Honey BBQ Popcorn Chicken
Learn how to make hand-breaded Honey BBQ Popcorn Chicken in the oven or air fryer with these easy-to-follow instructions. With either method, you’ll make a hot and crispy batch of popcorn chicken tossed in a sweet, smoky, and tangy honey BBQ sauce in a matter of minutes.
Whether your affinity for popcorn chicken started at KFC or Sonic, or like me growing up with Applebee’s half price appetizers after 10pm . . . I know you’ll love making them at home from scratch!
These succulent bites of white meat chicken are breaded with seasoned flour, egg, and bread crumbs to create a delicious layer of crunchy on the surface of a hot and tender piece of chicken.
If you love classic popcorn chicken and buffalo popcorn chicken, you’ll love this homemade popcorn chicken with honey bbq sauce!
🥣 How To Make Honey BBQ Popcorn Chicken
1️⃣ Cut chicken into “popcorn.” With a sharp knife, trim visible fat from the chicken and cut it into “popcorn” chicken bites.
2️⃣ Assemble the dredging station. In the first bowl, crack both eggs and whisk until thoroughly beaten. In the second bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and pepper together -and in the third bowl, add the plain bread crumbs.
3️⃣ Prepare for baking. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set it aside.
4️⃣ Bread popcorn chicken. Meanwhile, dredge the chicken working in small batches. First, toss the chicken in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess. Then, transfer the chicken to the egg wash bowl and gently toss to coat, shaking off any excess. Finally, add the chicken to the breadcrumb bowl, pressing the pieces gently to coat thoroughly. Place the coated pieces on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer while you work through the remaining batches.
5️⃣ Bake. Once all of the chicken is coated, transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake until the chicken is golden brown and cooked (about 15 minutes), flipping halfway through.
6️⃣ Make honey BBQ sauce. While the chicken is baking, whisk the BBQ sauce and honey together in a small saucepan and heat over low heat until the sauce is warm.
7️⃣ Toss and serve. Use tongs to transfer the cooked chicken bites to a bowl, pour the honey BBQ sauce on top, and gently toss with a rubber spatula to coat the popcorn chicken in honey bbq sauce thoroughly. Serve hot!
♨️ Air Fryer Instructions
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. In batches, add the popcorn chicken to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Set the timer for 15 minutes and let cook until crispy and golden brown, flipping each piece with tongs halfway through. Use tongs to transfer the crispy breaded chicken bites to a clean bowl. Pour the honey BBQ sauce on top, and gently toss with a rubber spatula to thoroughly coat the chicken in sauce. Enjoy!
🍞For Dietary Restrictions
- Gluten-free: Swap the all-purpose flour and bread crumbs for their gluten-free counterparts. I recommend King Arthur or Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1:1 baking flour. Use your favorite gluten-free bread crumbs and double-check that your BBQ is gluten-free (they usually are).
- Low carb & keto: Skip the all-purpose flour station and head straight for the eggs. Then, press the chicken into almond flour or crushed pork rinds to coat evenly.
- Grain-free & paleo: Tapioca flour is an excellent grain-free alternative to all-purpose flour. As for the bread crumbs, use almond flour. Use your favorite brand of paleo BBQ sauce & raw honey.
Honey BBQ Popcorn Chicken
Equipment
- Parchment Paper
- medium-size mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Tongs
- air fryer or Ninja Foodi
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast fat trimmed & cut into bite size chunks
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 cup bbq sauce
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
Oven Instructions
- With a sharp knife, trim visible fat from the chicken, then cut the breasts into bite-size "popcorn" pieces.
- Assemble the dredging station starting with the egg wash bowl. Crack both eggs into a medium-size bowl and whisk until full beaten. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and pepper together. In a third bowl, add the plain bread crumbs.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set it aside.
- Meanwhile, dredge the chicken in small batches. First, add the chicken pieces to the seasoned flour, toss to coat, and shake off any excess. Then, transfer the chicken to the egg wash bowl and gently toss to coat, shaking off any excess egg. Finally, add the chicken to the breadcrumb bowl, pressing the pieces gently to fully coat. Place the coated pieces on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer while you work through the remaining batches.
- Once all of the chicken is coated, transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through (about 15 minutes), flipping halfway through.
- While the chicken is baking, whisk the BBQ sauce and honey together in a small saucepan and heat over low heat until the sauce is warm.
- Use tongs to transfer the cooked chicken bites to a bowl, then pour the honey BBQ sauce on top, and gently toss with a rubber spatula to fully coat the popcorn chicken in honey bbq sauce. Serve hot.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Prep and bread the chicken for the air fryer using the oven instructions above. Set the breaded pieces aside on a clean plate while you finish coating the rest.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Working in batches, add the popcorn chicken to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Set the timer for 15 minutes and let cook until crispy and golden brown, flipping each piece with tongs halfway through.
- Meanwhile, combine the bbq sauce and honey in a saucepan and gently warm over low heat.
- Use tongs to transfer the cooked chicken bites to a bowl, then pour the honey BBQ sauce on top, and gently toss with a rubber spatula to fully coat the chicken in honey bbq sauce. Serve hot.
