Since our family started a gluten free diet over 2 years ago we’ve gotten pretty good at making our favorite kid friendly foods from scratch. We like knowig exactly what’s in the recipe and playing with the recipe until we have something that tastes great. So many store bought gluten free foods taste so different from the classics but this Homemade Gluten Free Popcorn Chicken Recipe is amazing and you’d never know they were gluten free. If you aren’t gluten free, simply substitute the gluten free flour with regular all purpose flour for a great homemade popcorn chicken!
Homemade Popcorn Chicken Gluten-Free
We’ve been making gluten free chicken strips for quite some time but the kids have been asking for chicken nuggets or popcorn chicken recently so we decided to give it a shot. This is actually a lot easier than chicken strips and we’ll probably be making them a lot more!
Is popcorn chicken gluten free? No, not unless you are using gluten free chicken recipes like this one. You must have a gluten-free flour to make them gluten-free.
We have a family of 6 and I like to make sure there is plenty of crispy chicken to feed everyone so we make a nice big batch. If we have extras, I warm up the leftovers in the air fryer the next day.
Simple Ingredients:
- 5 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
- 8 Eggs
- 1/4 Cup Milk
- 3-4 Cups Gluten Free All Purpose Flour – we love the Pamela’s brand
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- Salt and Black Pepper to Taste
- 1/2 Gallon of Vegetable Oil (this amount will vary based on your fryer)
How To Make Gluten Free Popcorn Chicken:
Pour the oil in your fryer and let it start to warm up. You could also do this recipe in a pan on the stove but we really love the small countertop fryer for a less mess, more even frying.
Cut your chicken breast into small pieces. We cut ours into about 1″ x 1″ pieces.
In a medium bowl mix together your eggs and milk. We started with 4 eggs and 1/8 cup milk and then added more as it got low. This way you won’t be throwing away a lot of egg mixture if you have more than you needed.
In a large bowl with a tightly fitting cover, combine the flour and seasonings. Again, you can start with half the flour and add more to reduce waste.
Place the raw, diced chicken into the bowl of flour. Put the lid on tightly and shake it until all the chicken is well coated. Transfer it to the egg bath and coat it well with the mixture, then back to the flour bowl. Shake it again to double coat with flour.
Transfer the chicken to the deep fryer and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. This is an average cooking time of about 5 minutes but it does depend on the size of your chicken chunks.
Once the chicken has reached temperature and turned golden brown, remove it from the fryer. I pour the chicken bites out into a single layer over a layer of paper towels to soak up any excess grease.
Then, I like to place them on a cooling rack over a baking sheet and let the cooked popcorn chicken sit on the cooling rack. This lets any extra oil drip off. I place my pan in the oven on low heat to keep it warm while we continue cooking the remaining chicken.
What To Serve With Popcorn Chicken
Once all the chicken is cooked it can be plated with a side of your favorite dipping sauces and served! I like a homemade ranch dip and some Frank’s hot sauce for dip too! They go great with a side of sweet potato chips sprinkled with cajun seasoning.
I hope you enjoy these delicious bite-sized pieces of chicken. They are also great served with BBQ sauce or honey mustard sauce if you want to give that a try. What is your favorite dipping sauce?
Printable Recipe Card For Gluten-Free Popcorn Chicken:
Gluten Free Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
- 8 Eggs
- 1/4 Cup Milk
- 3-4 Cups Gluten Free All Purpose Flour – we love the Pamela’s brand
- Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder to Taste
- 1/2 Gallon of Vegetable Oil for fryer
Instructions
- Pour the oil in your fryer and let it start to warm up. You could also do this recipe in a pan on the stove but we really love the small countertop fryer for a less mess, more even frying.
- Cut your chicken breast into small pieces. We cut ours into about 1″ x 1″ pieces.
- In a medium bowl mix together your eggs and milk. We started with 4 eggs and 1/8 cup milk and then added more as it got low. This way you won’t be throwing away a lot of egg bath if you have more than you needed.
- In a large bowl with a tightly fitting cover, combine the flour and seasonings. Again, you can start with half the flour and add more to reduce waste.
- Place the raw, diced chicken into the bowl of flour. Put the lid on tightly and shake it until all the chicken is well coated. Transfer it to the egg bath and coat it well with the mixture, then back to the flour bowl. Shake it again to recoat with flour.
- Transfer the chicken to the fryer and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.
- Once the chicken has reached temperature and turned golden brown, remove it from the fryer. I like to place a cooling rack over a baking sheet and let the cooked popcorn chicken sit on the cooling rack. This lets any extra oil drip off. I place my pan in the oven on low heat to keep it warm while we continue cooking the remaining chicken.
- Once all the chicken is cooked it can be plated with a side of your favorite dipping sauces and served!
Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Serves: 15
|
Amount Per Serving: 1/3 pound
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 2065.71 kcal | |
| % Daily Value* | ||
| Total Fat 190.18 g | 292.3% | |
| Saturated Fat 14.15 g | 70% | |
| Trans Fat 1.4 g | ||
| Cholesterol 294.14 mg | 98% | |
| Sodium 1152.46 mg | 48% | |
| Total Carbohydrate 35.05 g | 11.7% | |
| Dietary Fiber 4.94 g | 16% | |
| Sugars 1.97 g | ||
| Protein 60.27 g | ||
| Vitamin A 8.24 % | Vitamin C 0.0 % | |
| Calcium 7.52 % | Iron 19.02 % | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Family Focus Blog
Conclusion
Popcorn chicken is popular for several reasons:
- Convenience: It’s bite-sized and easy to eat, making it a great snack or meal option for people on the go.
- Versatility: Popcorn chicken can be seasoned and flavored in many ways, allowing for a variety of taste experiences. It can be spicy, sweet, tangy, or savory.
- Texture: The combination of a crispy exterior and tender interior makes it appealing to many people.
- Portion Control: Being small and individually sized, it’s easier to control portions and enjoy in moderation compared to larger pieces of chicken.
- Kid-Friendly: Its size and ease of eating make it a popular choice for children, often served at parties, fast food restaurants, and school cafeterias.
Whether it’s enjoyed as a quick snack, part of a meal, or a party appetizer, popcorn chicken’s widespread popularity is due to these appealing factors. Your family will love this Homemade Gluten Free Popcorn Chicken Recipe! They make delicious party snacks or after school snacks. Have you tried a popcorn chicken recipe before?
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