I’m going to show you how to make the most delicious baked spicy popcorn chicken bites! These were super crispy, spicy, and served with a side of honey mustard. Enjoy these with tomato avocado salad or as an appetizer.
The first time I made these spicy popcorn chicken bites, I fried them. Although delicious, I found that they darkened a little too quickly for my liking. I decided to bake them instead and they were just as crispy and delicious. You are seriously going to love these. I mean who doesn’t like crispy chicken? The inspiration for this recipe came from these , chicharron de pollo.
Ingredients
- Boneless Chicken Breasts
- Water
- Kosher Salt
- Granulated Garlic
- Onion Powder
- Chili Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
- Paprika
- Black Pepper
- Panko Bread Crumbs
- Cooking Spray
How to Make
- Make the brine – combine 2 cups of room temperature water and 2 tbsp of Kosher salt in a large bowl. Mix well.
- Add the chicken to the brine – let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes in the salt-water brine. This will tenderize the chicken and add flavor.
- Season the chicken with granulated garlic, black pepper, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Season the panko breadcrumbs with paprika, salt, and chili powder.
- Dip the chicken in the eggs and then coat each piece with the seasoned breadcrumbs. Place the chicken on a baking sheet and spray with nonstick spray. Bake for 10 minutes in a preheated oven at 450 degrees F. or until the chicken is fully cooked through.
Top Tip
Serve with honey mustard or sweet chili sauce. Homemade or-store bought is fine. These are really spicy and I highly recommend a sweet dip.
Do I Have To Flip These?
No. Although you can flip these halfway during the cooking process, I just baked these for 10 minutes and they were perfect. No flipping necessary.
Can I Freeze These Spicy Popcorn Chicken Bites?
Absolutely! Once you’re done cooking these, simply let them cool down completely and place them in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Go ahead and give these baked spicy chicken popcorn a try, then let me know in the comments below how you liked them! You can find more delicious recipes and cooking tutorial videos on Youtube and Facebook.
Baked Spicy Popcorn Chicken
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb chicken breasts cut into 1/2 inch pieces
Brine
- 2 cups water room temperature
- 2 tbsp Kosher salt
Seasoning
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Coating
- 3 eggs whisked
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Add 2 cups of water and 2 tbsp of Kosher salt to a large bowl and mix well.
- Trim any fat from the chicken breasts and slice them into 1/2 inch pieces. Place the chicken pieces into the salt water and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Once the 30 minutes are up, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Discard the salt water and pat dry the chicken with a paper towel. Season the chicken with granulated garlic, onion powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
- In a bowl, whisk the eggs. Season the panko bread crumbs with paprika, salt, and chili powder. Dip the chicken in the eggs and then coat it with the bread crumb mixture.
- Place the chicken on a baking sheet, spray with cooking spray, and bake for 10 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees f.
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