Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken Bites

Looking for an easy and kid-friendly dinner recipe that the whole family will enjoy? This Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken recipe is the answer!

Finding a simple dinner that everyone loves can be quite a challenge, right?

With diverse tastes among family members, it’s hard to find a recipe that satisfies everyone. Some recipes might be a hit with a few but not others, while some may be tolerated but not truly loved. Then there are those rare, magical “unicorn” recipes that everyone agrees are delicious and worth making again and again.

This Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken recipe is one of those unicorn recipes that will have everyone at the table smiling.

What is an Air Fryer?

Before we get to the recipe, let’s talk about the Air Fryer. Have you got one? Are you thinking of getting one? I own the GoWISE USA 5.8 Quart Programmable 8-in-1 Air Fryer XL in Red. It’s a pretty big unit and does take up some counter space (I had to rearrange to fit mine), but it’s worth it to be able to cook larger amounts of food at once.

Basically, an air fryer is a countertop appliance shaped somewhat like a large egg. It’s used to cook food that would typically be deep-fried or cooked in a convection oven. Instead of using a lot of oil like a deep fryer, the air fryer works like a compact convection oven, rapidly circulating hot air around the food. This makes the food crispy, just like deep frying, but with significantly less oil.

The idea is that an air fryer allows you to enjoy healthier versions of your favorite fried foods. While it still uses some oil, and you still have control over the breading, it’s undoubtedly a healthier alternative to traditional deep frying!

Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken

I’ve used my air fryer for several recipes so far. It’s excellent for making fries, but not so great for lumpia; some foods are just better with traditional cooking methods.

However, this Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken recipe is the best one yet, and I’m excited to share it with you!

A Delicious Dinner or Appetizer

I was initially skeptical about using the air fryer for chicken, but it turns out fantastic. The chicken is cut into small pieces, marinated for a few hours, breaded, dipped in the marinade again, and then breaded a second time.

Important Note: You can skip the second marinade dip and breading if you prefer less breading. But the chicken won’t be as crispy as the one shown here. More breading means crispier chicken.

If you only want enough to serve 4-6 people for dinner, you can easily halve the ingredients.

This recipe makes enough to serve 4-6 people for dinner, with leftovers that can be frozen for later. I love the “Make Once, Eat Twice” approach to cooking for my family, especially since my kids can easily take the frozen popcorn chicken out and reheat it in the oven or microwave for a quick after-school snack.

This recipe is also ideal if you’re feeding a large group. It’s a perfect Game Day snack – just provide a variety of dipping sauces like BBQ sauce, ranch, and honey mustard.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve it on top of a green salad with honey mustard or ranch dressing.
• Use it as sandwich/sub filling for a crispy chicken sandwich or sub with lettuce, tomato, and mayo.
• Serve it kabob-style with alternating pieces of chicken, mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, and a basil leaf to create Caprese Chicken Kabobs.
• Enjoy it as part of the classic combination: Chicken & Waffles!

These are my tried and true kitchen essentials. These are the best kitchen tools and appliances I personally cook and bake with in my own home! From my favorite cooking tools to baking tools, the best small appliances for home cooks, and more, this kitchen essentials checklist will help you master most recipes in your home kitchen!

Best Multi-Cooker Appliance

Photo Credit:
Marlynn Schotland/Urban Bliss Life

I love my Ninja Foodi! I have the Foodi 8-Quart 9-in-1 Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker (model FD401). In addition to pressure cooking, it can air fry, broil, dehydrate, slow cook, sear/saute, and more. And I can often cook two items – a side and a main dish – at the SAME time in the Foodi!

Check out my cookbook: the Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Meal Prep Cookbookhttps://amzn.to/2PpT5Ua! 75 recipes, 8 weeks of meal plans, shopping lists, step-by-step prep instructions, and my best Ninja Foodi cooking tips and tricks to help you pressure cook, air fry, make yogurt, and more in the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL multicooker!

Best Instant Pot

Photo Credit:
Marlynn Schotland/Urban Bliss Life

I have and use this 8-quart Instant Pot Duo a few times a week. Be sure to check out myInstant Pot Recipes!

Best Blender

This Vitamix is one of the more affordable Vitamix blenders, and it gets the job done! I use this blender almost every day, for smoothies, soups, sauces, and so much more!

Best Stand Mixer

Photo Credit:
Marlynn Schotland/Urban Bliss Life

This 5-quart KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a workhorse in my kitchen! I use it almost every day for everything from cookies to pizza dough to icing. I use mine so much, I have two: one in a limited edition Ocean Drive color, and one in white.

Daterra Cucina Cookware

Photo Credit:
Marlynn Schotland/Urban Bliss Life

Daterra Cucina is a Portland, Oregon-based family business that makes my favorite everyday cooking pans! They are professional grade, ceramic, non-stick, non-toxic pans that cook food BEAUTIFULLY and are super easy to clean. I love them and know you will, too!

Best Air Fryer: Tray Style

This is my newest air fryer, purchased in 2019. I love my basket style air fryer, but also needed to do recipe testing with a rack/tray style air fryer since so many of you now use this style. The InstantPot Vortex Plus is a 7-in-1 workhorse that serves as an Air Fryer, Toaster Oven, and Rotisserie Oven, which allows it to Air Fry, Rotisserie, Roast, Broil, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. The 10-quart capacity means you can air fry A LOT OF FOOD in one batch! Versus making several batches in the 5-6 Quart basket style air fryers.

Best Air Fryer: Basket Style

Photo Credit:
Marlynn Schotland/Urban Bliss Life

During our kitchen remodel, I learned how to create delicious dishes using our GoWise Air Fryer, and I love it! This 5.8 Quart, 8-in-1, XL Air Fryer is perfect size for families with 3+ people.

Best Large Capacity Air Fryer Basket

Photo Credit:
Amazon

This Instant Pot Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer is a 6 Quart, basket air fryer with 4 One-Touch Programs, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat. The basket can accommodate a 2-pound bag of fries and a 4-pound chicken.

Best Crockpot

This is my newest slow cooker – the CrockPot MyTime Slow Cooker. I LOVE it!! It’s a 6-quart programmable slow cooker with an easy-to-clean ceramic pot.

Another Great Slow Cooker

Photo Credit:
Marlynn Schotland/Urban Bliss Life

I’ve had this Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System for 10 years, and it’s amazing! I love using it mainly as a slow cooker. I also love to use it to keep food warm for parties. Cleans up easily too!

Best Ice Cream Maker

Photo Credit:
Amazon

I have the older version of this 2-quart Cuisinart ice cream maker and it is still going strong after 10+ years! It’s so easy to use and comes with a great little instruction booklet that’s easy to follow.

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