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Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken is a delicious street food snack and one of my favorite ways to make fried chicken! I love the unique crispy texture and so will you!
Watch the Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Recipe Video Below!
Ingredients for Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
You only need a few ingredients to make this Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken. Here is what you’ll need to make it!
- Chicken
- 1 lb chicken thigh cut into 2″ pieces
- Want crispy wings without frying? Try my Air Fryer Chicken Wings, which is the top recipe on my site!
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp ginger grated
- 1 tbsp garlic grated
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tbsp shaoxing wine
- 1 egg white
- 2 cups coarse sweet potato flour
- 1 lb chicken thigh cut into 2″ pieces
- Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp five spice powder
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- Misc Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh basil (Thai or regular basil)
Can I make this in the air fryer?
Yes, you can make Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken in the air fryer! I developed a version specifically for the air fryer – check out my air fryer version here!
What is Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken?
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken is a super popular street food snack! If you’ve never had these crispy, juicy pieces of chicken, here are its key characteristics:
- Bite-Sized Delight: Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken features small, bite-sized pieces of tender chicken, making it a convenient and satisfying snack.
- Irresistible Crispiness: The chicken is deep-fried to perfection, resulting in a crispy and crunchy exterior that contrasts beautifully with the juicy meat inside. This is the result of using coarse (thick) coarse sweet potato flour as the dredge which gives it its unique exterior!
- Flavorful Marinade: The chicken is marinated with a mix of spices and seasonings, which imparts a savory and aromatic flavor profile, often with hints of garlic, five-spice powder, and more.
- Seasoned to Perfection: It is traditionally seasoned with a combination of salt and pepper, delivering a harmonious balance of savory and spicy notes that tickle the taste buds.
- Street Food Sensation: Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken is a popular street food in Taiwan and has gained a global following for its addictive taste, making it an iconic snack in Taiwanese cuisine.
Top Tips for Making the Best Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Here are a few of my top tips for making sure your Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken comes out delicious every time!
- Marinate for Flavor: Allow the chicken pieces to marinate in a well-seasoned mixture for at least 30 minutes or longer. This step is essential for infusing the chicken with a rich, savory flavor.
- Use High-Quality Chicken: Opt for boneless, skinless chicken thighs, as they are juicier and more flavorful than breast meat. Cut them into uniform, 2 inch bite-sized pieces for even cooking.
- Crispy Coating: Achieve an extra crispy and crunchy exterior by using coarse sweet potato flour. The combination of these starches creates the signature texture of Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken.
- Proper Frying Technique: Heat the oil to the right temperature (around 350°F or 175°C) and fry the chicken in batches, ensuring that the oil is hot enough for a quick, golden-brown finish.
- Seasoning Balance: After frying, season the Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken with a generous sprinkle of the seasoning mix. Achieve the right balance of flavors to suit your taste preferences, and serve the popcorn chicken hot for the best experience.
How long should I marinate the chicken?
After seasoning the chicken, you will ideally want to marinate the chicken pieces for at least 30 minutes covered in the fridge. You can marinate the chicken for up to overnight, and I would not marinate for more than 24 hours. Doing so will result in juicy, flavorful chicken that is perfect for frying!
What type of oil should you use to fry?
When frying Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken, you will want to use a neutral tasting oil that has a high smoke point. Here are a few different types of oil that fit that profile and are perfect for frying:
- Avocado Oil
- Peanut Oil
- Canola Oil
- Vegetable Oil
If you liked this Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken recipe, check out some of my other popular meat and side dish recipes!
- Beef Bulgogi
- Spicy Pork Bulgogi
- Korean Cucumber Salad
- Korean Bean Sprout Side Dish
- Korean Spinach Salad
If you tried this Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken thigh, cut into 2" pieces
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp garlic, grated
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tbsp shaoxing wine
- 1 egg white
- 2 cups coarse sweet potato flour
Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp five spice powder
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
Misc Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh basil
Instructions
- Cut 1 lb chicken thigh into similar sized 2" pieces.
- Marinate chicken pieces with soy sauce, grated ginger, grated garlic, white pepper, Shaoxing wine, and an egg white. Mix to combine and marinate for at least 30 minutes (up to 24 hours) in the refrigerator.
- Mix together five spice powder, white pepper, salt, and sugar. This will be your seasoning. Set aside.
- Dredge marinated chicken in sweet potato flour and pack well, leaving no bald spots.
- Fry chicken at 350°F for 3-4 minutes; add in fresh basil at the end of cooking and fry for another 30 seconds.
- Sprinkle seasoning on chicken immediately after frying and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was on point! I made it for the family and my husband + 2yo daughter ate everything! He said it tastes just like the boba shop’s salt n pepper spicy chicken. (I added chili powder) 😋 thanks so much!
Yum! That sounds so good Therese!
Delicious! I’m not a fan of sweet potato so I substituted potato starch mixed with gluten free panko. I’ve tried both chicken and pork, and my family loves both.
That’s a great substitute! I’m glad you enjoyed it, Lisa!
Okay this one was a HUGE hit with my family! They were begging me to make more!
So so tasty – wish I knew how to do this earlier. great way to get it crispy
Growing up these were the perfect family snack from the asian supermarket food court. Thank you for sharing this recipe and making it possible for me to eat these even after that booth closed down. <3
This recipe is so simple and tasty! This is my favorite snack and I don’t have a boba shop nearby me so this is perfect. The best Taiwanese popcorn chicken I’ve made!
@kaylanguyenn
Super easy to make and tasty! I’m so happy to have come across this recipe. This is my favorite snack and I’m not near any boba shop so this is perfect to make at home. The most flavorful Taiwanese popcorn chicken ever!
One of my favorite dishes to make! Need to figure out why mine turned out not as crispy. But the favor is great!
@pandarunner
Just like at the boba shop.