This Paleo Popcorn Chicken is healthier and allergy friendly! It is made in the air fryer for the crispiest texture without all the added oil from frying.
What's not to love about popcorn chicken? It's got to be one of my favorite foods. It's high protein, crunchy, and salty! But traditional popcorn chicken is usually made with corn flour and fried in inflammatory seed oils. So, let me teach you how to make an easier, healthy popcorn chicken at home. My homemade popcorn chicken recipe is also completely gluten free and dairy free.
What Makes this Popcorn Chicken Recipe Healthy
- It's made without gluten or grains for a gut friendly and low-inflammation dish. We use plantain chips to achieve the crispy coating on this fried chicken. Plantain chips make for the perfect breading.
- This air fryer popcorn chicken recipe is also nut free, low FODMAP, and nightshade free so it fits most diets. It can even be made AIP friendly!
- It's air fried without inflammatory oils (like corn oil, peanut oil, or vegetable oil) and this also reduces the overall fat content since we won't be using excess oil.
- It's high protein, making this paleo air fryer chicken recipe perfect for the whole family! The kids will love this crunchy chicken recipe as much as the adults.
Paleo Popcorn Chicken Ingredients:
- Chicken breast: you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat.
- Plantain chips: the base of our breading mixture! There are many different brands out there. If you are watching your seed oil intake, be sure to use a brand that makes their chips with coconut or avocado oil!
- Tapioca flour or arrowroot starch: part of our dry ingredients for the breading.
- Eggs: see below for substitutions if you can't have eggs.
- Sea salt and spices to taste: add things like black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika. You can use whatever your favorite spice blend is for chicken recipes too.
How to Make Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken:
- Dice the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces (about 1 inch cubes).
- Blitz the plantain chips, tapioca starch, and any spices in a food processor. Pour this mixture into a large bowl.
- Whisk eggs in a small bowl for the egg wash.
- Line up egg, chip mixture, and air fryer basket (I like to line mine with parchment paper for easy clean up!).
- Dip the chicken cubes in the egg mixture then coat in the chip mixture. Place chicken pieces in a single layer in air fryer basket (you may have to cook in batches).
- Air fry at 350F for 7-10 minutes until chicken is golden brown and done. Cooking time will vary based on your air fryer.
Storage
Store any leftover popcorn chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in the air fryer at 350F for a couple of minutes. You can also reheat the chicken in the oven, just broil for a few minutes at the end to keep it crispy.
FAQ
What if I can't have egg?
If you can't eat eggs, but still want to make this gluten-free popcorn chicken, use a mixture of milk and oil. Combine 1 cup of milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of oil, whisk and use instead of the eggs. This will make this recipe completely autoimmune paleo friendly too if you stick to a dairy free milk like coconut milk.
What if I don't have an air fryer?
If you don't have an air fryer, you can try baking the popcorn chicken in the oven. Although I have not tested this method myself, I think it would still work fine! Line the coated chicken pieces on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350F for 10-15 minutes. You could even broil the chicken for a couple of minutes at the end to make sure you get that crispy texture.
What to Serve This Healthy Popcorn Chicken With
I love serving popcorn chicken with a honey mustard sauce. As a kid, my go-to meal at restaurants was some form of chicken tenders dipped in honey. Now that I'm an adult who likes mustard, a honey mustard sauce is my go-to! You can use whatever your favorite dipping sauce is though. Ketchup, mayo, sour cream, BBQ sauce, hot sauce... whatever you like for that perfect delicious bite!
More Healthy Gluten Free Chicken Dinners
Spinach and Feta Chicken Meatballs
Sheet Pan Honey Balsamic Chicken and Veggies
Curried Chicken and Veggie Stir Fry
Paleo Popcorn Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lbs chicken breast diced
- 1 bag plantain chips
- 2 tablespoon tapioca or arrowroot starch
- 2 eggs see notes above for egg subs
- Salt and spices to taste*
Instructions
- Start by dicing your chicken into cubes.
- Blitz the chips, starch, and any spices you are using together in the food processor until the chips are in crumbs. You can also do this in a bag, if needed. Pour this mixture into a large bowl.
- Whisk the eggs in a small bowl.
- Line up your egg, chip mixture, and air fryer basket.
- Dip the chicken in the eggs then coat in the chip mixture. Line chicken in an even layer in air fryer basket (you may have to cook in batches).
- Air fry at 350F for 7-10 minutes until chicken is done.
- Enjoy!
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