Crispy chicken poppers recipe

Updated on October 4th, 2025

This crispy chicken poppers recipe makes a fun and tasty dish that works for both snacks and easy dinners. The chicken pieces are coated in crushed cornflakes, parmesan cheese, and spices, then baked until golden and crunchy. Since they’re baked instead of fried, they stay light and crisp without the extra oil. The creamy parmesan-ranch dipping sauce adds just the right touch, bringing everything together into one flavorful bite.

Why this recipe works

• Crunchy texture: The crushed cornflake coating bakes into a crispy shell that holds its crunch while keeping the chicken tender inside, creating a great contrast.
• Flavorful coating: A mix of parmesan cheese, garlic, paprika, and black pepper gives the chicken layers of seasoning that taste delicious in every bite.
• Healthier method: Baking instead of frying reduces the grease while still giving you that crispy, satisfying texture everyone looks for in a snack.
• Creamy dipping sauce: The homemade parmesan-ranch sauce blends sour cream, lemon, and chives, adding a smooth, tangy flavor that complements the crisp chicken perfectly.
• Easy preparation: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps make this recipe approachable, allowing you to make tasty chicken poppers without much effort.

Serving suggestions

• Snack tray: Serve these crispy chicken poppers warm with the parmesan-ranch sauce, fresh celery sticks, and carrot slices for a party-friendly appetizer.
• Family dinner: Pair the poppers with mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables to create a comforting and filling meal that everyone will love.
• Game night: Arrange the poppers on a platter with small bowls of dipping sauces like honey mustard, ranch, and barbecue for sharing.
• Lunch box option: Pack leftover poppers in a container with a small portion of sauce for an easy, flavorful lunch that travels well.
• Gathering favorite: Make a large batch for parties or family gatherings since these poppers are easy to serve and disappear quickly once guests start eating.

Crispy chicken poppers recipe

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Make crispy chicken poppers recipe using tender chicken, parmesan, and crunchy cornflakes for an easy oven-baked snack everyone will enjoy.

• Author: Bobby
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 Servings 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-size pieces)
• 2 garlic cloves (finely minced)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (divided)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 1/2 cups cornflakes
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• Cooking spray

Parmesan-ranch sauce-

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 clove garlic
• zest of 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons chopped chives

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Instructions

1. To make the dipping sauce—in the bowl of a food processor add sour cream, mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt, and chives.
2. Process until smooth and blended. Refrigerate until needed.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
4. Add the chicken pieces into a medium bowl and add the fresh garlic, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper.
5. Toss to combine. Marinate the chicken in the spice mixture while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
6. Add flour to a large ziplock bag. Add the cornflakes, parmesan cheese, paprika, a ¼ teaspoon of salt, and a ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper and granulated garlic to the bowl of a food processor. Process until the mixture is finely crumbled. Add the mixture to another large ziplock bag.
7. Place the chicken pieces into the bag with the flour and shake to coat the chicken pieces well.
8. Place the flour-coated chicken pieces into a medium-size bowl and drizzle buttermilk over them.
9. Mix in the buttermilk gently into the chicken using your fingers.
10. Take the coated chicken pieces and add them to the ziplock bag with the cornflake mixture and shake to coat the pieces well.
11. Place each of the coated chicken pieces onto the baking sheet lined with foil in a single layer.
12. Spray a light layer of cooking spray over the chicken pieces. Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until fully cooked (the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees F.).
13. If you want the chicken extra crispy, an optional step is a turn the broiler of the oven on and broil for 2 minutes. Serve with dipping sauce.

Nutrition

• Serving Size:
• Calories: 617
• Sugar: 6.9 g
• Sodium: 803.5 mg
• Fat: 33.9 g
• Carbohydrates: 49.5 g
• Protein: 42.1 g
• Cholesterol: 116.9 mg