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Delish Baked Honey BBQ Popcorn Chicken

Delish Baked Honey BBQ Popcorn Chicken

Crunchy bite-sized baked chicken tossed in a glossy honey BBQ sauce. Family-friendly, weeknight-fast, and oven-baked for a lighter take on a game-day favorite.
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Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients
 

Main Ingredients

  • 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1.5 cup buttermilk for marinating
  • 1 tbsp hot sauce optional
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 cup cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1.25 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • cooking oil spray for coating rack and tops
  • 0.5 cup honey
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce use your favorite
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped optional, for garnish
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds optional, for garnish

Instructions

Preparation Steps

  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment and set wire racks on top. Mist racks generously with cooking spray.
  • In a bowl, combine buttermilk and hot sauce. Add chicken pieces and marinate for 15 to 20 minutes while you prep the coatings.
  • In a shallow dish, whisk flour, cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. In a second dish, beat the eggs. Add panko to a third dish.
  • Drain excess buttermilk from chicken. Working in batches, dredge chicken in the flour mix, dip in egg, then coat in panko. Arrange on prepared racks and lightly mist the tops with cooking spray.
  • Bake for 10 minutes, flip pieces, mist again, and bake 8 to 10 minutes more until golden and the thickest pieces reach 165°F.
  • While chicken bakes, make the honey BBQ sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, simmer honey, BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, and melted butter for 3 to 4 minutes until glossy.
  • Toss hot popcorn chicken with about half of the sauce to coat. Rest 2 minutes, then drizzle or serve with remaining sauce. Garnish with parsley and sesame seeds.

Notes

For extra crunch, toast the panko in a dry skillet for 2 to 3 minutes before coating. Air-fryer option: cook at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking halfway.