Description
Oven Baked Popcorn Chicken is a crispy, flavorful, and healthier alternative to fried chicken nuggets. Coated with a seasoned flour and spice mix, then baked to golden perfection, this recipe offers a deliciously crunchy bite that’s perfect for snacks or meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
- Salt, to taste
- Sugar, to taste
- Cooking spray
Dredging Mixture
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
Wet Mixture
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into small, bite-sized pieces for even cooking and easy eating.
- Season the chicken: Sprinkle salt and sugar over the chicken pieces, mixing well to evenly coat. Refrigerate the seasoned chicken for about 30 minutes to enhance flavor and improve texture.
- Make the flour mixture: In a large bowl, combine the flour, powdered sugar, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly to ensure the spices are evenly distributed.
- Prepare the wet mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs until smooth and fully blended.
- Coat the chicken: First, dredge the chicken pieces in the seasoned flour mixture to create a dry coating. Next, dip them into the milk and egg mixture to moisten. Finally, coat them once again in the flour mixture to build a thick, crispy crust.
- Prepare the baking sheet: Lightly spray a sheet pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking and help crispiness.
- Arrange and spray the chicken: Place the double-coated chicken nuggets evenly on the prepared pan. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray to promote browning during baking.
- Bake the chicken: Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes. Halfway through the baking time, flip the chicken nuggets over and spray the tops again with cooking spray to ensure even crisping.
- Serve and enjoy: Once baked to a golden crisp, remove from oven and serve immediately. Enjoy your homemade oven baked popcorn chicken!
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can also broil the chicken nuggets for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Adjust spices to taste for milder or spicier flavor profiles.
- Use a wire rack on the baking sheet for better air circulation if available.
- The refrigeration step helps the coating adhere better and enhances flavor.
- Ensure chicken pieces are uniform in size for even cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (about 4-5 pieces)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
