Air-Fryer Popcorn Chicken
Bite-size chicken pieces with a crisp seasoned crust — the lunchbox, game-day, stand-over-the-counter chicken.
Popcorn chicken is really a permission slip: dinner can be small, crunchy, and dipped in three sauces. The air fryer handles little pieces beautifully because every edge gets a blast of heat.
A quick buttermilk soak keeps the chicken tender, and seasoned panko keeps it from tasting like plain nuggets wearing a fancy coat.
Method
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01
Soak the chicken
Toss chicken with buttermilk and let stand 10 minutes while the air fryer heats.
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02
Coat
Mix panko, flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Lift chicken from buttermilk and press into crumbs.
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03
Air fry
Mist well with spray and cook at 390°F for 10–12 minutes, shaking once, until crisp and 165°F inside.
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04
Serve by the handful
Pile into a bowl with dipping sauces. A squeeze of lemon is shockingly good here.