Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Healthier Crunchy Baked Popcorn Chicken! Tender chicken breast pieces are coated in a crispy, golden-brown panko crust for a delightful crunch without the guilt. Perfect for family movie nights or as a tasty snack, this dish pairs beautifully with your favorite dipping sauces. Gather your ingredients and get ready to impress everyone at the table!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3–4 pieces)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika (smoked for extra kick)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Cooking spray or 2 tsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Slice chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces for even cooking.
- Set up a breading station with one bowl of beaten eggs, one bowl of panko breadcrumbs mixed with garlic powder and paprika, and a third bowl for salt and pepper.
- Dip each chicken piece in egg, then coat thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing firmly.
- Place breaded chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Lightly spray or drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C), flipping halfway through.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz (113g)
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 360mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 135mg