Baked Popcorn Chicken with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Dip

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Posted On: Sep, 29 |  Author:
Baked Popcorn Chicken with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Dip
Diet Info: DF GF F LF Na LS VG V Fa

This popcorn chicken is crispy, moist, crunchy, and has far less calories than fried popcorn chicken served in most fast food joints. Oh, and also including 5 minutes recipes for a creamy and mayo-free garlic-parmesan sauce. Let's get ready to enjoy the games!!

I love serving simple finger food for game day snacks. When living room is full of hungry football fans, crunchy finger food like popcorns or popcorn chicken disappear in minutes!!  Just pass-on the bucket!! For the record, my guests are often fighting over the last popcorn in bucket! So I pop a big batch and always ready for clean ups with Viva® Vantage® towels!

The best thing about baking popcorn chicken? Just slice, dredge and bake! No perching on stove to fry multiple batches. Bonus - no need to eat fried, almost-gone-cold-and-soggy takeout popcorn chicken. How good does that sound?

Healthy Easy and Delicious Baked Popcorn Chicken | chefdehome.com

Last Sunday I baked a big batch of Popcorn Chicken for game day party. When Vishal got to taste the chicken, his first reaction was - "When did you order it?" Second, "Did you boil the chicken? How come it is so moist?"

Extra Moist Baked Chicken 

Well, first I did not order it. It is 100% homemade! Second, the extra moist chicken is courtesy of buttermilk-bath! :-) Thing is, if you want juicy, fried or baked, chicken, buttermilk is your best friend! Buttermilk tenderizes the chicken proteins and also, when buttermilk soaked chicken is coated in breading and cooked, the moisture stays locked inside..... Result is always perfectly moist and juicy chicken.

Healthy Easy and Delicious Baked Popcorn Chicken | chefdehome.com

Baked yet Crispy Crust

Second, best thing about this snack is - 'crispy like fried chicken' or 'crunchy like popcorn' texture! This my friends, is a super easy technique of egg wash and breading. Where breadcrumbs give popcorn chicken it's signature crunchy texture, egg wash does important job of holding everything together.

Result? A big bowl full of popcorn chicken vanishing from 'game day snack table' in minutes....... leaving behind happy guests asking for more!! So make a bigger batch! Recipe doubles easily!

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Dip with Baked Popcorn Chicken Game Day Favorite | chefdehome.com

From food, drinks, to clean-up supplies, when hosting game parties or family pizza parties, I always like to get ready everything in advance. In my opinion, it is best to make a checklist and avoid last minute hiccups.  I like to keep a clean kitchen after cooking and also after guests are gone. 

Cleaning with Viva Vantage Towels | chefdehome.com

When guests are coming, my kitchen is often messy. So a post-party and post-cooking cleanup is must! Stretchy-strength of fiber-packed Viva® Vantage® Towels make cleanup effortless and easy.

Extra Moist Best Baked Buttermilk Popcorn Chicken | chefdehome.com

I served Popcorn Chicken with creamy and garlicky Parmesan Sauce. Sauce is real simple to pull together. Just put all ingredients in food processor and a minute later you have a creamy sauce t serve with chicken. Being allergic to mayo, I seldom use mayo in my kitchen! For same reason, I always have some tricks up my sleeves to get creamy mayo texture without mayo. Today, I have used some creme freche for the creaminess. If you can't find it, simply use vegetarian mayo or greek yogurt.

Extra Moist Best Baked Buttermilk Popcorn Chicken Low in Calories yet Crunchy and Scrumptious | chefdehome.com

For extra crispy and brown texture, at end of baking, broil for additional 2 minutes. One pound chicken yields a big bowl full of popcorn chicken. Just keep munching! 

Have a great day! -Savita

This delicious Collection is perfect for Game Day!

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Baked Popcorn Chicken with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Dip

Baked Popcorn Chicken with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Dip
Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Cuisine: American () Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 1 lb Popcorn Chicken - Serves: 4
(No. of servings depends on serving size.)

Ingredients

Baked Popcorn Chicken
Garlic-Parmesan Dipping Sauce
Smart Swap: You can also replace dark meat with white meat chicken.

Directions

  • 1. Preheat oven at 450 degree Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with foil, then place a wire wrack on baking sheet and set aside.
  • Step for Recipe - Baked Popcorn Chicken with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Dip 2. Cut chicken into small bite-size (big popped popcorn size) chunks. Transfer to a ziploc bag with buttermilk. Add 1/4 tsp salt, hot sauce (if using) and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Close the bag and massage the chicken. Set aside. Additional Notes: Tip: For some spice kick and flavor, add 8-10 dash of your fav hot sauce in buttermilk.
  • Step for Recipe - Baked Popcorn Chicken with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Dip 3. To make garlic-parmesan dipping sauce, in a food processor combine all the ingredients and process to make a smooth creamy sauce. Remove in a bowl and set aside.
    Step for Recipe - Baked Popcorn Chicken with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Dip 4. In three wide separate bowls, add bread crumbs, eggs, and flour separately. Season breadcrumbs with 1/2 tsp paprika, lemon zest, parsley and 1/4 tsp salt. Season flour with salt and black pepper. Season egg wash with salt and pepper. (Beat eggs until smooth and not lumpy.) Additional Notes: To insure better flavor, it is very important to season both flours and breadcrumbs.
  • Step for Recipe - Baked Popcorn Chicken with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Dip 5. Spray wire rack on baking sheet with cooking spray. With clean hands, transfer buttermilk chicken in flour and coat well. Transfer flour coated chicken to egg wash and then to bread crumbs. Keep placing bread crumb coated pieces on wire rack spacing at-least 1/2 inch apart. To avoid mess, keep one hand for wet and one for dry ingredients. Additional Notes: To avoid mess, keep one hand for wet and one for dry ingredients.
    Step for Recipe - Baked Popcorn Chicken with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Dip 6. Bake in preheated oven for 12-14 minutes or until chicken is golden, crispy and fully cooked.
  • Step for Recipe - Baked Popcorn Chicken with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Dip 7. Transfer chicken to a platter and serve with parmesan dipping sauce. Enjoy!!
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Tag @SAVITACHEFDEHOME on Instagram and hashtag it #SAVITACHEFDEHOME

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15 Responses

  1. This looks really good & healthy to serve at my son's birthday party. To minimize being in the kitchen during the party do you think I can bale these the night before and then warm them up well before serving?
    Hi Samantha, you can bake these night before. I would warm these in oven instead of microwave so that popcorn retain their crispiness. I hope it helps. Happy Birthday wishes to your son. Enjoy!
  2. Baked Chicken Popcorn...yeah its way too healthy then the fried one
    thanks, Alka! Indeed, oven baked chicken is much healthier than fried.
  3. I love popcorn chicken and really love that yours is baked! It looks so crunchy and flavorful. That dipping sauce also looks fantastic!
    thanks, Keri! I'm addicted serving baked chicken in my parties. speciily for game day, Nothing better than crunchy finger food!
  4. Wow does this chicken look amazing, Savita! I've always wanted to make my own popcorn chicken, so now I have the perfect recipe to try out. I love the garlic parmesan dip, too!
    Thank you so much, Gayle, for such sweet words. I hope you get chance to try this recipe soon.
  5. This popcorn chicken looks so tasty I want to be a guest in your party! Many thanks for participating in this shop #client
    Adriana, thanks! You are welcome any day, my friend! I can host a party specially for you :)
  6. The chicken popcorn looks PERFECT! Delicious and healthy too.. :D
    Thanks, Arpita! Indeed, baked chicken is much healthier than fried and easier to cook too!
  7. Yum! I would wipe the platter and dipping bowl clean if you put that in front of me!
    Thanks, Bach for sweet words! I would love to present a big bowl of popcorn chicken with dip to you , any day!
  8. Wow, they look absolutely gorgeous, - perfect finger snacks :) Love that dip too