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!
PrintPopcorn Chicken
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 5-6 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Description
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!
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 100g / 3 cups rice krispies
- 40g / 1 & ½ oz parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200c / 390f and line two baking tray with parchment paper.
- Chop the chicken breasts into small bite sized pieces and place in a large bowl.
- Blitz the Rice Krispies, parmesan, oregano and garlic powder in a food processor. Once well mixed, add the olive oil and blitz again then spread the krispie mixture onto a plate.
- Beat the eggs and milk in a bowl
- Dip the chicken pieces into the egg and then transfer to the plate and coat with the krispie mixture. You can do approximately 6-8 pieces at a time.
- Place the coated chicken pieces onto the baking trays and bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve immediately with some chopped vegetables and a dip. You could also serve them with some chips or potato wedges.
Notes
This Popcorn Chicken is best eaten immediately after cooking. It can be frozen but it is best to freeze it before cooking. Freeze on a tray or large plate in a single layer and once frozen transfer to a freezer bag or container. Bake from frozen but add a few extra minutes to the cooking time to ensure they are fully cooked through.
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
PePeLuche says
I did use this recipe tonight but instead used cornflakes (from another comment) since I don’t buy Rice Krispies and was looking to make something yummy
Without a market trip. WOW! These were FANTASTIC! I loved the extra flavor from the corn flakes but want to try the Krispies in the future as well! I buy ALOT of chicken breast because of my own diet and I love that I can use more of that with the kids and not have to buy another form of meat. Wish I could make these EVERYNIGHT! Going to play with recipe a bit with other dry pantry items! Ty!!!!
★★★★★
Nathan says
This was a huge hit with my 4 boys that range in age from 17 months to 14 years old! Thanks so much! It’s wonderful to find a healthier alternative to the usual frozen nuggets.
★★★★★
Lottie says
It worked for us! Kids loved it! It was easy and fast to make and it was gone before we knew it! I will make this recipe again and again.
★★★★★
Jazza says
I made this tonight and was a bit hit. My kids wanted more and was so easy to make. Will be making again!
Thanks for the recipe 🙂
★★★★★
Ronnie says
This is soooo good! Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Anonymous says
Excellent the kids loved it.
★★★★★
Puva says
Great recipe, looked just like the pictures and tasted great. Definitely healthy and my toddler enjoyed it with some home made pasta sauce .
★★★★★
Jen says
Hi Puva! Did you put salt on it?
Roneeta Sait says
I didn’t put salt on it but the kids dunked it in sauce. I’ve also put it in a wrap with mayonnaise in which works well too ☺️
Heather B says
I made this tonight for my 22 month old son and he loved it. I have struggled to get him to eat meat in general so I’m really pleased I came across your recipe. I really enjoyed it too, thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
MAEY says
Was so good.
Peter says
Didn’t have enough rice bubbles, so substituded with some cornflakes. Still great! Kids (and me) loved them!
★★★★★
Sajda says
Thank you so much for mentioning the gluten free and giving a gluten free alternative
Lisa Miles says
I love this healthy alternative to chicken nuggets! Also much tastier than the usual shop bought frozen ones.
★★★★★
Ashley says
I made this for me family tonight and it was so good!! No leftovers at all! I wish I had made more lol
★★★★★