Popcorn Chicken à la KFC Style

Experience the delectable taste of crispy, succulent, and well-spiced popcorn chicken inspired by KFC at home using an easy and swift recipe. This dish enjoys worldwide popularity and is often associated with the globally renowned KFC popcorn chicken, making it a much sought-after item. It’s a common find at fast food outlets and restaurants alike. It’s versatile enough to serve as a tasty snack or an appetizing starter.

Despite not being huge fans of KFC, my husband and I can’t resist their delectable popcorn chicken. This dish was consistently on our order list. However, living far from the city made it challenging for us to indulge in our cravings frequently. This led me to embark on a culinary adventure, experimenting in an attempt to recreate this favorite of ours at home.

I’ve poured over numerous online videos and recipes, but struggled to find a simple, fail-proof method to produce perfectly fried popcorn chicken. This led to a lengthy period of trial and error as I sought to perfect the recipe. At long last, I was able to determine the exact ingredient proportions and precise measurements to replicate this beloved dish.

I promise that if you give this recipe a try, this delectably flavorful and crunchy fried popcorn chicken will become a new favorite. The best part? There’s no need to marinate the chicken for hours on end. Despite this, the result is chicken that’s tender on the inside, crispy on the outside. The process is simple: Take cubed chicken breast, season them, add a crumb coating, and then fry. Voila! A delightful snack awaits to tantalize your taste buds. Upon biting into it, you’ll experience an explosion of savory seasoning that is sure to satisfy your craving.

What to serve with this dish?

This dish pairs beautifully with an array of condiments. You can serve it alongside classic tomato ketchup, or try various dips for a more complex flavor profile. These could include a simple, creamy mayonnaise, a fiery garlic mayonnaise for a kick of spice, or even a rich, cheesy dip. The choice of accompaniment can truly elevate this snack to the next level.

How Do You Make Popcorn Chicken?

Creating this popcorn chicken recipe involves simple steps and ingredients. You’ll need a mix of spices and an egg to combine with the chicken pieces, along with dry ingredients for coating the chicken. Lastly, you’ll need ample oil for deep frying. An added bonus of this recipe is that it doesn’t call for a pre-cooking marination period. We’ll incorporate an egg into the marinade to ensure the chicken stays juicy and tender even after deep frying.

Now, let’s dive into the actual recipe:

KFC Style Popcorn Chicken

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Recipe by Shahnaz Course: AppetizerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Beginner

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Calories

1840

kcal

Crispy fried tender small bite-sized chicken pieces seasoned with spicy seasoning mix.

Ingredients

• For marinade

• 300 grams 300 chicken (boneless)

• 1 teaspoon 1 Kashmiri red chili powder or paprika powder

• 1/8 teaspoon 1/8 turmeric powder

• 2 teaspoon 2 ginger-garlic paste

• Salt to taste

• 1/4 teaspoon 1/4 black pepper powder

• 1 teaspoon 1 vinegar or lemon juice

• 1 1 egg

• Oil for frying
  

• For coating

• 2 cups 2 all-purpose flour for coating (or as required)

• 1/2 teaspoon 1/2 Kashmiri red chili powder or paprika powder

• Salt to taste
  

• For spicy seasoning mix

• 1/2 teaspoon 1/2 oregano (dried)

• 1/2 1/2 sachet of Maggi Magic Masala

• 1/2 teaspoon 1/2 Kashmiri red chili powder or paprika powder

Directions

• Preparing the Chicken Pieces:
  
  Start by cutting the chicken into small, bite-sized cubes and give them a good rinse.
  Drain the chicken pieces thoroughly.
  Using a kitchen towel, pat the chicken dry.
  Preparing the Marinade:
  
  In a mixing bowl, place the drained chicken pieces.
  Season with salt to your liking, add Kashmiri red chili powder, turmeric powder, crushed black pepper, and ginger-garlic paste. Add a splash of vinegar or lemon juice for some tanginess. Mix everything well until the chicken pieces are well coated.
  Adding the Egg:
  
  Once all the ingredients are well combined, crack an egg into the mixture.
  Stir it in until well incorporated with the other ingredients.
  Let this sit for a moment while you prepare the next steps.
  
• Coat the chicken pieces:
  
  In a separate bowl, combine all-purpose flour, a pinch of salt, and some Kashmiri red chili powder.
  Mix these dry ingredients together until they are well combined.
  
  Using a pair of tongs, carefully remove the chicken pieces from the marinade.
  Transfer them to the bowl with the dry ingredients, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated.
  Fill another bowl with cold water, setting it aside for the next step.
  
  Take each coated chicken piece.
  Dip it into the bowl of cold water.
  Take the chicken pieces that have been dipped in water one at a time and roll them in the dry ingredients once more for a second coat.
  Give each piece a good shake to get rid of any excess flour.
  Arrange all the double-coated chicken pieces on a plate and set them aside.
• Frying the chicken pieces:
  
  Heat a wok or deep frying pan over medium heat.
  Fill it with enough oil for deep frying.
  Once the oil is hot, cook the chicken in batches at medium heat until it is thoroughly cooked and the outside is lightly browned.
• Prepare spicy seasoning mix:
  
  To prepare a spicy seasoning mix, we need some oregano, Kashmiri red chili powder, and 1/2 sachet of Maggi magic masala. Mix everything together.
  Once the chicken pieces are fried and still hot, sprinkle them with the prepared spicy seasoning mix.
  Toss the chicken pieces to ensure they are evenly coated with the seasoning.
  Serve hot with any dip of your choice. Here, I have served it with some tomato ketchup and plain veg mayonnaise.
  And there you have it!
  Your homemade KFC-style popcorn chicken is complete!
  Bon appétit!

Notes

• Make sure to heat the oil over medium heat. Overheating could result in the chicken pieces getting burnt on the outside without cooking thoroughly on the inside.
• Apply the spice mix to the chicken pieces immediately after frying while they’re still hot for the best flavor absorption.
• Pay careful attention to the amount of salt used throughout the recipe as it is added at several stages.