Get ready to enjoy this crispy Keto Popcorn Chicken Recipe that’s perfect for a quick snack or dinner. These bite-sized chicken pieces are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, giving you that irresistible crunch with every bite. Plus, they’re super easy to fry up in no time.
I love this popcorn chicken recipe because it’s quick to make, and every bite is flavorful. The crispy coating and juicy chicken make it the perfect comfort food without feeling too heavy. It’s also great for sharing with family or enjoying as a snack, and I never get tired of how tasty it turns out every time.
Serve with low-carb vegetables like lettuce, celery, or carrot sticks for the perfect balance of flavors. You can make this even crispier with keto breading.
Why You Will Love This Popular Recipe
- Low-Carb Ingredients: This crispy keto popcorn chicken is made with low-carb ingredients, making it a great option for anyone following a ketogenic diet or cutting down on carbs.
- Perfect for Family: It’s a fun recipe that you can share with your family at any time of the day, not just for snacks. No one will notice it’s low-carb—they’ll love the flavor.
- Quick and Simple: This recipe is super easy to make. You don’t need many ingredients, and it’s perfect for busy nights or meal prep when you want something tasty but hassle-free.
Keto Crispy Recipes
Over the years of cooking keto recipes, I’ve created plenty of crispy appetizers and snacks that have become favorites on my blog. Let me share a few of them before we jump into this new recipe.
Starting with cheese popcorn recipe, I made using cheese as a replacement for real popcorn. These pops are perfect for movie time, together with cloud egg crisps that are so easy to make.
I also made a few vegetable chips in the dehydrator. They are the best crispy snacks for every day. Try our paprika zucchini chips for seasoned vegetable chips. If you want something plain, our baked radish chips and crunchy cucumber chips.
Chicken nuggets is a classic crispy recipe you can serve any time of day.
The Perfect Dipping Sauces For Popcorn Chicken
Here are some of my favorite homemade dipping sauces that pair perfectly with popcorn chicken:
- Buffalo Ranch: I recently whipped up my buffalo ranch sauce, and it’s fantastic for dipping any fried chicken, even homemade chips.
- BBQ Sauce: This sweet and tangy BBQ sauce is among my top picks. Its sweet flavor goes well with everything, not just grilled foods.
- Ranch Sauce: Ranch sauce is a classic dipping sauce for chicken bites and fried finger foods. Pair it with your popcorn chicken, and you’ll love the combination.
- Salsa Dressing: If you want something creamy with a kick, try this salsa dressing for a delicious twist.
- Cheese Dip: A homemade cheese dip is the ultimate pairing for fried foods. The creamy cheese flavor complements the crispy texture perfectly.
- Orange Chicken Sauce: A tangy, sweet, and slightly savory, making it a perfect match for crispy chicken. I use this sauce for my orange chicken in an air fryer.
How To Make Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Making your popcorn chicken is super fun and allows you to control the ingredients’ measurements, especially the coating. If you’re thinking about making a big batch, you can adjust everything to your liking! Follow this easy recipe, and you’ll have crispy popcorn chicken that’s even better than KFC.
Kitchen Gadgets Needed:
- Frying Pan: Use this to deep fry the popcorn chicken. Look for one with a non-stick surface to prevent sticking, and you can easily clean it up after using it.
- Strainer: Use a strainer to ensure the chicken pieces are cooked evenly.
- Large Bowls: You will need large or medium-sized bowls to make the breading and coating the chicken.
- Tongs or Tweezers: Both can coat the chicken individually and place them into the hot oil.
Ingredients Needed:
- Chicken Breasts: Look for boneless and skinless chicken breasts at the store. You’ll cut them into bite-sized pieces to create those perfect popcorn-like chicken bites.
- Eggs: Act as the binding agent, helping the dry coating stick to the chicken pieces. Just whisk them well before dipping your chicken.
- Whey Protein: Adding a little whey protein boosts the crispiness of the breading, giving you tender yet crunchy popcorn chicken.
- Baking Powder: This ingredient is key for achieving light and airy chicken bites. It helps the coating puff up and crisp nicely during frying. Use any baking powder substitute for a healthier option.
- Granulated Garlic: For that garlicky and savory flavor, adding granulated garlic is a must.
- Onion Powder: The same as garlic, this onion powder will add some sweetness and aroma to the chicken coating.
- Paprika Spice: Paprika adds a vibrant color to your chicken popcorn and gives a mild, smoky flavor.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Seasoning the coating with salt and black pepper is important for bringing out the flavors of the other ingredients.
*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE EASY POPCORN CHICKEN RECIPE
First Step: Prepare All Ingredients
Wash and cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces or small cubes. You can look at the video for this recipe so you will know the exact size of how I cut them.
Prepare the eggs and all the dry ingredients by placing each of them in a small storage container. Doing this as a preparation part makes the whole process easier.
Second Step: Prepare The Egg and Dry Mixture
Prepare separate bowls for the eggs and dry coating mixture. Whisk up at least two eggs in a bowl and set aside.
Start preparing the dry mixture by combining all the dry ingredients, starting with the whey protein and baking powder, followed by all the seasonings needed: granulated garlic, onion powder, paprika, and salt and pepper.
Third Step: Coat the Chicken
Since this recipe does not need marinating, you can directly coat these chicken pieces with egg and breading.
Start by dipping them one by one into the egg and transfer the chicken onto the dry mixture to dredge. Make sure to coat them evenly.
After that, dip the coated chicken again into the egg and repeat with the rest of the chicken pieces for double coating. This process helps the chicken get more crispy and crunchy once fried.
Once they are all coated, place the breaded popcorn chicken on a baking sheet with a paper towel and start heating your oil in the pan.
Fourth Step: Fry the Chicken
Place the breaded chicken into the hot oil and fry until golden brown. Add the chicken in batches and fry until golden brown and crispy on all sides. Use the strainer to check if they are cooked and super crispy.
Sixth Step: Drain and Serve Hot
Once fried, remove the chicken from the oil and transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate using the strainer to drain excess oil. Let the chicken dry for a few minutes and serve with your favorite dipping sauces.
TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Oil: Use either olive oil or vegetable oil to fry the chicken. They are a healthier option for cooking oil.
- Whey protein: Instead of using all-purpose flour or panko breadcrumbs high in carbs, use whey protein as the coating base.
- Double coating: The double coating process will make the chicken popcorn extra crispy and add a thicker layer of coating to the chicken.
- Thermometer: If you are new to cooking, you can use a thermometer to check the oil’s temperature and ensure it is heated to the right temperature before frying.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Can I Air Fry Popcorn Chicken?
You can cook popcorn chicken in the air fryer as a healthier cooking method, especially for those who do not want too much oil when deep frying.
To do that, reheat the air fryer and place the coated pieces of chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook until golden brown and crunchy, shaking the basket halfway through.
What To Serve With Popcorn Chicken?
Aside from serving it with different dipping sauces, you can pair it with fresh salads like cucumber dill salad, potato mayo salad, and green goddess salad for a refreshing balance between their flavors. Serving it with eggplant with Parmesan casserole or keto french fries is also great, as it would seem like you are eating in a restaurant but keeping it low-carb.
For a well-rounded plate, pair your popcorn crunchy chicken with vegetables like stuffed zucchini bites or cauliflower bites.
How Do I Store This Crispy Popcorn Chicken?
If you made a large popcorn chicken batch and have leftovers, try refrigerating it. This allows the chicken to cool and transfer to an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. Consume it in the refrigerator within 3-4 days.
For longer storage, you can also consider freezing it. Arrange the chicken popcorn in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil and freeze the chicken completely, usually for 1-2 hours.
Once frozen, transfer the chicken to a freezer-safe container or resealable freezer bag, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
More Bite-Sized Snack Recipes
Check out our snack recipes that are easy for the whole family. If you’re craving this crispy popcorn chicken but don’t have chicken on hand, try some other fun and tasty options, like our tater tots, air-fried cheese puffs, and fried cheese balls for an easy-to-prepare snack.
If you are looking for savory bites, try mini burger bites, a great recipe for snacking and mealtime. Serve them with cheesy bread bites for a perfect snack platter.
You can make more bite-sized snacks using minced chicken.
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Crispy Keto Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 Cup Whey Protein
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Granulated Garlic
- 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Smoked paprika
- 2 Teaspoons Salt
- 2 Teaspoons Black Pepper
Video
Instructions
- Wash and cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces or small cubes. You can look at the video for this recipe so you will know the exact size of how I cut them. Prepare the eggs and all the dry ingredients by placing each of them in a small storage container. Doing this as a preparation part makes the whole process easier.
- Prepare separate bowls for the eggs and dry coating mixture. Whisk up at least two eggs in a bowl and set aside. Start preparing the dry mixture by combining all the dry ingredients, starting with the whey protein and baking powder, followed by all the seasonings needed: granulated garlic, onion powder, paprika, and salt and pepper.
- Since this recipe does not need marinating, you can directly coat these chicken pieces with egg and breading. Start by dipping them one by one into the egg and transfer the chicken onto the dry mixture to dredge. Make sure to coat them evenly. After that, dip the coated chicken again into the egg and repeat with the rest of the chicken pieces for double coating. This process helps the chicken get more crispy and crunchy once fried. Once they are all coated, place the breaded popcorn chicken on a baking sheet with a paper towel and start heating your oil in the pan.
- Place the breaded chicken into the hot oil and fry until golden brown. Add the chicken in batches and fry until golden brown and crispy on all sides. Use the strainer to check if they are cooked and super crispy.
- Once fried, remove the chicken from the oil and transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate using the strainer to drain excess oil. Let the chicken dry for a few minutes and serve with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
- Oil: Use either olive oil or vegetable oil to fry the chicken. They are a healthier option for cooking oil.
- Whey protein: Instead of using all-purpose flour or panko breadcrumbs high in carbs, use whey protein as the coating base.
- Double coating: The double coating process will make the chicken popcorn extra crispy and add a thicker layer of coating to the chicken.
- Thermometer: If you are new to cooking, you can use a thermometer to check the oil’s temperature and ensure it is heated to the right temperature before frying.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
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Extra Chicken Recipes
Since you rally enjoy chicken, I have for you some more chicken recipes you are for sure going to enjoy.
