Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken: Cooking Time And Tips

Air fryers are a great alternative to deep fryers, as they use little to no oil and are faster than oven-baking. You can make popcorn chicken in an air fryer in under 15 minutes. The exact cooking time depends on the size of the chicken pieces and the desired level of crispiness. The chicken should be cooked until it is no longer pink on the inside and the juices run clear.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. Not only does it ensure your food cooks evenly, but it also helps to reduce the overall cooking time. When making popcorn chicken, you should preheat your air fryer to 400°F. This temperature is hot enough to cook the chicken pieces thoroughly and give them a crispy texture, without drying them out.

To preheat your air fryer effectively, start by ensuring the appliance is switched on and set to the correct temperature. Most air fryers have a preheat setting, but if yours doesn't, simply set it to 400°F and allow it to heat up for a few minutes. You'll know it's ready when the temperature display reads 400°F or when the preheat light turns off.

While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your chicken pieces. Cut the chicken into small, evenly sized cubes or bite-sized pieces. This ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and uniformly in the air fryer. You can also season and marinate the chicken during this time. Marinating the chicken infuses it with flavour and moisture, making it even more delicious. Aim for a minimum of 20 minutes of marination, but for the best results, leave it for at least 30 minutes or even overnight in the refrigerator.

Once the air fryer has preheated to the desired temperature, it's time to cook the chicken. Lightly spray the chicken pieces with cooking spray or oil to ensure even crispiness and browning. Carefully place the chicken pieces into the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't touch each other. This allows for maximum airflow and even cooking. Close the air fryer drawer and set the timer, following your chosen recipe's cooking instructions.

Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs

When making popcorn chicken in an air fryer, it's best to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They are juicier and more flavourful than breast meat. Cut the chicken thighs into uniform, 2-inch bite-sized pieces for even cooking. You can also cut the chicken into 3/4-inch cubes, but this may affect the cooking time.

Before cooking the chicken, it's important to season and marinate the chicken pieces. In a medium bowl, combine salt, paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard, thyme, basil, oregano, and sage. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken and toss to coat evenly. Then, marinate the chicken pieces in a well-seasoned mixture for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. This step is essential for infusing the chicken with flavour.

After marinating, you can bread the chicken. In a shallow dish, mix together flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and baking powder. In a separate shallow dish, beat eggs with buttermilk. In a third shallow dish, spread out the panko breadcrumbs. You can toast the panko crumbs in a little oil before breading the chicken to get a golden brown colour. Dip each piece of chicken first into the flour mixture, then into the egg mixture, and finally into the panko breadcrumbs. Make sure each piece is well coated.

Now you can cook the chicken in the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Spray the basket with oil or non-stick cooking spray. Place the chicken pieces in a single layer, making sure they don't touch each other. Cook the chicken for 10-12 minutes, flipping them once halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy. Alternatively, you can cook the chicken for 5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through.

Cut chicken into small, evenly-sized pieces

To make popcorn chicken in an air fryer, it is important to cut the chicken into small, evenly-sized pieces. This is because popcorn chicken cooks quickly and evenly-sized pieces will ensure that all the chicken is cooked properly. Aim for bite-sized pieces, cutting the chicken into cubes of around 2 inches or 3/4 inches. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a good option as they are juicier and more flavourful than breast meat.

Before cutting the chicken, you may want to prepare a dredging station with your chosen coating. This could include flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and baking powder in one bowl, whisked eggs with buttermilk or water in another, and seasoned panko breadcrumbs in a third. You can toast the panko crumbs in a little oil before breading the chicken for a crispier texture.

Once your chicken is cut into small, evenly-sized pieces, you can begin coating the chicken. First, dip the chicken into the flour mixture, then into the egg mixture, and finally into the panko breadcrumbs. Ensure each piece is well coated. You can then place the chicken in the air fryer, cooking it for around 5-12 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispiness.

Marinate chicken for at least 30 minutes

Popcorn chicken is a versatile dish that can be paired with a variety of sides and dipping sauces. It is also a great dish to meal prep. You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.

To make popcorn chicken in an air fryer, you can follow these steps:

• Cut chicken into 3/4-inch cubes (about the size of a small dice).
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Set up a dredging station with flour, egg, and seasoned panko.
• Dip each piece of chicken first into the flour mixture, then into the egg mixture, and finally into the panko breadcrumbs. Make sure each piece is well coated with the breadcrumbs.
• Preheat the air fryer to 390-400°F.
• Place the chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't touch each other.
• Spray the top with oil.
• Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes or up to 12 hours in the fridge. The longer you leave the chicken to marinate, the more tender and juicy it will be.
• Cook the chicken in the air fryer for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy, flipping them once halfway through the cooking time.
• Serve the popcorn chicken hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

Note: The cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer, so adjust the temperature and time accordingly.

Bread the chicken

To bread the chicken, you will need to set up a dredging station with three dishes. In the first shallow dish, mix together the dry ingredients. This typically includes flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and baking powder. You can also add cornstarch or other seasonings like onion powder, thyme, basil, oregano, and sage to the mix. In a separate shallow dish, beat eggs with buttermilk or water. In a third shallow dish, spread out the panko breadcrumbs. You can toast the panko crumbs in a little olive oil or avocado oil before breading the chicken for a crispier texture.

Once your dredging station is set up, dip each piece of chicken first into the flour mixture, then into the egg mixture, and finally into the panko breadcrumbs. Make sure each piece is well coated with the breadcrumbs. You can also double-bread the chicken by dunking it in the marinade and breading it a second time for an extra crispy texture. However, this step is optional, and you can skip it if you want to use less breading. After breading, let the chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the cornstarch to absorb into the chicken.

Frequently asked questions