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    Home » Air Fryer

    Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Chicken

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the disclosure.    

    Published: Mar 31, 2022 | Updated: Feb 5, 2023 | Author: Paint the Kitchen Red | 4 Comments

    JUMP TO RECIPE
    Black plate with crispy popcorn chicken with orange sauce in glass bowl

    Air fryer frozen popcorn chicken cooks up crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Make frozen popcorn chicken in the air fryer in less time than it takes to bake them in the oven or deep-fry them. You can use a traditional air fryer or an Instant Pot air fryer.

    Black plate with crispy popcorn chicken with orange sauce in glass bowl

    The air fryer does such a great job at heating frozen foods. I’ve already shown you how to cook frozen sweet potato fries, frozen steak fries, chicken nuggets, tater tots, and taquitos. In this recipe, I show you how to make frozen popcorn chicken in the air fryer.

    Popcorn chicken is a term used for small bite-sized pieces of breaded chicken that resemble kernels of popcorn. They’re a great snack especially for a hungry crowd or as an after-school snack.

    Serve popcorn chicken with a dipping sauce for an easy party appetizer.

    For a more substantial chicken snack, frozen chicken tenders are another option.

    Here are some more Air Fryer Recipes you might enjoy:
    – Air fryer frozen french fries
    – Air fryer cauliflower
    – Air fryer frozen potato skins

    Tips for Success


    Preheat the air fryer if the air fryer doesn’t have a built-in preheat functionality. Some air fryers preheat before starting to count down. e.g. the Instant Pot Duo Crisp and Cosori.


    Don’t thaw the popcorn chicken before air frying. Keep it frozen until ready to cook.


    Every air fryer will vary. The first time you make this recipe, monitor the popcorn chicken and check on them 2 minutes before the cooking time is up. Adjust the recipe as needed.


    Don’t overcrowd the basket. It’s best to place the chicken pieces in one layer, without stacking them so they crisp evenly.


    Shake the basket or turn the chicken halfway through air frying.

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    FAQS


    Do I need to coat the air fryer basket with oil?

    You don’t need to use any oil in this recipe.

    How long do you air fry popcorn chicken?

    Cook them for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, shaking the basket once at 5 minutes.

    Can I use the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid accessory or Duo Crisp to make this recipe?

    Yes, you can use the same timing and temperature to make air fryer popcorn chicken using the Instant Pot air fryer lid, Duo Crisp or Pro Crisp.

    What brand of frozen popcorn chicken was used in this recipe?

    I used Foster Farms brand this time but also use Tyson popcorn chicken (Any’tizers). You can use the same timings for any brand. Just keep an eye on the chicken and check on it two minutes before the time’s up.

    What brand of air fryer was this recipe tested with?

    This recipe was tested using Cosori and Duo Crisp brands of air fryer.

    What should I do if the popcorn chicken isn’t crispy?

    Air fry the chicken for another 2 to 3 minutes.

    Can I reheat the chicken in the air fryer?

    Yes, the chicken can be reheated by air frying them for 2 to 3 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Can I double the quantity?

    It depends on the capacity of your air fryer. You just need to make sure that they’re not packed too tight and are in one layer.

    If you need to air fry double the quantity, you can do it in two batches. The second batch may take less time to cook because the air fryer is hot.

    How to make frozen popcorn chicken in the air fryer

    Yellow bag of Foster Farms popcorn chicken
    Frozen popcorn chicken
    air fryer basket with frozen popcorn chicken , air fryer basket with cooked popcorn chicken
    Left: Frozen popcorn chicken Right: Air fried popcorn chicken
    1. Keep popcorn chicken frozen until ready to use
    2. Preheat air fryer
    3. Place frozen chicken in the air fryer basket
    4. Air fry popcorn chicken

    See recipe details below

    Black plate with crispy popcorn chicken with orange sauce in glass bowl

    Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Chicken

    Air fryer frozen popcorn chicken cooks up perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. And you can make them in less time than it takes to bake them in the oven or deep-fry them. Use a traditional air fryer or an Instant Pot air fryer.
    5 from 4 votes
    PRINT PIN RATE
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings (1/2 bag)
    Calories: 190
    Author: Paint the Kitchen Red
    Prevent Screen from Going Dark

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot Air Fryer or
    • Traditional Air Fryer
    • Silicone tongs

    Ingredients
      

    • 1/2 bag popcorn chicken or as many as will fit in a row *

    Instructions
     

    Air Fryer Instructions

    • Place the empty air fryer basket in the air fryer and preheat at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. **
    • Add the frozen popcorn chicken to the air fryer basket.
    • Air fry for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, turning them over with tongs or shaking the basket at the 5 minute mark.
    • Transfer the popcorn chicken to a serving platter and serve with a dipping sauce.

    Notes

    • * Foster Farms popcorn chicken was used in this recipe. Nutrition information is for Foster Farms Popcorn Chicken. However the same timings can be used for  Tyson Any tizers popcorn chicken.
    • Don’t thaw the frozen chicken before air frying.
    • ** Preheat the air fryer if the air fryer doesn’t have a built-in preheat functionality.
    • Every air fryer will vary. The first time you make this recipe, monitor the popcorn chicken and adjust the air frying time as needed.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 3 oz. | Calories: 190 kcal | Carbohydrates: 15 g | Protein: 12 g | Fat: 9 g | Saturated Fat: 1.5 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4 g | Cholesterol: 35 mg | Sodium: 440 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 1 g
    Course Sides
    Cuisine American
    Have you made this recipe? I love seeing your photos! Tag me on Instagram @PaintTheKitchenRed or #PaintTheKitchenRed!

    Thank you for visiting Paint the Kitchen Red. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please don’t use any content without prior written permission. If you’ve made this recipe and would like to share it with your friends, please link back to this recipe. Thank you!

    I am not a certified nutritionist.  I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers.  If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons,  I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.

    If you loved this recipe, please give it a five ⭐ rating in the comment section below and please share it on social media using the social media share buttons at the top and bottom of this post. Thank you so much!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brett

      July 14, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      Another thing to add onto this – what I did tonight was cooked for about 8 minutes and then dumped them into a mixing bowl with your favorite wing sauce, I chose Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan…then throw them back in for the last 2 minutes to cook the sauce in. Tasted amazing!

      Reply
      • Paint the Kitchen Red

        July 14, 2022 at 8:36 pm

        What a great idea – thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    2. Clara

      April 06, 2022 at 10:01 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you. Perfect timings.

      Reply
      • Paint the Kitchen Red

        April 07, 2022 at 3:06 am

        You’re welcome, Clara – happy to help.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Neena and welcome! I am the creator, photographer, and author of recipes and tips at Paint the Kitchen Red. I live in the glorious west in Salt Lake City, Utah with my family.

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