Description
Nashville Hot Pepper Jelly Chicken Poppers are crispy, bite-sized fried chicken pieces coated in a spicy, sweet, and tangy pepper jelly glaze. Perfect as a flavorful appetizer or snack, these poppers combine Southern-inspired heat with a unique pepper jelly twist, garnished with fresh parsley and sesame seeds for an extra touch of color and crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Poppers:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
For the Nashville Hot Pepper Jelly Glaze:
- 1/2 cup pepper jelly
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp salt
For the Garnish (Optional):
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken Poppers: In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. This seasoned flour mixture will add flavor and crispiness to the chicken.
- Coat the Chicken: Dip the bite-sized chicken pieces into the buttermilk, then dredge them in the seasoned flour mixture. Ensure each piece is evenly coated, and shake off any excess flour to prevent clumping.
- Heat the Oil: Pour about 1 inch of vegetable oil into a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering and hot, ideal for frying.
- Fry the Chicken Poppers: Fry the chicken pieces in batches, avoiding overcrowding, for 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy. Once cooked, remove them with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Make the Glaze: In a small saucepan, combine the pepper jelly, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and salt. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves completely and the glaze becomes smooth and slightly thickened.
- Coat the Chicken with Glaze: Place the fried chicken poppers in a large bowl, pour the warm Nashville hot pepper jelly glaze over them, and toss until each piece is evenly coated with the spicy, sweet glaze.
- Serve: Transfer the coated chicken poppers to a serving platter. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for added freshness and texture. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes in the glaze to control the heat level to your liking.
- Use a thermometer to ensure the oil is at about 350°F for optimal frying results.
- For a lower-fat option, you can bake the chicken pieces, but frying gives the best crispy texture.
- This recipe can be doubled for larger gatherings, just fry the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat in a hot oven to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
