Cornflake Crusted Cajun Popcorn Chicken (Baked)

Hot and crispy, this Cornflake Crusted Cajun Popcorn Chicken is baked in the oven and so much better than the deep-fried KFC version. They’re delicious, crunchy and healthy and make a fun family dinner or party appetizer!

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Popcorn chicken was definitely one of my favorites at KFC, but now that I know how bad-for-you those things are, I had to try out a homemade version. 

These cajun spiced bites were a total hit; I even made my own cajun seasoning here.

Of course I was a fan of the taste, but they also looked and smelled so good, that my roommate asked me for the recipe and tried them out herself. 

She loved them, and so did her family. And now they’re on repeat there.

Ingredients for this Spicy Cornflake Chicken Nuggets

• Chicken breast: Makes these cornflake bites a lot healthier
• Cornflakes – You can use the regular Kellogg’s, but a good store-brand alternative would be just fine.
• Almond flour – It replaces the typical all-purpose flour or cornstarch in regular versions, and makes this recipe Gluten-free! 
• Cajun Seasoning – I made my own (see below), but you can use a store-bought one too.
• Salt – This is optional, depending on whether or not your seasoning already has salt.
• Cooking spray/oil (for greasing)

Homemade Cajun Seasoning for these Bites

You can buy some cajun seasoning at the store, but I made these chicken nuggets with my own blend:

• Paprika
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Italian Seasoning
• Oregano
• Cayenne Pepper
• Black Pepper
• Pinch of Crushed Red Chili Flakes for some heat

How to make Baked Popcorn Chicken without Frying

A super easy process!

• Stir the almond milk and lemon juice in a large bowl to make a non dairy buttermilk. Let it sit for 10 minutes to “sour”.
• Add the 2” size chopped chicken, coat well, and let rest another 10 minutes.
• Crush the cornflakes cereal in a shallow bowl and add in the almond flour, cajun seasoning and salt.
• Take a piece of chicken at a time and dredge it in the spicy cornflake breading.
• Place on a parchment lined baking sheet, spray with cooking spray and bake at 425°F.
  I did 15 minutes, but you would need less or more time depending on the size of your chicken. Don’t cook it too much or the meat will dry out.

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You can also use an air fryer here – cook them for about 15-18 minutes at about 375°F.

Tips for Crispy Crunchy Baked Cornflake Chicken Breast

• Don’t crush the corn flakes too much (that they turn into flour), some small chunky pieces are good.
• Use bite-sized chicken pieces; Too big and they won’t be as crunchy in every bite.
• Coat all sides of the chicken completely when dredging.
• Spray cornflake crusted chicken with cooking oil spray on the baking sheet before you bake them in the oven.
• Flip the chicken over for the last 3-5 minutes of baking so the bottom side gets some crunch too.

How to store this Cornflake Crumbs Baked Chicken

This chicken has a crispy and crunchy coating when just baked, so it’s best had fresh.

If you have extras, they’ll keep in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.

For a freezer-friendly alternative, let each piece freeze individually on a baking sheet and then place them in a freezer-safe zipper bag.

With both options, reheat them in the oven for about 7-10 minutes at 350˚F, or use an air fryer. You could microwave them, but they won’t be as crunchy.

What about making it ahead of time and then baking?

To meal prep, first dredge and coat the chicken in the seasoned cornflakes.

Then, like the cooked version, freeze each cornflake crusted chicken popcorn individually on a baking sheet and then transfer them to a freezer-safe zipper bag until ready to be baked. 

When it’s time to cook, just bake them straight out of the freezer, but for about 5 minutes longer.

Why making popcorn Chicken at home is healthy

• Corn flakes for the crunch, i.e. without breadcrumbs!
• It’s without buttermilk to since the recipe calls for a dairy free “buttermilk” made with almond milk.
• No real flour, just almond flour, so is gluten free.
• Baked in the oven, so not only is there no deep fryer needed, but this also makes them low fat hence lower in calories

Some ways to serve this spicy healthy appetizer

These little chicken nuggets have so much flavor of their own, they don’t even need any sauce to go with!

I did try some out though, so if you want to serve these as a party appetizer, I can say that barbecue sauce and ranch were my favorites! I’d recommend Primal Kitchen’s classic unsweetened BBQ.

But outside of the sauces, here’s some other good pairings:

• Crispy Smoky Sweet Potato Fries
• Roasted Cauliflower & Broccoli
• A classic Salad if you’re feeling extra healthy