Crispy Air Fryer Popcorn Rooster

Crunchy on the surface and tender and juicy on the within, this Air Fryer Popcorn Rooster is prepared in 20 minutes from begin to end! These dippable crispy nuggets are the right recreation day appetizer or enjoyable household dinner.

20-Minute, Extremely-Crispy Air Fryer Popcorn Rooster

We love a very good chicken tender recipe round right here, and I additionally LOVE my air fryer. I really feel like I make a batch of Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders no less than as soon as per week. With soccer season arising, I wished a recipe that’s simply as straightforward to make, but in addition completely snackable. Hiya, recreation day.

So, as we speak we’re making a bite-sized variation of considered one of my favourite meals: crispy air fryer popcorn hen. These crunchy, juicy nuggets of pleasure are a fast, straightforward appetizer to make for a crowd, and simply as scrumptious to function a meal on weeknights.

Popcorn hen is ideal for dipping in our favourite Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce, or barbecue sauce. You gained’t consider how crispy these hen nuggets get in only a few minutes!

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Recipe

So, why use the air fryer to prepare dinner popcorn hen? Should you’re simply getting acquainted with the world of air frying, I’ve a super-handy information for How to Use an Air Fryer. An air fryer is mainly a countertop convection oven, and it’s a handy, lighter means of getting your favourite meals good and crispy.

I’ll warn you now: when you get the dangle of it, you’ll wish to put every thing in your air fryer. Biscuits? Air fryer. Mac and Cheese Balls? Air fried. I even use the air fryer to make Chocolate Chip Cookies! It’s a way of life. 

Right here’s why we are able to’t get sufficient of this air fryer hen recipe:

• A lighter means of frying. This air fryer popcorn hen crisps up completely, minus the surplus grease and oil of deep frying (to not point out, clear up is straightforward, since there aren’t any oil splatters to wipe off the partitions afterward).
• Prepared in beneath 20 minutes. Having an air fryer in the home is a deal with on weeknights. These hen bites come out crazy-crispy in a fraction of the time that it might take within the oven.
• Nice for novices. That is a simple air fryer recipe that anybody could make. Merely coat the hen, pop it into the fryer, prepare dinner, flip, and serve.

What You’ll Want

Beneath is a fast abstract of the substances wanted to make crispy popcorn hen within the air fryer. Ensure to take a look at the total recipe particulars within the recipe card additional on.

• Rooster: Boneless skinless hen breast is greatest for this recipe. Boneless hen thighs may also work.
• Flour and Bread Crumbs: You’ll want each for the breadcrumb coating. For popcorn hen, I like Panko because the crumbs are bigger and crunchier once they come out of the air fryer.
• Seasonings: You’ll season your breadcrumbs with a mix of salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
• Eggs and Milk: An egg wash helps the Panko adhere to the hen. You need to use any form of milk you like, complete milk, 2%, or skim. For a tangier taste, you possibly can even use buttermilk (store-bought, or homemade).
• Dijon Mustard: I like the creamy, zesty taste that comes from including Dijon mustard to the egg wash. Should you don’t have Dijon, you should use common yellow mustard as an alternative. Chances are you’ll wish to use barely much less, as the flavour might be stronger.
• Olive Oil Spray: Air frying recipes name for considerably much less oil than conventional frying strategies. You should purchase olive oil spray from the shop, or add your personal olive oil to a twig bottle. Just some spritzes is all it takes to crisp up the surface of the hen because it cooks.

The best way to Make Popcorn Rooster in Your Air Fryer

Able to “fry” some hen? Earlier than you begin, you’ll wish to cube up your hen breasts into nugget-sized chunks. This recipe makes about 60 hen nuggets, so there needs to be greater than sufficient to feed a hungry crowd. Now, let’s get this recipe poppin’.

• Put together the Seasoned Breadcrumbs: First, in a shallow dish, mix Panko with flour and a teaspoon of salt, together with the remainder of the seasonings.
• Put together the Egg Wash: Subsequent up, in a separate dish, whisk collectively the eggs with some milk, Dijon, and a half-teaspoon of salt.

• Coat the Rooster: Coat your hen items first within the egg wash, then within the Panko combination. Use your palms to essentially press the Panko over all sides of the hen nuggets, and switch the coated nuggets to a baking sheet.

• Air Fry: As soon as all of the hen is coated and your air fryer is preheated to 390ºF, add a batch of hen to the air frying basket and spritz them with olive oil spray (not non-stick cooking spray, see the ideas beneath). Prepare dinner every batch for 8 minutes, turning midway via.
• Serve: As soon as all of the hen has cooked via, it’s time to serve! This crispy popcorn hen makes an excellent appetizer or principal, good for household dinners or events.

Can I Make Baked Popcorn Rooster As a substitute?

Positively. Should you don’t have an air fryer, this recipe is straightforward sufficient to translate to the oven! Right here’s methods to do it:

1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF and get a baking sheet prepared and lined with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the coated hen on the baking sheet.
3. Bake for about 20 minutes (or till the inner temperature of the hen is 165ºF), flipping the nuggets midway via. 

Ideas and Variation Concepts

What’s the key to completely crispy air fryer popcorn hen? I’ve included some notes and variation concepts beneath. Take a look at my tutorial for extra useful air frying ideas and tips.

• Keep away from aerosol cooking sprays. Now, for just a little Air Fryer 101: Aerosol non-stick sprays, like PAM, can injury the non-stick coating that’s already in your air fryer basket. Keep away from utilizing cooking sprays, and as an alternative use an olive oil spray when air frying, or add olive oil to a spritzer bottle.
• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Ensure to go away sufficient area for the recent air to flow into between the hen items for the crispest outcomes. Work in batches and let these items breathe!
• The best way to inform when the hen is completed cooking: Your popcorn hen is completed when the inner temperature is at a completely cooked 165ºF. Use a kitchen thermometer to test.
• Scale the recipe. This popcorn hen recipe makes numerous nuggets! Be happy to scale down or double up the substances to fit your wants.
• Make spicy crispy popcorn hen. For some additional warmth, combine some cayenne pepper or crushed pink pepper flakes into the breadcrumb coating.
• Add dried herbs. Along with the spices already within the coating, you possibly can add dry herbs like thyme, basil, oregano, or a spoonful of Italian seasoning mix.
• Use cornflakes for additional crunch. Crush up cornflake cereal to combine in with the Panko for a fair crunchier texture. That is straightforward to do by putting the cereal inside a big zip-top bag and rolling over it a number of instances with a rolling pin.

Serving Recommendations

We love dunking our crispy hen in The Best Chicken Dipping Sauce (critically, it’s the BEST!) or my straightforward Homemade BBQ Sauce. However the serving prospects are countless. Take pleasure in your air fryer popcorn hen with a number of of those straightforward selfmade dipping sauces:

This straightforward popcorn hen recipe is ideal to make as a celebration snack alongside extra appetizer concepts like Mini Corn Dogs, Pigs In A Blanket, and Philly Cheesesteak Sliders. 

For dinner, I’ll serve popcorn hen with a facet of Beach Bread and veggies, like a inexperienced salad, steamed broccoli, Air Fryer Asparagus, or Instant Pot Corn on the Cob. 

The best way to Retailer and Reheat Air Fryer Rooster

This popcorn hen could be saved hermetic within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheating leftovers is as straightforward as popping them again into the air fryer at 280ºF, for about 7 minutes or till warmed via.

Leftover popcorn hen can also be nice to take pleasure in chilly over a Couscous Salad, in hen wraps, or as a snack dipped in Ranch Dressing.

Can I Freeze Popcorn Rooster?

Sure! Cooked air fryer popcorn hen is freezer-friendly and preferrred for defrosting and reheating. As soon as the hen bites have cooled fully, retailer them hermetic in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Defrost the popcorn hen within the fridge earlier than reheating.

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