Crispy Homemade Popcorn Chicken

I created this crispy homemade popcorn chicken recipe on my own by accident. One day, I decided to try making my own chicken nuggets only they came out cubed and irregularly shaped. Needless to say we laughed about it but it didn’t disappoint. I make it often and love every last bite!

What You’ll Need For This Recipe

First, you will need roughly 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes. You don’t have to make them the exact same size and shape, but try to keep the size close enough the same for even cooking time.

You will then need about 1 cup of flour, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of paprika (or more if you’d like) and pepper to taste. If you prefer a little bit more spice, you can add chili powder, too.

Along with the spices, you’ll need 2 eggs and about 1/3 cup of water. You’ll also need your choice of oil. You can use either one you prefer. I used vegetable oil, but I’ve also used canola.

How To Make The Chicken Bites

Start by adding the oil to the pot. I use a medium-sized sauce pan and add about 1 and a half inches of oil. Heat on medium-high heat. Then, mixing the flour and all of the spices together in a bowl. Once that is done, beat the eggs and water like you would if you were making scrambled eggs in a separate bowl.

Once you have cubed the chicken breasts, coat the pieces in the egg mixture and then in the flour mixture. Place the coated chicken bites on a plate. Continue these steps until all of the chicken in coated. Place a few pieces of chicken in the oil at a time using a pair of tongs to avoid splatter.

Never leave the stove unattended! You’ll need to pay attention to the color of the chicken as it cooks. As the oil get hotter, you may need to lower the temperature.

Lay some paper towels on a plate and place cooked chicken bites on the plate to drain. Now it’s time to pop em’! Don’t forget the dipping sauce! Our favorites include ketchup, BBQ sauce, sweet and sour and honey mustard!

Make Homemade Chicken Sandwiches, Too!

This crispy homemade popcorn chicken recipe can also be used to make homemade chicken sandwiches! All you have to do is cut the chicken breasts in half and flatten them before breading. A little mayo, some lettuce and a nice fresh roll is all you’ll need to make delicious chicken sandwiches!