Description
Sweet and Spicy Baked Popcorn Chicken is a perfect balance of crispy, tender chicken with a flavorful, zesty glaze. The tangy sweetness from the orange glaze combined with the heat from chili garlic sauce makes this dish irresistible. Serve it as a snack, appetizer, or main dish with your favorite garnishes!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups panko
- 1/4 cup unbleached, all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- Optional garnishes: sesame seeds, sliced chives, sliced green onion
- For the Sweet and Spicy Orange Glaze:
- 2/3 cup soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce (add more to give the chicken more heat!)
- 1/4 cup orange zest (about 2 medium oranges)
- 1/4 cup sesame oil
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste or ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- In a bowl, mix together the buttermilk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Add the chicken cubes and let them marinate for at least 10 minutes.
- In a separate shallow dish, combine the panko and flour. Toss the marinated chicken pieces in the panko mixture, coating them evenly.
- Place the coated chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
- While the chicken is baking, prepare the sweet and spicy glaze: In a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, orange zest, sesame oil, orange juice, brown sugar, ginger, and balsamic vinegar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to form a slurry. Add it to the glaze and continue to simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
- Once the chicken is done, remove it from the oven and toss the chicken in the sweet and spicy orange glaze until well coated.
- Optional: Garnish with sesame seeds, sliced chives, or sliced green onion before serving.
Notes
- If you prefer more heat, increase the amount of chili garlic sauce or add some red pepper flakes to the glaze.
- Serve the chicken with steamed rice or a simple salad for a complete meal.
- To keep the chicken extra crispy, serve immediately after tossing in the glaze, or serve the glaze on the side as a dipping sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (4-5 pieces)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg