Popcorn Chicken

Popcorn Chicken makes a really delicious and fun dinner for kids. My recipe is baked to keep it super healthy but still really crispy thanks to the Rice Krispie coating!

Chicken is one of those foods that I really struggle to get my kids to eat. Unless it’s in a nugget form then they are just not interested in trying it. Chicken can be quite bland and dry to a child and so I’m always looking for new and interesting ways to serve it to them.

My daughter recently tried some Popcorn Chicken at a restaurant and absolutely loved it so I decided to make my own at home, keeping it as healthy as possible.

The Popcorn Chicken she had at the restaurant was undoubtedly deep fried but I experimented with coatings and found that using Rice Krispies blitzed up in the food processor actually made the crispiest coating, even when baked in the oven.

Along with the Rice Kripsies I added parmesan cheese, dried oregano and dried garlic powder to add a lovely flavour to the crumb. I then poured in some oil which helps to make the krispies extra crispy when baked.

How To Get The Kids Involved:

This Popcorn Chicken is a great recipe to get the kids involved in making. Once you made the Rice Krispie coating in the food processor you can lay out an assembly line for them to:

• Dip the chicken pieces in the egg mixture
• Coat in the Rice Krispie crumb
• Place onto a baking tray

Nutritional Benefits of Chicken:

I mentioned that despite struggling to get my kids to eat chicken, I am still trying to find new ways for them to try it. Here’s why…

1.Chicken is a really great source of protein. It’s amino acids are essential for muscle growth and development, which is particularly important for fast growing children.

2. Chicken, and in particular chicken breast, is a very lean meat, much more so than red meats such as beef or lamb which container higher amounts of saturated fat.

3. Chicken is also a good source of B Vitamins, Vitamin D and Vitamin A.

Tips For Making Popcorn Chicken:

1. Be sure to chop the chicken up small. It takes a bit of time but ensures you get those small bites of chicken. Using a scissors makes this easier.

2. Don’t be tempted to leave out the olive oil. It helps to make the coating super crispy and gives it that lovely golden brown colour.

3. Don’t pack the popcorn chicken onto one baking tray. By dividing it out into two trays you give each piece space to cook, helping it to get really crispy.

Substitutions:

1. As far as I am aware Rice Krispies are not gluten free due to a malt flavouring that is used in them. Instead you can use other brands of certified gluten free crisped rice alternatives.

2. If you are in Australia Rice Bubbles are the same as Rice Krispies!

3. Dairy free milk can be used in this recipe, as well as a dairy free parmesan cheese alternative.

4. If you want to substitute the egg, you can use just milk to dip the chicken into. You can also try a mixture of milk and yogurt for a slightly thicker coating.

If you try my Popcorn Chicken recipe please do leave me a comment and a star rating below. You can also share your pictures with me on Instagram or Twitter. I always love to see your creations!

If you liked this Popcorn Chicken recipe you may also enjoy:

Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets – These delicious Crispy Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets are a tasty and healthy twist on a classic children’s favourite!

Crispy Baked Salmon Nuggets – Delicious crispy baked salmon nuggets made using fresh salmon fillets