Air-Fried Honey Garlic Chicken Poppers

the Story

Honey Garlic Chicken Poppers are the Ultimate Bite-Size Snack or Meal offering a perfect balance of Crispy, Savory, and Sweet Flavors. Inspired by Chinese Honey Garlic Chicken, this Recipe features Tender Chicken pieces coated in a Light Batter, fried until Golden and Crispy, then tossed in a mouth-watering sauce. The Result is a deliciously Sticky Glaze that adds the Perfect Touch of Sweetness to every Crunchy Bite. Whether served as an appetizer or part of a meal, these are sure to be a hit at any gathering.

the Ingredients

For the Fried Chicken:

• 1 Pound of Chicken Breast, Cut into Bite-Sized Pieces

• 1/2 Cup of Honey

• 1/4 Cup Unsalted Butter, Melted

• 1 Garlic Head, Roasted, and Diced

• 1/2 Teaspoon of Smoked Paprika

• 1/2 Teaspoon of Chili Powder

• 1/2 Teaspoon of Onion Salt

• 1 Cup of Panko Breadcrumbs

• Cooking Spray, for the Air Fryer

For the Spinach Rice Parmesan (Optional):

• 2 Cups of Jasmine Rice

• 1 Carton Low Sodium Chicken Broth

• 1 Bag of Baby Spinach

• Olive Oil for Sauteing

• Onion Salt and Garlic Powder, to taste

• 1/4 Cup of Unsalted Butter, Melted

• 1/2 Cup of Grated Parmesan Cheese

the Instructions

Roasting the Garlic Head

• Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees.

• Slice the top off the head of garlic, exposing all the cloves. Peel off any excess wrapping. Place the head on a piece of foil and drizzle Olive Oil (about 3 Tablespoons) over the garlic until all surfaces of garlic are covered. Tightly wrap the foil around the garlic, and place on a baking sheet in the oven. Roast for 50 - 60 minutes. Once cool enough, carefully unwrap the foil from the garlic, and squeeze out the roasted garlic from the cloves onto a cutting board and mash with a knife until the consistency turns into a paste-like spread. Set aside.

Air-Frying the Chicken Poppers

• Preheat the Air-Fryer to 400 Degrees.

• In a Large Mixing Bowl, Whisk the Honey, Roasted Garlic, Melted Butter, and dry seasonings until it forms a paste-like spread.

• Add the Chicken Pieces and Toss to Coat.

• Dip each Chicken Piece into the Panko Breadcrumbs, until well-coated.

• Repeat this step until all Chicken Pieces are breaded.

• Once the Air Fryer is preheated, spray the tray with cooking spray until thoroughly coated. Place each Chicken Piece onto the tray, but make sure you don't overcrowd the Chicken Pieces. You may have to cook multiple batches at a time depending on the size of your air fryer.

• Once the Chicken Pieces have been placed onto the tray, spray the top of each piece with cooking spray, and cook for a total of 10-12 minutes, flipping half-way through, until golden brown and cooked through.

• Enjoy! For added flavor, drizzle extra honey over each Chicken Popper.

Sauteing the Spinach

• In a large skillet, drizzle the Olive Oil and set the temperature to medium heat. Add the Baby Spinach and season with Onion Salt and Garlic Powder. Sauté the Spinach until fully wilted. Then, drain any excess oil and place the cooked spinach on a cutting board to chop into finer pieces. Set aside.

Cooking the Rice

• In a large pot, add the chicken broth and bring to a boil.

• Add the uncooked rice and simmer until the liquid has been absorbed by the rice, stirring occasionally.

• Once the rice has absorbed the broth, turn off the burner, add the butter, spinach, cheese, and stir until well mixed.

Enjoy!

• Scoop a cup or two of rice onto a plate, per your preference.

• Top the rice with as many Chicken Poppers to your liking.