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chicken poppers, air fried on a metal plate drizzled with honey mayo sauce.
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4.50 from 4 votes

Chicken Poppers

These perfect bite-size Chicken Poppers are addictively good and take just 30 minutes to make! Lightly breaded in a sweet and savory flour mixture and then air fried until crisp golden brown, they are served with a creamy mayo honey mustard sauce. You can pop them right into your mouth, serve them over a green salad, or fry some up for a party! 
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer chicken poppers, chicken poppers
Servings: 6
Calories: 381kcal

Ingredients

Sauce

  • ½ cup mayo
  • 2 tablespoons mustard regular prepared yellow mustard
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • salt and pepper to taste

Chicken

  • pounds chicken breasts skinless or boneless, or chicken tenders, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

  • Preheat your air fryer  to 380°F (193°C) if needed.
  • Add all the sauce ingredients to a small bowl, whisk well and refrigerate until ready for serving.
    process shots showing how to make chicken poppers in the air fryer.
  • In a large ziploc bag add the flour, sugar, salt, paprika and pepper. Close the bag and shake it so that all ingredients are mixed well.
    process shots showing how to make chicken poppers in the air fryer.
  • Add the chicken pieces to the ziploc bag, close it and shake it until each piece is fully coated in the flour mixture.
    process shots showing how to make chicken poppers in the air fryer.
  • Remove the chicken pieces from the ziploc bag, shake all the excess flour from them and spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with a little cooking spray. Place the chicken in the basket in a single layer and spray them as well with a bit of cooking spray. Put the basket into the air fryer and and air fry the chicken for 15 minutes. Remove the basket halfway through the cooking time to shake the poppers around.
    process shots showing how to make chicken poppers in the air fryer.
  • Serve hot with the mayo/mustard sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

  • Pat the chicken dry. Pat the chicken dry before cutting it into pieces to remove any excess moisture. This will help to create a better coating on the chicken.
  • Use the powdered sugar. The sugar takes this air fryer chicken poppers recipe to the next level by creating a savory sweet coating on the chicken pieces and it also helps brown the chicken. 
  • Temp the chicken. To ensure that chicken is fully cooked, use an instant-read digital thermometer to make sure that it has reached an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C). 
  • Leftover chicken poppers will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months in an airtight container or sealed freezer bag.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 694mg | Potassium: 481mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 219IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 2mg