In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, and garlic powder.
Pour the buttermilk into a separate bowl and the panko crumbs onto a plate.
Dredge a piece of chicken into the flour mixture until evenly coated then dip in buttermilk, letting excess drip off. Lastly, roll in panko bread crumbs until evenly coated. Transfer to a platter.
Preheat 1-inch of oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat. Adjust the heat to keep the oil at 350˚F. Fry the popcorn chicken in small batches, leaving space between each piece and flipping as needed. Fry until golden brown and 165˚F at the deepest part of the chicken on a thermometer.
Remove the popcorn chicken from the oil and let it rest on a paper towel-lined plate. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce!
Notes
*Nutrition calculation is only an estimate as it is difficult to quantify oil quantity from frying.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
347
% Daily Value*
Fat
14
g
22
%
Saturated Fat
3
g
19
%
Trans Fat
0.02
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
8
g
Cholesterol
112
mg
37
%
Sodium
748
mg
33
%
Potassium
702
mg
20
%
Carbohydrates
13
g
4
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
2
g
2
%
Protein
39
g
78
%
Vitamin A
101
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
65
mg
7
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.