Homemade Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken makes a great appetizer or main protein using chicken breast that is “breaded” with keto and gluten free “breadcrumbs” that adults and kids love! 

What’s The Difference Between Popcorn Chicken and Chicken Nuggets?

For the most part, chicken nuggets are made with a mixture of emulsified chicken meat that could contain all parts of the chicken as well as preservatives and chemicals to bind it together and keep it a white color.

Popcorn chicken is made from actual chicken breast with no fillers and is cut up into small popcorn sized bites making them a perfect snack or appetizer. 

Keto Popcorn Chicken:

Is Popcorn Chicken Keto? This one is! This recipe makes popcorn chicken that is keto and low carb friendly!  The secret to keto friendly breading is using a mix of crushed pork rinds also known as pork panko, nutritional yeast, milled flax seed, garlic powder, salt and pepper!

Keto Breadcrumbs Recipe:

• 2 oz Plain Pork Rinds, crushed into a fine crumb/powder consistency 
• 1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
• 1 tbsp Milled Flax Seed
• 2 tsp Avocado Oil
• ¼ tsp Garlic Powder
• ¼ tsp Sea Salt
• ⅛ tsp Black Pepper

Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl until fully combined.

Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. 

Pork Panko can be purchased HERE

How to Air Fry Frozen Popcorn Chicken:

Brands like Tyson, Banquet and Perdue make fully cooked popcorn chicken that is frozen.  These can be cooked in the air fryer, but how long to cook them depends on the size. 

As a general rule, air fry frozen popcorn chicken at 375 in 10 minute intervals until it is cooked through and desired crispiness is reached.  To achieve this, you should toss halfway through. 

Ingredients:

• 1 Chicken Breast (about 1lb)
• 1 batch Keto Breadcrumbs

How To Make Homemade Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken

1. In a medium sized bowl, combine crushed pork rinds, nutritional yeast, milled flax seed, garlic pepper, salt and pepper.
2. Pat one chicken breast dry with a paper towel and cut into bite sized pieces.  Toss in 2 tsp avocado oil until all pieces are coated.
3. Toss coated chicken pieces in breading mixture until each piece is fully coated.
4. Grease the bottom of your air fryer basket and add breaded popcorn chicken pieces in a single layer.
5. Air fry at 400 degrees for 15 minutes tossing half way through.
6. Remove from air fryer with tongs and serve hot with a dipping sauce. 

Oven Baked Instructions: 

You can make this recipe for keto popcorn chicken in your oven if you don’t have an air fryer!

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
2. Place breaded popcorn chicken on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
3. Bake for 15-20 minutes flipping halfway through.
4. Since the oven won’t have hot air circulating like the air fryer, they may not be as crispy.  You can fix this by putting them under the broiler for 2-3 minutes. 

Serve Your Popcorn Chicken with these Dipping Sauces:

• Keto Honey Mustard
• Habanero Ranch
• Paleo & Whole30 Thousand Island Dressing
• Paleo & Whole30 BBQ Sauce

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Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken

Yield: 3 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Homemade Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken makes a great appetizer or main protein using chicken breast that is “breaded” with keto and gluten free “breadcrumbs” that adults and kids love!

Print

Ingredients

• 1.5 LBS Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
• 1 batch Keto Breadcrumbs

Keto Breadcrumbs

• Keto Breadcrumbs
• 2 oz Plain Pork Rinds, crushed into a fine crumb/powder consistency
• 1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
• 1 tbsp Milled Flax Seed
• 2 tsp Avocado Oil
• ¼ tsp Garlic Powder
• ¼ tsp Sea Salt
• ⅛ tsp Black Pepper

Instructions

1. In a medium sized bowl, combine crushed pork rinds, nutritional yeast, milled flax seed, garlic pepper, salt and pepper.
2. Pat one chicken breast dry with a paper towel and cut into bite sized pieces.  Toss in 2 tsp avocado oil until all pieces are coated.
3. Toss coated chicken pieces in breading mixture until each piece is fully coated.
4. Grease the bottom of your air fryer basket and add breaded popcorn chicken pieces in a single layer.
5. Air fry at 400 degrees for 15 minutes tossing half way through.
6. Remove from air fryer with tongs and serve hot with a dipping sauce.

Notes

Oven Baked Instructions: 

You can make this recipe for keto popcorn chicken in your oven if you don’t have an air fryer!

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
2. Place breaded popcorn chicken on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
3. Bake for 15-20 minutes flipping halfway through.
4. Since the oven won’t have hot air circulating like the air fryer, they may not be as crispy.  You can fix this by putting them under the broiler for 2-3 minutes. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 3 Serving Size: 5 pieces
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 190Carbohydrates: 6gNet Carbohydrates: 4gFiber: 2g