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Oven Baked Popcorn Chicken Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.5 from 61 reviews
  • Author: Jessica
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Oven Baked Popcorn Chicken recipe offers a crispy, flavorful alternative to fried chicken nuggets. Coated in a seasoned flour mixture and baked to golden perfection, these bite-sized chicken pieces are perfect as a snack or meal accompaniment. The preparation involves marinating the chicken briefly, double coating with seasoned flour and an egg wash, then baking to achieve a crunchy texture with less oil and mess than traditional frying.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Seasoning

  • 2 chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
  • Salt, to taste
  • Sugar, a pinch

Flour Coating

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 2 eggs

Additional

  • Cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into small, bite-sized pieces. Season the chicken pieces evenly with salt and a pinch of sugar to enhance flavor.
  2. Marinate: Place the seasoned chicken pieces in the refrigerator and let them rest for about 30 minutes to absorb the seasoning and improve texture.
  3. Make the flour mixture: In a large bowl, combine the flour, powdered sugar, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Whisk the ingredients together until evenly mixed.
  4. Prepare the wet mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs until fully blended to create the egg wash.
  5. Coat the chicken: First, dredge the marinated chicken pieces into the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring an even coating. Next, dip them into the milk and egg mixture, then return them to the flour mixture for a second coating. This double dipping ensures a crispy crust.
  6. Prepare for baking: Spray a sheet pan generously with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Arrange the coated chicken pieces evenly on the pan, leaving space between each piece. Spray the tops of the chicken pieces with cooking spray to help them brown and crisp.
  7. Bake: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Bake the chicken nuggets for 15 to 20 minutes. Halfway through the baking time, carefully flip the chicken pieces over and spray the tops again with cooking spray to ensure even crispiness on both sides.
  8. Serve and enjoy: Once baked to a golden brown and cooked through, remove the chicken nuggets from the oven and serve hot. Enjoy your healthier homemade oven baked popcorn chicken!

Notes

  • For extra crispiness, make sure to spray the chicken pieces with cooking spray before and halfway through baking.
  • You can adjust the chili powder amount to control the heat level.
  • Serve with your favorite dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce.
  • Chicken pieces should be cut uniformly for even cooking.
  • Make sure the internal temperature of chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) for food safety.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (approx. 4 oz)
  • Calories: 280
  • Sugar: 2 g
  • Sodium: 520 mg
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 28 g
  • Cholesterol: 100 mg

Find it online: https://jessicasrecipes.com/oven-baked-popcorn-chicken-recipe-2/