Skip to content
Pinch of Mint
Search recipes
  • One pan

Popcorn chicken, baked and fried

Fried vs baked popcorn chicken comparison. Two trays on marble; one hand takes a baked piece. Text: Popcorn Chicken, Fried, Baked.

By Tom · Updated

Jump to recipe
  • About 1 hour 55 min
  • Takes a bit of care

Perfect for game day, snacks, or a family dinner. How to make popcorn chicken 2 ways: baked & fried.

Loads from YouTube only once you press play.

The recipe

Popcorn chicken, baked and fried

Perfect for game day, snacks, or a family dinner. How to make popcorn chicken 2 ways: baked & fried.

  • 30 min prep
  • 25 min cooking
  • 1 hour hands-off
  • Takes a bit of care

Times and difficulty are our estimates from the method, not stopwatch figures.

Quantities
Measurements

Ingredients

Deep fried popcorn chicken

Oven-baked popcorn chicken

Tick things off as you go — they stay ticked if you close the page.

A dotted underline means the amount has been rounded to something you can measure.

Method

Deep fried popcorn chicken

  1. Step 1

    Dice the chicken into small, bite-sized (popcorn-sized) pieces.

  2. Step 2

    In a mixing bowl, add the buttermilk (150 g) and half of each spice. Mix well, then add the chicken and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to marinate.

  3. Step 3

    In a separate bowl, mix the cornflour (50 g), plain flour (100 g), and the remaining spices.

  4. Step 4

    Remove the chicken from the marinade and coat each piece in the flour (100 g) mixture. Set aside.

  5. Step 5

    Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 180°C (350°F).

  6. Step 6

    Fry the chicken in small batches for 4-5 minutes, or until golden, crispy, and fully cooked through.

  7. Step 7

    Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

Oven-baked popcorn chicken

  1. Step 1

    Cut the chicken into small, popcorn-sized pieces and place in a mixing bowl.

  2. Step 2

    Add all the spices and herbs to the chicken and mix until evenly coated.

  3. Step 3

    Set up a breading station with three bowls: one with flour (100 g), one with beaten eggs (2), and one with panko breadcrumbs (100 g).

  4. Step 4

    Coat each piece of chicken in the flour (100 g), then dip in the egg (2), and finally coat with breadcrumbs (100 g). Repeat until all pieces are breaded.

  5. Step 5

    Arrange the chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spray lightly with oil.

  6. Step 6

    Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 10 minutes.

  7. Step 7

    Flip each piece, spray the other side with oil, and bake for another 10-15 minutes until golden, crisp, and fully cooked.

Stay in the loop

Get new recipes in your inbox

Occasional emails with new recipes, cooking tips and what’s new at Pinch of Mint.

See our Privacy Policy for information about how your personal data is used.

More chicken dinners

Also in Friday night, without the app.

Questions people ask

How long does popcorn chicken, baked and fried take?

About 1 hour 55 min from start to finish: 30 min of prep, 25 min of cooking, and 1 hour hands-off while it waits. That figure is worked out from the method rather than timed with a stopwatch, so give yourself a little more the first time.

How much does this make?

The original recipe did not state a yield, so nothing has been invented for it. The scale control on the recipe card multiplies the quantities instead, which is the honest version of the same thing.

Can I see the ingredients in ounces and pints?

Yes. The metric and imperial switch on the recipe card converts every quantity, rounded to amounts you can actually weigh or measure rather than to four decimal places. Your choice is remembered for every recipe on the site.