If you’ve ever wanted to know how to make the best, perfect, oven-baked popcorn chicken in the world, this recipe is for you. Delicious and simple instructions are laid out here for your convenience. Popcorn chicken is a wonderful dish that can be enjoyed by anyone old enough to eat food! However, when it comes to cooking popcorn chicken in an air fryer, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.
But, you first need to know some basics like how long to cook popcorn chicken in air fryer. Firstly and most importantly, don’t overcook it, or else it will be dry and not have much flavor left. Make sure not to cook for more than 10 minutes on each side of the popsicle stick so that they don’t become tough and overdone. We have you covered here if you are looking for some simple cooking instructions for air frying popcorn chicken.
Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
Popcorn chicken is a unique dish developed in China and introduced to America by KFC. KFC’s popcorn chicken has a crispy texture that makes it exceptionally popular among people who enjoy eating delicious meals. KFC initially coined the idea of popcorn chicken.
However, it is impossible to get KFC popcorn chicken every time you crave it. But there are many companies like Tyson offering frozen popcorn chicken, which you can simply air fry to enjoy anytime. These are popcorn chickens cooked, packaged, and then sold at grocery stores in the frozen department.
Read more: Complete Recipe For Tyson Popcorn Chicken Air Fryer
Cooking Popcorn Chicken In Air Fryer
You can cook popcorn chicken in an air fryer as per your requirement or taste. Many people prefer making popcorn chicken at home and not buying it from the market. Since it is easy to cook and it tastes great, you can try it yourself and make this delicacy at home!
You just have to buy a packet of frozen popcorn chicken from the market, heat them and enjoy them with your favorite dip sauce. If you are a bit more conscious about eating healthy foods, air frying is a perfect option.
It tastes damn good, especially if compared to the ones sold in bags from the market. Also, you will be surprised how much quicker and easier it is to air-fry them since you will have full control over the crispiness and don’t have to worry about the oil splatters.
When you cook popcorn chicken at home, you get to enjoy exactly what you want and don’t have to worry about any additives or preservatives. It will provide a healthy treat that your whole family will love. This is how it is done:
- Turn the air fryer on medium heat and preheat for about 10 minutes to prevent the popsicle stick from burning
- Scrape the bottom of your frozen container of chicken pieces. If there are any chunks or bigger chunks of chicken cubes, remove them with a spoon or a knife to be as even as possible.
- Stick in your popsicle sticks and cover with aluminum foil. Now place your frozen chicken in the air fryer and cook for about 20 minutes.
- Once you finish cooking, take out the chicken and let it sit for a while on a paper towel to get the excess oil off so that your popcorn chicken will be evenly crispy.
- Now, garnish them with your favorite seasoning and enjoy tasty air fryer popcorn chicken at home. You will be surprised to feel the authentic taste of popcorn chicken with a crispy outer layer after cooking them in an air fryer.
Crispy consistency air-fried popcorn chicken is a delicious treat that you can enjoy even if you don’t have to cook it. It tastes damn good, especially if compared to the ones sold in bags from the market. In addition, you have full control over the crispiness by air frying and don’t have to worry about the oil splatters.
To make crispier popcorn chicken, just sprinkle/brush some olive oil before air frying. This will ensure more crispiness on the outer surface and juicer from the inside. You can add some of your favorite seasonings like salt, pepper, and garlic powder to make it more delicious. You can even get creative with your flavor concoctions.
How Long To Cook Popcorn Chicken In Air Fryer?
The best part about air frying is that you will have complete control over the cooking time. You won’t be afraid of overcooking or burning it like you would if you were to use the normal oven. To end all misconceptions, the ideal time for cooking popcorn chicken is around 8 minutes.
Eight minutes is just a perfect time to properly cook every piece of chicken. However, if you want to add more crunch/crisp, you can add a couple more minutes to your heating time. Just make sure you are not overloading the air fryer basket in the first place.
Read more: Complete Recipe To Reheat Chicken Tenders In Air Fryer At Home
Ideal Temperature Settings Air fryer:
Popcorn chicken is a delicious treat that you can enjoy even if you don’t have to cook it for yourself at home. You don’t need to cook your popcorn chicken on high heat to get your desired results. The temperature setting for maximum crispness and taste sake is heating at 170c/340f for around eight minutes.
This is a perfect temperature level where everything will be perfectly cooked in the first place. This will be perfect when you want your poultry chunks to have a soft, tender texture with a crispy, crunchy coating to make them even more delicious.
Air fryers are a wonderful way to cook a wide variety of different foods. However, check how long to cook popcorn chicken in air fryer before heating them. It allows you to use minimal oil for cooking your food. And it ensures that the food is cooked evenly and crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.
