Home
Recipes
Appetizers and Snacks
Meat and Poultry
Chicken
Popcorn Chicken (Taiwanese)

Popcorn Chicken (Taiwanese)

Name: Popcorn Chicken (Taiwanese)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ pounds boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; ½ teaspoon rice vinegar; 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 2 teaspoons grated ginger; 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder; 1 teaspoon ground white pepper; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 egg; 1 cup tempura batter mix, or as needed; peanut oil for frying; 1 bunch Thai basil, chopped; 2 green onions, chopped; 1 pinch ground white pepper; 1 pinch salt

Rating: 4.5 stars

10 Ratings
4 Reviews
5 Photos

These Taiwanese popcorn chicken bites are addictively delicious. Chinese five-spice, ginger, and soy sauce flavor the crispy batter and they are ready in under 30 minutes.

By brandon

Recipe Summary

prep:

15 mins

cook:

20 mins

total:

45 mins

additional:

10 mins

Servings:

Nutrition Info

Directions

Step 1

Combine chicken pieces, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, five-spice powder, white pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Let marinate for 10 minutes.

Advertisement
Step 2

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Step 3

Whisk egg in a small bowl until smooth. Pour tempura batter mix into a second small bowl. Dip chicken pieces one at a time into the egg, then dredge in tempura batter mix, shaking off any excess. Lower chicken pieces carefully into the hot oil in batches. Fry until chicken is golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining chicken.
Step 4

Serve chicken sprinkled with basil leaves, green onions, white pepper, and salt.

Cook's Notes:

Boneless chicken breast works well instead of chicken thighs.

You can also use sweet potato flour instead of tempura batter mix.

Editor's Note:

We have determined the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking. Amount will vary depending on cooking time and temperature, ingredient density, and specific type of oil used.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

524 calories; 35.5 g total fat; 163 mg cholesterol; 1057 mg sodium. 14.3 g carbohydrates; 35.8 g protein; Full Nutrition

Reviews (4)

Most helpful positive review

Pamela

07/08/2018

Just made this for supper and my finicky hubby polished off his portion and more in record time with glowing compliments! The only changes I made were: to use 2 large chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces; and to reduce salt to a pinch as soya sauce and vinegar did the trick for our taste. Really enjoyed these crispy flavourful morsels. Will use this dredging method with tempura batter mix and different flavourings again with chicken and think it would be great with fish or shrimp as well!! Soooo I tried this recipe with fish Banga Mary/Guyanese 'sea trout' and prawns last weekend. WOW!!! Both batches were polished off before I could take photos to post on this site. Needless to say rave reviews all round as well. Read More

Helpful

(4)

10 Ratings

5 star values: 7
4 star values: 1
3 star values: 2
2 star values: 0
1 star values: 0

Reviews: Most Helpful

Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest

Pamela

07/08/2018

Helpful

(4)

Pamela

07/08/2018

Helpful

(4)

barbara

06/29/2018

these came out great Read More

Helpful

(1)

wingertra

03/30/2020

This was delicious! I used chicken breast but, otherwise, followed the recipe exactly. It was tender and juicy and tasted exactly like the popcorn chicken we get at our favorite Taiwanese restaurant in Reno. It was pretty easy to make, though we kept our oil at 350 degrees, otherwise it browned too fast. I definitely recommend this recipe! Read More

Kim Richey

11/20/2018

so yummy Read More

Jeff

02/24/2019

Excellent recipe. I don't use the five-spice but add fish sauce instead. My family loves it dipped in sweet chili sauce. Read More

Marianne

10/31/2019

great recipe Read More

Back to Popcorn Chicken (Taiwanese)

All Reviews for Popcorn Chicken (Taiwanese)

- of Reviews

Nutritional Information

Popcorn Chicken (Taiwanese)

Servings Per Recipe: 4
Calories: 524

% Daily Value *

total fat: 55 %

saturated fat:

cholesterol: 54 %

sodium: 42 %

potassium: 12 %

carbohydrates: 5 %

fiber: 4 %

sugar:

protein: 72 %

exchange other carbs:

vitamin a iu:

niacin equivalents:

vitamin b6:

vitamin c:

folate:

calcium:

iron:

magnesium:

thiamin:

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.