Sweet Chili Popcorn Chicken Bites with Ranch Dip

Crispy popcorn‑style chicken bites coated in sweet chili sauce and served with a cool ranch dip. A fun appetizer or snack that’s sweet, spicy, and addictive.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Bite-sized and crowd-pleasing

• Crispy exterior with sticky sweet chili glaze

• Paired with creamy ranch to balance heat

• Great for parties, game nights, or family dinners

• Easy to prep, bake, or fry

Ingredients

• Boneless chicken breast or thigh, diced into bite-size pieces

• Salt and pepper

• Garlic powder

• Cornstarch or flour for dredging

• Egg + milk (for dredging)

• Sweet chili sauce

• Optional: honey or sriracha for glaze adjustments

• For ranch dip: sour cream or Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, garlic powder, dried dill, salt, pepper

Directions

1. Prep chicken: Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

2. Dredge: Dip in egg + milk mixture, then coat in cornstarch/flour mix. Shake off excess.

3. Cook: Bake in a 200 °C (400 °F) oven on a parchment-lined tray for ~15–20 minutes (flipping halfway), or deep-fry until golden and cooked through.

4. Glaze: Toss cooked chicken bites in warmed sweet chili sauce (and optional honey or sriracha) until coated.

5. Ranch dip: Mix sour cream/Greek yogurt, mayo, garlic powder, dried dill, salt, and pepper. Adjust consistency with milk.

6. Serve: Arrange the glazed bites with a bowl of ranch for dipping.

Servings & timing

• Servings: ~4

• Prep time: 10 minutes

• Cook time: 15–20 minutes

• Total time: ~30 minutes

Variations

• Use a panko breadcrumb coating for extra crunch

• Try buffalo or teriyaki sauce instead

• Add sesame seeds atop for texture

Storage / Reheating

• Store in fridge 2 days

• Reheat in oven to maintain crispiness

FAQs

• Can I use frozen chicken? Yes, but thaw first for even cooking.

• Can I skip dredging? You might lose crispiness.

• Ranch alternatives? Use a yogurt-based dip or blue cheese dressing.

Conclusion

Sweet Chili Popcorn Chicken Bites with Ranch Dip are playful, flavorful, and perfect as an appetizer or main when paired with sides. Sweet heat plus creamy dip equals irresistible finger food.

Sweet Chili Popcorn Chicken Bites with Ranch Dip

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Crispy, golden popcorn chicken bites tossed in a sweet chili glaze and served with a cool, creamy ranch dip. A crowd-pleasing appetizer or fun main dish.

• Author: Mariem
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Appetizer
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American-Asian Fusion
• Diet: Halal

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
• 2 tbsp honey (optional, for added sweetness)
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing (for dipping)
• Chopped green onions or sesame seeds (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

1. Place chicken pieces in a bowl with buttermilk. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes (or up to 1 hour in the fridge).
2. In a separate bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat (350°F/175°C).
4. Remove chicken from buttermilk and dredge in the flour mixture until fully coated.
5. Fry chicken in batches until golden brown and cooked through, about 4–5 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels.
6. In a small saucepan, heat sweet chili sauce and honey (if using) over low heat until warmed through.
7. Toss fried chicken bites in the sweet chili sauce until well coated.
8. Serve hot with ranch dressing on the side and garnish with green onions or sesame seeds if desired.

Notes

• For a spicier version, add a dash of sriracha to the sweet chili sauce.
• You can bake or air fry the chicken for a lighter option.
• These are great for parties, game day, or a fun family meal.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 12g
• Sodium: 680mg
• Fat: 24g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 28g
• Cholesterol: 75mg

Keywords: popcorn chicken, sweet chili, ranch dip, appetizer, fried chicken bites, party food