Sweet Heat, Guilt-Free: A Nebraska Take on Popcorn Chicken

This isn’t your average popcorn chicken—this is Nebraska proud. Crispy, golden bites are fried to perfection in Cornhusker Kitchen’s Wagyu Beef Tallow, a cleaner, more flavorful alternative to vegetable oil made right here in Nebraska. Each piece is then drizzled with a sweet and spicy kick from Lance Honey Farm’s Hot Honey, another local gem. Made with care from our community of makers, this snack brings the bold, the crunchy, and the local to your table.

Special thanks to An Affair From The Heart for sharing this mouthwatering recipe with us! We’re grateful for your delicious inspiration and continued support of local makers. 💛

🛒 What You’ll Need:

• 2 lbs chicken breast, diced into bite-sized chunks

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• ¼ cup cornstarch

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp black pepper

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 large eggs

• 1 cup Lance Honey Farm’s Hot Honey
  

• Cornhusker Kitchen Wagyu Beef Tallow (about 4 cups or enough for frying)

👩🍳 Let’s Cook This Thing!

1. Heat Things Up
   Add Cornhusker Kitchen Wagyu Beef Tallow to a large pot and heat to 375°F over medium heat. This will take about 10 minutes—just enough time to get everything prepped!

2. Get That Chicken Coated
   In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss your chicken pieces in the dry mix until they’re fully coated.

3. Egg Wash Magic
   Beat your eggs in a separate bowl. Dip each coated chicken piece into the eggs, then toss them back into the flour mixture for an extra crispy finish. Double dip = double crunch.

4. Time to Fry!
   Working in small batches (about 8 pieces at a time), carefully fry the chicken in the hot tallow for 3–4 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain while you work through the rest.

5. Hot Honey Glaze
   In a small saucepan, whisk together Lance’s Hot Honey. Heat over medium until it starts to bubble—just a quick simmer!

6. Drizzle & Devour
   Pour that sweet-heat glaze over your crispy bites and give everything a toss. Serve hot and enjoy the taste of Nebraska-made goodness!

💡 Pro Tip:

Serve with ranch, a pickle slice, or tucked into slider buns for the ultimate party platter!