What is popcorn chicken made of?

Popcorn chicken is a dish consisting of small, bite-sized pieces of chicken (about the size of popped corn kernels) that have been breaded and fried . The idea was originally developed by KFC in the 1990s but has since spread.

How to cook frozen popcorn chicken in the oven?

Preferred Method. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place frozen chicken pieces on baking sheet. Heat 15 to 20 minutes.

What's the difference between popcorn chicken and chicken nuggets?

While chicken nuggets are often made of blended chicken formed into disks, popcorn chicken is made from bite-size chunks of white meat that are breaded, battered, and fried into golden, crispy, popcorn-size pieces.

Why do they call it popcorn chicken?

This is no ordinary fried chicken. Named popcorn chicken because it is similar in size and texture to popcorn, it's served in big buckets or paper bags and popped into the mouth using your hands or a wooden skewer.

What is the white stuff on popcorn chicken?

The white stuff coming out of chicken as it cooks is simply extra protein that dissolves in water and is forced out of the meat by heat . Food scientist Topher McNeil, PhD, explains, “The [chicken] muscles themselves actually contract and squeeze out the liquid that's in between muscle cells.”

Why was popcorn chicken discontinued?

It's a tactical effort by the fast food company to streamline the menu . Not all of these items were available at every location, and after gathering data on which items performed well in sales, these were the ones determined to be nixed from menus, KFC U.S. Director Brittany Wilson told USA Today.

Should you cover frozen chicken when baking?

Cover with foil or a lid and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and season with seasoning salt and pepper. Continue baking for 15 minutes (or longer, depending on the size of your chicken breasts), until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.

How do you know when popcorn chicken is done?

Take ⅓ of the breaded chicken pieces and carefully add them to the hot oil. Allow the chicken to fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and is a golden brown color . If you're not sure whether the chicken is cooked through, cut a piece in half and make sure that the center is no longer pink.

How many pieces of popcorn chicken is 3 ounces?

Weight: 3 oz. per 17 pieces Product Dimensions: . 9" x . 9" square Servings per case: Approximately 106 Handling: Frozen Shelf Life: 12 months @ O°F or 7-14 days refrigerated @ 40°F or below.

Is popcorn chicken unhealthy?

Popcorn chicken can be unhealthy if consumed in large quantities or as a regular part of your diet . It is typically high in calories, saturated fat, and sodium. It is best enjoyed in moderation as an occasional treat.

What is Walmart popcorn chicken made of?

INGREDIENTS: CHICKEN BREAST WITH RIB MEAT, WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, CHICKEN SKIN, SALT, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: FOOD STARCH-MODIFIED, DEXTROSE, SPICES, RICE FLOUR, YELLOW CORN FLOUR, EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA, TAPIOCA MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, XANTHAN GUM, SPICE EXTRACTIVES, LEAVENING (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM ...

What is in KFC popcorn chicken?

Popcorn chicken is a dish consisting of small, bite-sized pieces of chicken that have been breaded and fried . The chicken is in the size of popcorn which indicates the name. The idea was originally developed by KFC but has since spread.

Does popcorn chicken have bones?

BONELESS CHICKEN THIGH WITH THE SKIN ON : To make Authentic Taiwanese Popcorn chicken, you need to use dark meat. Chicken thigh is more flavourful and is more tender.

Skinny Baked Popcorn Chicken Recipe (2024)

Jessica Randhawa
August 12, 2018

4.77 from 17 votes

Last Updated June 18, 2019 | 1 Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe

Lighter and healthier, this Skinny Baked Popcorn Chicken Recipe with Creamy Garlic Aioli is baked, not fried, and loved by all ages. Enjoy this popcorn chicken for game day or as a fun and easy weeknight dinner.

Popcorn Chicken remains one of those feel-good foods that will forever remindme of childhood. Divorcing when I was just six, my parents decided that my dad would take me, my brother, and my sister every other weekend. It was a pretty crappy deal if you ask me, but now, as an adult, I can see through the crap and see the bigger picture (translation- I have always been incredibly fortunate).

Anyway, I’m not here to chat about my parents’ divorce or how much I have matured in my three decades on this earth. Today I’m here to chat about chicken- specifically, popcorn chicken- and how this simple food with always remind me of these weekends with my dad.

So, every other weekend my dad would pick my siblings and me up for the weekend in his classic boxy Volvo and make our usual stop at the local Blockbuster (remember those days?) and then grab a bucket of fried KFC Popcorn Chicken. Ok, sometimes Popeyes Chicken. Or, other times it would be pizza or TV dinners, but same thing. We would all pile around the coffee table, eat some chicken and watch a movie. I still remember every detail of his apartment…

But, that was then.

Now that I am a mom to my own little nugget who would gladly eat nuggets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (if I let him), I’ve decided to make a healthier version of this popcorn chicken from my childhood.

Ingredients in this Skinny Baked Popcorn Chicken Recipe

Chicken breast
Buttermilk
Hot sauce (optional)
Dried parsley
Eggs
Flour
Panko breadcrumbs
Salt + Pepper
Dried Italian seasoning
Creamy garlic aioli (recipe included below)

For this Baked popcorn chicken recipe, I wanted to keep the seasoning neutral. Not plain, no. And definitely NOT boring because that would completely defeat the purpose of eating. However, I wanted to make a popcorn chicken recipe that would,

Appeal to both kids and adults.
Taste great with an assortment of dipping sauces (because I loveall the sauce).
Be easy to customize.
And taste better baked rather than fried.

In my opinion, I nailed each of these points. This easy baked popcorn chicken was practically inhaled my husband who nearly ate the whole plate before my son even had a chance to try them for himself. Ok, I exaggerate, but my husband does eat super fast when he loves something. And although I did make this particular batch with a creamy garlic aioli, they taste delicious withall the sauce (honey mustard, ranch, ketchup, buffalo, etc).

Why I love this Baked Popcorn Chicken Recipe

They’re baked rather than fried and they still taste delicious. Being baked, not only are they healthier, they are also much easier to prepare as there is no need to deal with messy oil splattering all over the place.
You can season the flour and the panko breadcrumbs with your favorite seasoning. So, if you’re looking for a Cajun seasoned popcorn chicken, go for it. What about a curry flavored popcorn chicken, why not?
These baked little popcorn chicken pieces are crispy! No soggy mess here.
Prefer chicken nuggets or chicken tenders? Same instructions apply (simply adjust cooking time accordingly).
My child loves them. Translation- I can stay the “cool mom” without feeding him uncool food.

But really, who doesn’t love a good crispy breaded chicken recipe? Assuming, of course, you’re not vegetarian or gluten-free. I’m guessing these would be a no-go under those circ*mstances. However, for those of you who already love a good chicken nugget meal, I’ll wager a guess that you would also love this popcorn chicken recipe.

Don’t forget to check out these other delicious Chicken Dinners

Easy Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce
Easy Sheet Pan Sumac Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
Creamy Chicken and Tomato Potato Gnocchi Recipe
Baked Chicken Fajita Roll-Ups
Honey Mustard Baked Chicken
Loaded Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad
Chicken Teriyaki Meal Prep

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