Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken

Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken is simple, delicious, and perfect for the whole family. With just a few ingredients, you'll have crispy homemade chicken bites that make an easy dinner or crowd-pleasing appetizer!

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 18

Marination time 1

Total Time 1 33

Servings

Calories 492

Author Ashlyn Edwards | Belle of the Kitchen

Equipment

1 Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 pound chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 eggs
2 cups panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

Combine the chicken pieces and buttermilk in a medium sized bowl and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours.
After the marinating time is complete, set up a dredging station: begin by whisking the flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper together in a shallow bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, whisk the eggs with a tablespoon of water. Finally add the breadcrumbs to a third shallow bowl.
Dredge the chicken pieces first in the flour mixture, then into the egg mixture, then finally into the breadcrumbs, pressing until well coated.
Place the chicken onto a wire baking rack set over a large sheet pan. Let the chicken sit for 15 minutes so that the breading sticks well.
Spray the basket of your air fryer with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange half of the chicken pieces in the basket without over-crowding.
Cook in the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Flip the pieces over and cook again for 4 more minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown.
Remove the chicken from the air fryer, then repeat the process with the remaining chicken. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Don’t crowd the basket. Make sure to leave room around your popcorn chicken so that the pieces can cook evenly and get crispy. You will need to cook your chicken in batches to ensure even cooking in the air fryer.
Preheat your air fryer. I like to preheat my air fryer for a few minutes before adding the food. This ensures that the proper temperature has been reached and that your air fryer popcorn chicken will cook up crispy and juicy.
Don’t overcook your chicken. All air fryers (like conventional ovens) cook differently and some cook hotter than others. Begin checking your chicken a few minutes early to ensure that you don’t overcook or burn your dinner!
Storing and reheating: Any leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, you can place your prepared popcorn chicken in the air fryer for at 350 degrees for 3-4 minutes. You can also reheat for a couple of minutes in the microwave.
Freezing leftovers: You can freeze any leftover popcorn chicken in a freezer safe container (like a large ziplock bag) for up to 4 months. Cook your frozen popcorn chicken in the air fryer for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, turning the chicken pieces halfway through the cooking time.

Nutrition