Baked Honey BBQ Popcorn Chicken
Some recipes are made for comfort. Others are made for parties. And then there are recipes like this one — the kind that instantly disappears from the plate before you even sit down.
this Baked Honey BBQ Popcorn Chicken is everything you want in a modern home recipe:
- crispy without frying
- sweet, smoky, and sticky
- family-friendly
- perfect for dinner, snacks, or party trays
This isn’t just popcorn chicken.
It’s the upgraded version — oven-baked, flavor-layered, and completely addictive.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe hits that rare balance of easy + impressive + crave-worthy.
- No deep frying needed
- Kid-approved flavor
- Works as appetizer, lunch, or dinner
- Great for meal prep
- Perfect party food
- Crispy outside, juicy inside
And the honey BBQ glaze?
Sticky, glossy, and packed with bold smoky sweetness.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Coating
- 1½ cups breadcrumbs (panko preferred)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- Cooking spray or olive oil mist
Honey BBQ Sauce
- ¾ cup BBQ sauce
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- pinch chili flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Place chicken pieces in a bowl with buttermilk, egg, salt, and pepper. Stir and let soak for 10–15 minutes.
- In another bowl, combine breadcrumbs, flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Remove chicken from marinade and coat each piece in breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently so crumbs stick well.
- Arrange chicken pieces on the baking tray, leaving space between each.
- Lightly spray with cooking oil to help them crisp.
- Bake for 18–22 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through.
- Meanwhile, combine BBQ sauce, honey, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and chili flakes in a saucepan.
- Warm over low heat until smooth and glossy.
- Toss baked chicken in warm sauce or brush sauce on top for a lighter coating.
- Serve immediately while hot and sticky.
The Secret to Perfect Oven Popcorn Chicken
Most baked chicken fails for one reason:
not enough texture layering.
Here’s what fixes that:
- Buttermilk tenderizes the chicken
- Flour creates grip for crumbs
- Panko adds crunch
- Oil spray mimics frying
- High heat seals moisture inside
This combo creates that fast-food crunch without the fryer.
Flavor Variations You Can Try
1. Spicy Honey BBQ
Add hot sauce + cayenne to the glaze.
2. Garlic Butter BBQ
Toss chicken in melted garlic butter before saucing.
3. Ranch BBQ Style
Mix dry ranch seasoning into breadcrumbs.
4. Maple BBQ Twist
Replace honey with maple syrup.
Serving Ideas
This dish fits almost anywhere:
- Party appetizer platter
- Movie night snack
- Game day tray
- Kids’ lunch bowl
- Loaded wrap filling
- Salad protein topper
Or serve with:
- fries
- coleslaw
- mac & cheese
- corn salad
- garlic bread
Storage & Reheating Tips
Fridge: up to 3 days
Freezer: up to 2 months
Reheat in oven at 375°F for 10 minutes
Avoid microwave if you want to keep crisp texture.
Baked Honey BBQ Popcorn Chicken
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix chicken with buttermilk, egg, salt, and pepper and let sit for 10–15 minutes.
- Combine breadcrumbs, flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in another bowl.
- Coat each chicken piece in breadcrumb mixture and place on baking sheet.
- Lightly spray with oil and bake for 18–22 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Heat BBQ sauce, honey, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and paprika in a saucepan.
- Toss baked chicken in warm sauce or brush sauce over top.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
