Description
Crispy baked honey bbq popcorn chicken brings southern comfort to dinner tables with irresistible flavor. Golden-brown breaded chicken bites glazed in sweet and tangy sauce promise a crowd-pleasing meal that satisfies hunger and delights taste buds.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 cooking spray
- 1 cup (240 ml) BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup (60 ml) honey
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) butter
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Heat the oven to 400F (200C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a light grease coating.
- Chicken Marination: Immerse chicken pieces in buttermilk for 15-60 minutes to enhance tenderness, allowing flavors to penetrate deeply.
- Breading Mixture: Combine panko, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a comprehensive coating mixture.
- Chicken Coating: Drain excess buttermilk from chicken pieces and thoroughly dredge in the seasoned breading, ensuring complete and even coverage. Arrange coated pieces strategically on the prepared baking sheet.
- Baking Process: Lightly mist chicken with cooking spray to promote crispiness. Roast for 15-20 minutes, rotating midway, until achieving a golden exterior and reaching an internal temperature of 165F (74C).
- Sauce Creation: Merge BBQ sauce, honey, butter, and garlic powder in a saucepan. Gently heat and stir until the mixture transforms into a glossy, uniform glaze.
- Final Glazing: Transfer crisp chicken to a spacious bowl and generously drench with the honey BBQ sauce, ensuring each piece is lavishly and uniformly coated.
Notes
- Let chicken soak in buttermilk for maximum tenderness and flavor absorption. Longer marination (up to 1 hour) enhances moisture and helps break down proteins, creating exceptionally juicy chicken pieces.
- Use a mix of panko and regular breadcrumbs for extra crunch. Pat chicken pieces dry before breading to help breading adhere perfectly and achieve a golden, crispy exterior without becoming soggy.
- Simmer honey BBQ sauce carefully to prevent burning. Adjust thickness by cooking longer for a more concentrated glaze or adding a splash of water for a lighter coating. Taste and balance sweet and tangy flavors.
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken’s internal temperature. Remove from oven exactly at 165F to guarantee food safety without overcooking, maintaining tender and juicy meat throughout the chicken pieces.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg