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Healthy popcorn chicken bites - crispy crunchy tasty bites perfect for kids meals and parties
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4.50 from 6 votes

Healthy popcorn chicken bites

Meals don’t get much more fun than when they come as crispy, crunchy popcorn bites! These tasty and healthy little popcorn chicken balls are perfect for kids meals, family dinners or great party food.  Mixed with chopped veggies and cooked with a little oil (no deep frying here) they’re a nutritious way to enjoy a fast food classic.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 20 chicken bites
Author Mas & Pas

Equipment

  • Food processor or blender

Ingredients

Chicken balls

  • 1 shallot finely diced
  • ½  small red pepper (30 grams), finely diced
  • 5 sprigs fresh parsley leaves finely chopped
  • 350 grams chicken fillets (about 3 fillets)
  • 1 teaspoon mild or sweet paprika
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • pinch salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (for cooking)

Crunchy coating

Bowl 1

  • ⅓ cup plain flour (40 grams)

Bowl 2

  • 2 eggs lightly beaten

Bowl 3

  • 50 grams plain flour
  • 120 mls whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon mild or sweet paprika
  • pinch salt

Bowl 4

  • 5 cups cornflakes, no added sugar or salt (120 grams)

Honey and mustard dip

  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • ½  tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

Chicken balls

  • Finely dice – or whizz in a food processor – the shallot, red pepper and parsley.
  • Add the chicken fillets to the mixer and blend until you get a chicken mince. Empty the chicken and vegetables into a mixing bowl.
  • Add the paprika and ½ tablespoon of olive oil.
  • Mix it together with your hands until well combined and set aside. Start preparing the 4 plates for the coating in shallow bowls or plates.

Dipping bowls

  • Bowl 1 has 40 grams of plain flour (about ⅓ cup). Bowl 2 has 2 eggs, lightly beaten.
  • Bowl 3 has 50 grams plain flour (just under ½ cup), 120 mls whole milk, ½ teaspoon of paprika and a pinch of salt, all whisked together until there are no lumps.
  • Bowl 4 has 120 grams cornflakes (5 cups). Grab the cornflakes with your hands and squish them together so that they crumble. Keep doing this until you end up with rough breadcrumb-like pieces. Kids love to join in with this! Line up all 4 of your bowls next to your prepared chicken mixture.

Cook the chicken balls

  • Take a small piece of the chicken mince mixture in your hand and roll it into a ball. It should be about 1 inch wide (2-3cm).
  • Roll it in each of the bowls one at a time until coated on all sides. Start with the plate of flour, then go to the beaten egg, then the flour and milk mixture, and finally in the cornflake crumbs.
  • Set out each coated chicken ball on a plate and move onto the next one until they’re all covered in the crunchy coating.
  • When you’re ready to cook, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan and cook the chicken balls in batches. You may need to add some olive oil between batches.
  • Turn them over regularly to make sure you’re cooking all sides. Cook them until they’re golden and the chicken is cooked through.
  • When they’re ready, serve up your chicken popcorn bites with your favourite dip, be it ketchup or mayonnaise. We’ve suggested a honey and mustard sauce which you can make by whisking together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, honey and lemon juice. Enjoy!