Popcorn Chicken
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Skip the KFC drive-thru and make my popcorn chicken at home! They are beautifully golden, ultra crispy, and deliciously juicy on the inside. Multiple cooking methods included.
Whenever I’m craving fast food, I like to whip up my homemade recipes, including my famous popcorn chicken recipe.
They taste better than the fast food giant and make a fantastic homemade appetizer or game-day snack. They cook in minutes and are so darn addictive. As a diehard KFC fan, I can attest these are EVEN better and so simple.
I’ve been making this recipe for years (one of my first Instagram posts back in 2015 that I re-shared in 2023!), and after a few trials with different cuts of chicken, this version is the one I always come back to. Keeping the oil temperature steady (a lesson I first learned in culinary school) makes all the difference- and it’s why these chicken bites turn out crisp on the outside and tender in the middle every time.
Table of Contents
Why make my popcorn chicken recipe
- Easy to make at home. You don’t need any special equipment or ingredients to make copycat KFC popcorn chicken from scratch.
- Crowd-pleasing appetizer or snack. Who could possibly resist deep-fried crispy chicken bites? They’re a perfect finger food or appetizer for any occasion.
- Better than takeout. They’ve become my go-to for parties and game days, and friends have claimed it’s really better than the real thing.
- Several cooking methods. I’ve included air-frying and oven-baking options: both cut out a significant amount of fat while achieving maximum crispiness.
What readers are saying
★★★★★ – “Made this for my kids and they went absolutely nuts for it. Super crispy, not greasy at all, and way cheaper than ordering out. This is going on our weekly rotation.” – Jessica
★★★★★ – “I tried the air fryer version and was shocked at how crunchy it turned out. Tasted like something from a restaurant but without the heavy oil. Definitely making again for our next movie night.” – Neil
Key Ingredients
- Chicken. I find chicken breasts to be easy to work with and slice into bite-sized pieces. Try to choose even-sized fillets.
- Buttermilk. Coating the chicken in buttermilk helps tenderize and infuse the meat with a mild, tangy flavor.
- Corn flour. This super-fine flour is used to coat the chicken pieces. After frying, the corn flour transforms into a light and crisp crust around each piece. I did trial this with panko and all-purpose flour, too, but nothing came close to the ultra-light crunch corn flour gave.
- Spices. I seasoned the corn flour with salt, smoked paprika, oregano, basil, and mustard powder. Feel free to mix and match the herbs and spices to find your desired flavor.
- Oil. I typically use canola oil, but other high-smoke-point oils, such as vegetable oil or peanut oil, work well too.
How to make popcorn chicken
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Assemble. Whisk the flour and spices together in a separate bowl.
Step 2- Marinate. Toss and marinate the chicken pieces with the buttermilk and salt.
Step 3- Dredge. Drain the chicken and toss the pieces in the seasoned flour.
Step 4- Fry. Fry the chicken in the hot oil until it’s golden brown and crispy.
Don’t want to deep fry? Try this instead.
As mentioned earlier, I’ve tested this recipe in both the air fryer and the oven to lighten things up and reduce excess oil.
Air fryer method: Prep the chicken as instructed, then place the popcorn chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fryer at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping once.
Oven method: Lay the popcorn chicken pieces on a baking sheet and bake them in a 375°F oven for 16 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Even-sized pieces. Cut the chicken into uniform bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and a consistent texture.
- If you don’t have corn flour, use a 1:1 mix of all-purpose flour and corn starch instead. Do not use bread crumbs or panko, as these will not yield the correct texture.
- Fry at the right temperature. The oil temperature should remain between 350ºF to 375°F while the chicken fries. The coating may burn before the chicken is cooked if it gets too hot. If it is too cold, the chicken will become greasy.
- Don’t overseason. It’s better to add salt after the popcorn chicken is fried instead of beforehand. If it happens to not be as seasoned as you like, you can always add more once cooked.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can. However, I find the exterior of the chicken is crispier when using leaner cuts of chicken, like chicken breast or chicken tenderloins.
Yes! You can bread the chicken and then freeze it for up to two months. When ready to cook, simply add the breaded frozen chicken directly into the hot oil.
This is my method to re-crisp the chicken. When you’re ready to reheat leftover popcorn chicken, preheat the oven to 375°F. Place the frozen or defrosted popcorn chicken on a baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes (20 to 25 minutes if frozen), turning them halfway through.
✅ Nutrition reviewed
Since this popcorn chicken recipe includes tweaks to make it healthier, the nutrition information has been reviewed by registered dietitian Felicia Newell, MScAHN, RD, CPT.
Popcorn Chicken
Video
Ingredients
- 2 small chicken breasts chopped into bite-sized pieces, about 3/4 pounds
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup cornflour
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon Oregano dried
- 1 tablespoon mustard powder
- 1/2 cup oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the diced chicken breast, buttermilk, and salt. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes or up to 30 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the cornflour, smoked paprika, oregano, and mustard powder.
- Add oil to a deep frying pan and place it over medium heat. Wait for the temperature to reach 350-375°F. Drain the chicken from the buttermilk.
- Moving quickly, dip the chicken pieces in the dry mixture until completely coated. Add them to the hot oil and fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden and crispy.
- Drain on a paper towel, season with more salt and enjoy.
Notes
- Oil: I found half a cup to be sufficient to fry the chicken in my 9-inch pot. If yours is smaller, you’ll need less. If it’s bigger, you may need a little more. Aim for two-inches of oil.
- Air fryer method: Prep the chicken as instructed, then place the popcorn chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fryer at 375F for 10-12 minutes, flipping once.
- Oven method: Lay the popcorn chicken pieces on a baking sheet and bake them in a 375°F oven for 16 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Use different spices. Garlic powder, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper, and black pepper are all robust and umami-forward spices to change things up.
- Spicy popcorn chicken. Add chili powder, cayenne pepper, and/or crushed red pepper flakes to the flour mixture.
- Taiwanese popcorn chicken recipe. Swap out the cornflour for sweet potato flour and add five-spice powder to the seasonings.
Nutrition
More crispy takeout-style chicken
- Chicken Cutlets
- Spicy chicken sandwich
- Oven fried chicken
- Hot honey chicken sandwich
- Boneless Chicken Wings
- Chicken lollipop
Originally updated February 2024
I tthink my friends would love this recipe so much. Popcorn haha.
Loved this recipe and I thank you for sharing!
Now I won’t have to drive my daughter to a Sonic restaurant to get popcorn chicken!!!
Hahah I love that!!!
Popcorn chicken. Cannot believe I found this “name recipe”. Really need to try.
This popcorn chicken is truly crispy and soooo good!!
Could you replace the cornflour with coconut flour or almond flour to reduce the carb content?
You could try almond flour! I often use it in breaded chicken recipes.
Hello Arman,
I love your recipes! Would you have any suggestions for a buttermilk substitute to make this dairy free, please? Thank you
Almond Milk + 1 teaspoon of lemon juice/vinegar. Let it curdle.
Thanks so much!
Do you have a suggestion for a substitute for buttermilk? It can be dairy.
Thank you 🙏🏻
🤗 from Norway
You can do 1 cup of milk + 1 teaspoon vinegar and let it curdle 🙂
Could you use onion powder and garlic powder instead of mustard powder? I don’t have any mustard powder and I’m trying to think of a substitute
Yes you can!
Thanks for the Popcorn Chicken recipe Arman, that’s going to be dinner tonight.