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5.0 from 9 votes

Better Than Takeout Chicken Popcorn: Easy, Fast And Cheap

Crispy chicken popcorn is the best snack to enjoy. They’re coated with spicy and crunchy crumbs and succulent chicken pieces inside. 

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 4 portions
Calories: 1810 kcal
Course: Snacks
Cuisine: International

Ingredients

For marinade:
  • 21.16 ounces boneless chicken thighs.
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder.
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
  • ½ teaspoon chilli powder.
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper.
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika powder.
  • ¼ teaspoon ginger powder.
  • ½ teaspoon mixed herbs see the note.
  • ½ teaspoon salt.
  • 2 tablespoons yoghurt.
  • 2 tablespoons milk.
For the coating:
  • ½ cup plain flour/ all-purpose flour.
  • ¾ cup cornflour/ cornstarch.
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
  • ½ teaspoon paprika powder.
  • ½ teaspoon red chilli powder.
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper.
  • 1 teaspoon salt.
  • oil for frying.

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Clean and cut the chicken into small pieces, about 2 cm/0.78-inch cubes.
  2. Place the chicken pieces in a mixing bowl and add the rest of the marinade ingredients. Stir and mix well until all chicken pieces are coated with spices and dairy. Let it rest for at least 20 minutes. You can also keep it in the fridge/ refrigerator overnight to get a more developed flavour.
  3. Sieve the plain flour and cornflour into a deep plate or a mixing bowl. 
  4. Add the garlic powder, paprika powder, red chilli powder, ground black pepper, and salt to the flour mixture. Stir well until all is combined. 
  5. Heat the oil in a wok or a deep frying pan. 
  6. At the same time, pick the chicken pieces and put them in the flour mixture. Do it one by one to make sure each piece is well coated with the flour. I use chopsticks to do the job as I find it easy to pick the pieces up.
  7. Check the oil if it’s hot enough by putting a pinch of flour into the oil. If it’s frying fast, it means the oil is ready. Then carefully slide the chicken pieces into the hot oil. Deep-fry your chicken popcorn for about 7 minutes until they look golden and crispy. Turn them around in between. 
  8. When they’re fully cooked, pick them up with a slotted spoon.

Notes

  • You can replace the yoghurt with milk. So use 4 tablespoons of milk instead. And add about a teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to the milk. 
  • Cut the chicken as small as you can to make them look like the regular popcorn size. 
  • Cooking time can vary according to the size of the chicken pieces. 10 minutes is the approximate frying time for about 0.7-inch size chicken popcorn. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1g Calories 1810kcal (91%) Carbohydrates 342g (114%) Protein 61g (122%) Fat 18g (28%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 12g Cholesterol 184mg (61%) Sodium 1174mg (49%) Fiber 8g (32%) Sugar 1g (2%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4portions

Amount Per Serving

Calories 1810

% Daily Value*

Serving 1g
Calories 1810kcal 91%
Carbohydrates 342g 114%
Protein 61g 122%
Fat 18g 28%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 12g 71%
Cholesterol 184mg 61%
Sodium 1174mg 49%
Fiber 8g 32%
Sugar 1g 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.