Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken is one of the most famous street foods and this recipe is the perfect poppable bite for game day snacking or a quick weeknight dinner. Bite-sized pieces of chicken, crispy coating, aromatic basil, and seasoning salt mix! Perfect snack after some brown sugar milk tea popsicles or strawberry lychee panna cotta.
This past month has been fun with lots of little getaways… some work-related ones and some just purely play. For someone who enjoys traveling, I really enjoy it though my pile of laundry has doubled in just a couple of weeks, there’s nothing more exciting than exploring various new places and experience new things.
Latest Recipes
I even secretly made a list of places I must visit before I die. It is quite a long list, though you can summarize it as “travel around the world”. And Taiwan is one of the many countries I’ve been wanting to visit. I was only two years old when my parents took me there, so I couldn’t remember anything about it at all. From what I heard, Taiwan is a mecca for night markets, which sell this crispy popcorn chicken. And oh, if you’re a fan of bubble tea, it was originated from Taiwan.
The ingredients
- Chicken. Be sure to use skinless and boneless chicken. I prefer chicken breast; however, chicken thigh tastes better and juicier
- Spices, such as five-spice powder and white pepper powder. You can find both of these items in any Asian grocery stores. The five-spice powder is a blend of star anise, fennel seed, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom
- Shaoxing cooking wine, soy sauce, sesame oil. Shaoxing wine is similar to mirin in Japanese cooking. A better, closer choice is also dry sherry
- Salt, sugar. Sugar will balance the savory flavor of this Taiwanese popcorn chicken
- Egg. Will only use yolk
- Flour. Rice flour and cornstarch will give a crisp texture to this popcorn chicken
- Oil. For deep frying
- Basil. I like adding fresh basil leaves to the mix to give a crunchy to balance between sweet and savory
Can I make this Taiwanese popcorn chicken in an air fryer?
Yes and here’s how to air fry this popcorn chicken
- Coat the chicken with marinade ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours
- Preheat the air fryer for 7 minutes at 400 F
- Stir cornstarch and egg into the chicken mixture. Add rice flour to a flat plate. Lightly dredge the chicken to the flour, toss to coat evenly
- Spray the basket with vegetable oil. Place the chicken into air fryer and ensure there is space between each piece. Spray the top of the chicken lightly and cook at 400 F for 6 minutes. Flip over and cook for another 6 minutes
- Spray the basil with oil and add to the basket, along with the chicken. Lower the temperature to 350F and cook for another 3-4 minutes
Variations
Aside from chicken, you can make enoki mushroom dredged in the same coating and deep-fried or air fried which I shared the recipe in this mushroom oatmeal congee. Or medium or firm tofu cut into bigger cubes. You can also cook cauliflower, broccoli, or eggplant.
Storing and leftovers
I usually don’t have any leftovers when it comes to popcorn chicken. However, when I do, I add them to tacos, burgers, or over rice to make another meal.
If you love nuggets, then you will surely enjoy this recipe too. The crunchy bite-sized pieces of chicken are dusted with a special mix of seasoning which makes them quite addictive; hence it’s a good snack for supper time or the time when you plan on skipping a meal. And for me, there’s nothing more addictive than this Taiwanese popcorn chicken, followed by a cup of bubble tea.
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken cut into bite-size pieces (dark or white meat)
Marinade:
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon five-spice powder
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon white pepper powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon sugar
For frying:
- A handful of fresh Thai basil leaves
- 1 cup brown rice flour or potato flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 large egg yolk lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon five-spice powder for dusting
- White pepper powder for dusting option
- Oil for deep-frying
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, coat the chicken with marinade ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours
- Add oil into a pot or wok for frying over medium-high heat
- Stir cornstarch and egg into the chicken mixture. Add the brown rice flour to a flat plate
- When the oil is heated, add the chicken to the flour, toss to coat evenly, and then place into the hot oil. Let chicken fry on both sides until medium brown (3-4 minutes). When done, place chicken on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain excess oil
- Add fresh basil leaves and fry for a few seconds. Sprinkle basil on top of chicken and toss/coat with the remaining five-spice powder. Serve immediately while the chicken is still crispy
Nichole says
Oh yum! Popcorn Chicken is THE perfect finger food!
Tracy Guida says
First of all, I LOVE your logo! Super cool. These look super tasty.
Cindys Recipes and Writings says
I could eat a basket full of these!
Linda says
Couldn’t agree more, Cindy 🙂
Stephanie Thi Nguyen says
Hi, just curious, but what do you use for the spice at the end to make it red? I like my popcorn chicken spicy! Can you send me a link of the brand? Thanks in advance!
Linda Kurniadi says
Hi, you can use chili pepper or ancho chili powder 🙂
Tammi Forcier says
These are great! They look delicious!
Linda says
Thank you, Tammi!
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
Taiwan would be so amazing to visit–in the meantime, these will suffice 😉
Linda says
It’s always been my dream to visit Taiwan and try all of their street foods. I hope one day there will be a chance for us to go there 🙂
David @ Spiced says
Wait. Did I read that right? A store that sells mostly popcorn chicken?? I need that store in my life! Correction: I need my neighbors who mow the lawn all the time to move out, and then I need a popcorn chicken store to move in next to me. 🙂
Linda says
That would be Heaven for me too, David 😀
Christie says
We love popcorn chicken here. Now I have a new recipe to try for us!! Yum!
Linda says
Thank you, Christie.
Liz says
Boy does that crispy coating look amazing! And from the list of marinade ingredients, this is one tasty chicken dish!!!
Linda says
Yes, you’re right Liz! It’s tasty and addicting.
Barrie says
What a great and unique twist of flavors for this- sounds addictive!
Linda says
Thank you, Barrie!
Kelly says
Sounds like such a fun month! You will love Taiwan! We visited there around 8 years ago and I still dream about the amazing food. This popcorn is definitely reminding me about our time there.. It looks awesome!
Linda says
Wow! You make me jealous, Kelly. I hope one day I can go there, too 😀
Anne says
I love spicy food, these look amazing!
Linda says
Thank you, Anne!
Jerika says
I’m so excited to try this recipe!:) Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken is new to me but I’m glad I saw this recipe. This is really awesome to try one of the most famous street foods in Taiwan.:) Thanks!
Kayla DiMaggio says
OMG, this Taiwanese popcorn chicken was amazing!! I loved all the flavor and the texture was amazing!