Crispy Taiwanese-Style Popcorn Chicken
Crispy Taiwanese-Style Popcorn Chicken delivers tender, juicy bites wrapped in a fragrant five-spice crust with a gentle heat from white pepper and cayenne. The tempura coating fries up light and crunchy, while Thai basil and green onions add fresh, aromatic pops. Serve hot as a crowd-pleasing snack, game-day nibble, or a fun dinner with dipping sauces.
- Prep30 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Crispy Taiwanese-Style Popcorn Chicken, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 56 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 4 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityPoor
- 24 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 41
- Heart Health
- 58
- Metabolic
- 15
- Digestive
- 31
- Inflammatory
- 19
- Performance
- 26
- General Wellness
- 1
Combine the chicken, garlic, soy sauce, ginger, five-spice powder, white pepper, salt, vinegar, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl and mix until evenly coated. Marinate for 10 minutes.
- 2
Heat oil in a deep-fryer or a large saucepan to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- 3
Whisk the egg in a small bowl until smooth. Put the dry tempura mix in a second small bowl. Dip the chicken pieces one at a time into the egg, then dredge in the tempura mix, shaking off any excess.
- 4
Working in batches, carefully lower the chicken into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and season with salt and pepper.
- 5
Move the chicken to a platter and garnish with basil leaves and green onions.
- Calories 895.58 kcal High 45%
- Protein 24.15 g Good Source 48%
- Carbohydrate 23.03 g 8%
- Total Fat 82.04 g High 105%
- Saturated Fat 3.44 g Moderate 17%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 139.99 mg High 47%
- Sodium 320.59 mg Moderate 14%
- Dietary Fiber 0.81 g Low Source 3%
- Total Sugars 0.12 g --
- Added Sugars 0.02 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 23.91 mg Low Source 2%
- Iron 1.64 mg Low Source 9%
- Potassium 58.28 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 27.8 mcg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin C 1.66 mg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin D 0.17 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Peanuts 🥜
- Eggs 🥚
- Soy 🌱
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Crispy Taiwanese Style Popcorn Chicken is made with 14 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 45 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Boneless Chicken Thigh, Cayenne Pepper, Eggs, and Five Spice. Each serving provides about 895.58 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Crispy Taiwanese-Style Popcorn Chicken made of?
- The main ingredients are Boneless Chicken Thigh, Cayenne Pepper, Eggs, Five-Spice, Fresh Basil. The full list of 14 is above.
- How long does it take to make Crispy Taiwanese-Style Popcorn Chicken?
- About 45 mins in total: 30 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 895.58 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Crispy Taiwanese-Style Popcorn Chicken easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 14 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Crispy Taiwanese-Style Popcorn Chicken healthy?
- Crispy Taiwanese-Style Popcorn Chicken has an easyChef Pro health score of 34/100. Per serving, it provides 895.58 calories and 24.15 g of protein, or 48% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 320.59 mg (14% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 3.44 g (17% of the Daily Value). It contains Peanuts, Eggs, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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