Chicken Poppers with Blue Cheese Dipping

The chicken poppers with blue cheese dipping are an irresistible appetizer that combines tender chicken with a crispy coating and is served with a creamy blue cheese dip. These poppers will be a hit at parties, game days, and family gatherings. They are full of flavor and guaranteed to please. Serve with ranch or blue cheese dip to get the best taste.

Ingredients:

Chicken Poppers

• Cut 1 lb of chicken breast into 1-inch cubes.
• Breadcrumbs: 1 cup (Panko breadcrumbs are best for extra crunch).
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• Half a teaspoon of garlic powder
• Half a teaspoon of onion powder
• Half a teaspoon of smoked paprika
• Cayenne pepper, optional (for heat), 1/2 teaspoon
• To taste: salt and pepper
• Vegetable Oil (for frying or use non-stick spray for baking)

Blue Cheese Dip

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• Blue cheese crumbles – 1/2 cup
• Lemon juice, 1 tablespoon
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• To taste: freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chicken Poppers

• Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. To help the coating adhere, pat them dry using paper towels.

2. Coat the chicken:

• Set up three shallow bowls as a breading station:
  • Place the flour in the first bowl and season it with the salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add the onion powder and smoked paprika.
  • Beat the eggs in the second bowl.
  • Place the breadcrumbs in the third bowl.
• Then, dip each piece of chicken into the flour and then the eggs. Finally, coat the chicken with breadcrumbs. To ensure that the breadcrumbs adhere to the chicken, gently press them onto the surface.

3. How to make Chicken Poppers

• Fry Method: In a large skillet or deep pan, heat about 1 to 2 inches of vegetable or peanut oil over medium-high heat (350degF / 175degC). When the oil is hot enough, add the breaded pieces of chicken in batches. Be careful not to crowd the pan. Fry the poppers in oil for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown. Place the poppers on a plate lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil.
• Preheat your oven to 200degC (400degF). Place the breaded pieces of chicken on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and lightly spray cooking spray over them. Bake for 15-20 mins, flipping halfway through.

4. Blue Cheese Dip:

• Combine the sour cream, mayonnaise and crumbled cheese in a medium-sized bowl. Add the garlic powder, salt and freshly ground pepper. Stir the dip until it is smooth, and the blue cheese has been evenly distributed. Adjust seasoning to taste. You can make the dip chunkier by leaving some blue cheese pieces larger.

5. Serve:

• After the poppers have been cooked, place them on a platter and serve with the blue cheese dip. For a splash of color, you can garnish the poppers by adding a little more crumbled cheese or parsley.

Tip and variations:

• Baking Option: For a healthier alternative, you can bake the poppers instead of frying them. You’ll get crispy, delicious poppers!
• Add some spice: To give the poppers an extra kick, add hot sauce to their batter. You can also glaze the poppers with buffalo sauce after they have been fried.
• Prepare ahead: You can bread and prepare the poppers in advance, then store them for up to one day in the refrigerator before you fry or bake them. You will save time the day of serving them.
• Vegetarian version: To give this recipe a vegetarian spin, use cauliflower or tofu instead of the chicken. Coat and cook in the same way.
• Blue Cheese Substitute – If you don’t like blue cheese, you could easily substitute it with ranch dressing, Greek yogurt or even a creamy, garlicky dip.

Nutritional Information per serving (based on 16 poppers, 4 servings):

Note: The nutritional values listed are approximations and can vary depending on the specific ingredients used.

• Calories per serving: 300
• Protein: 25g
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Fat: 18g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sodium: 700mg

Why you’ll love these chicken poppers with blue cheese dip:

The creamy blue cheese dip is the perfect contrast to the crispy, juiciness and flavor of these Chicken Poppers. These poppers will be a hit at any party or gathering. These poppers are easy to make and customizable. They always please the crowd. They can be made to suit any diet preference, and they are available in both a baked or fried form.