Hot honey was invented by accident in 2005 when a Brooklyn pizzeria spilled chili oil into honey—now it's everywhere.
Hot Honey Popcorn Chicken
Get ready to indulge in our mouthwatering Hot Honey Popcorn Chicken, a guilt-free delight packed with flavor and clocking in at under 500 calories! This crispy treat combines juicy chicken bites, crunchy popcorn coating, and a drizzle of spicy-sweet honey that will have your taste buds dancing. Perfect for a fun snack or a party appetizer, this recipe is sure to be a hit!
Prep
15
min
Cook
15
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- chicken (454 g)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(2)
- light butter (28 g)
- 1 egg
🫙Pantry Staples(3)
- honey
- panko (120 ml)
- rice (480 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(6)
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- oregano
- paprika
- salt
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- hot sauce
📦Other(3)
- chilli flakes
- chives
- cornflour (120 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Slice your chicken into strips and then into small bite-sized pieces.
- 2
Crack an egg, beat it with a fork.
- 3
In a separate bowl, add some cornflour and some panko for extra crunch.
- 4
Add paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt and lots of black pepper, then mix until fully combined.
- 5
Add the chicken, make sure it's fully coated, then into the egg and give it a good mix.
- 6
Back into the flour for one final coating.
- 7
Get it into your air fryer and spray it with oil.
- 8
Air fry for about 12 to 15 minutes, giving it a flip halfway through and another spray of oil.
- 9
Melt some light butter in a pan, add hot sauce, honey and chilli flakes, and bring this to a light simmer.
- 10
Once your popcorn chicken is ready, add it into the sauce and give it a mix until it's fully coated.
- 11
Serve your rice topped with the hot honey popcorn chicken and garnished with chives.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Double-dredge your chicken by going flour → egg → flour again, ensuring each piece sits in the coating for 30 seconds to create better adhesion through gluten development.technique30 seconds per coating
- ✓Use a 2:1 ratio of cornflour to panko breadcrumbs because cornflour creates a crispier base while panko adds textural contrast without absorbing excess oil.ingredient2:1 ratio
- ✓Preheat your air fryer to 380°F for 3 minutes before adding chicken - this immediate high heat creates steam that puffs the coating and prevents oil absorption.equipment380°F for 3 minutes
- ✓Cut chicken pieces to uniform ¾-inch cubes so they cook evenly in the 12-15 minute timeframe - larger pieces will be raw inside while smaller ones overcook.technique¾-inch cubes
- ✓Spray oil at the 7-minute flip point when the Maillard reaction is most active (280-300°F surface temp) to maximize browning and prevent the coating from drying out.timing7 minutes, 280-300°F
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
15
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Hot honey was invented by accident in 2005 when a Brooklyn pizzeria spilled chili oil into honey—now it's everywhere.
Hot Honey Popcorn Chicken
Get ready to indulge in our mouthwatering Hot Honey Popcorn Chicken, a guilt-free delight packed with flavor and clocking in at under 500 calories! This crispy treat combines juicy chicken bites, crunchy popcorn coating, and a drizzle of spicy-sweet honey that will have your taste buds dancing. Perfect for a fun snack or a party appetizer, this recipe is sure to be a hit!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- chicken (454 g)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(2)
- light butter (28 g)
- 1 egg
🫙Pantry Staples(3)
- honey
- panko (120 ml)
- rice (480 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(6)
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- oregano
- paprika
- salt
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- hot sauce
📦Other(3)
- chilli flakes
- chives
- cornflour (120 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Slice your chicken into strips and then into small bite-sized pieces.
- 2
Crack an egg, beat it with a fork.
- 3
In a separate bowl, add some cornflour and some panko for extra crunch.
- 4
Add paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt and lots of black pepper, then mix until fully combined.
- 5
Add the chicken, make sure it's fully coated, then into the egg and give it a good mix.
- 6
Back into the flour for one final coating.
- 7
Get it into your air fryer and spray it with oil.
- 8
Air fry for about 12 to 15 minutes, giving it a flip halfway through and another spray of oil.
- 9
Melt some light butter in a pan, add hot sauce, honey and chilli flakes, and bring this to a light simmer.
- 10
Once your popcorn chicken is ready, add it into the sauce and give it a mix until it's fully coated.
- 11
Serve your rice topped with the hot honey popcorn chicken and garnished with chives.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Double-dredge your chicken by going flour → egg → flour again, ensuring each piece sits in the coating for 30 seconds to create better adhesion through gluten development.technique30 seconds per coating
- ✓Use a 2:1 ratio of cornflour to panko breadcrumbs because cornflour creates a crispier base while panko adds textural contrast without absorbing excess oil.ingredient2:1 ratio
- ✓Preheat your air fryer to 380°F for 3 minutes before adding chicken - this immediate high heat creates steam that puffs the coating and prevents oil absorption.equipment380°F for 3 minutes
- ✓Cut chicken pieces to uniform ¾-inch cubes so they cook evenly in the 12-15 minute timeframe - larger pieces will be raw inside while smaller ones overcook.technique¾-inch cubes
- ✓Spray oil at the 7-minute flip point when the Maillard reaction is most active (280-300°F surface temp) to maximize browning and prevent the coating from drying out.timing7 minutes, 280-300°F