy, juicy, and flavorful snack or appetizer that everyone will love! Marinated in buttermilk for tenderness, the chicken is breaded in a blend of savory seasonings and air-fried to perfection. Each bite is golden and crispy on the outside with tender, juicy chicken inside. A perfect finger food for parties, game day, or just when you’re craving something delicious. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce for an extra kick!
Times:
- Serve 3–4 people
- Preparation Time:
- Marinating the chicken: 30 minutes (or up to overnight)
- Coating the chicken: ~5 minutes
- Cooking Time:
- Air frying: 8–10 minutes
- Total Time:
- With marination: ~40–45 minutes (including marinating)
- Without marination: ~15–20 minutes
Ingredients:
- Chicken breast or thighs – 2 medium, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Buttermilk – 1/2 cup (for marinating)
- Flour – 1/2 cup
- Cornstarch – 2 tablespoons
- Garlic powder – 1 teaspoon
- Paprika – 1 teaspoon
- Cayenne pepper – 1/2 teaspoon (optional for extra heat)
- Salt – 1/2 teaspoon
- Black pepper – 1/4 teaspoon
- Parmesan cheese – 2 tablespoons, grated (optional)
- Cooking spray – for air frying
Instructions:
1. Marinate the Chicken:
- In a bowl, combine chicken pieces with buttermilk. Let it marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight for extra flavor).
2. Prepare the Breading:
- In a separate bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, and Parmesan cheese.
- After marinating, coat each chicken piece in the flour mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Shake off excess flour.
3. Air Fry the Chicken:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Place the breaded chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them. Lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
4. Serve:
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauces like ranch, BBQ sauce, or honey mustard.
Nutritional Breakdown (Per Serving – 3–4 pieces):
(Note: Values are based on a typical serving with skinless, boneless chicken breast and standard breading ingredients)
- Calories: ~180–200 kcal
- Carbohydrates: ~12g
- Protein: ~20g
- Fats: ~7g
- Saturated Fat: ~1g
- Fiber: ~1g
- Sodium: ~400mg (depends on the salt and seasoning used)
- Sugar: ~1g
Key Notes:
- Marinating the Chicken:
- Buttermilk is key to making the chicken extra tender and juicy. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute with a mixture of regular milk and a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice.
- Seasoning Variations:
- Customize the seasoning! If you like it spicy, add more cayenne or chili powder. You can also experiment with onion powder, Italian seasoning, or even a squeeze of lemon juice after cooking.
- Air Fryer Tips:
- Do not overcrowd the basket. Make sure to leave some space around the chicken pieces for the hot air to circulate, ensuring even crisping.
- Lightly spraying the chicken with cooking spray helps it achieve a crispy, golden texture.
- Dips:
- These crispy chicken bites are perfect for dipping in ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or a spicy mayo sauce.
- Storage:
- If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 3–5 minutes to restore their crispiness.