Last Updated on April 15, 2022 by Karen

Popcorn Chicken with Mango Coconut Dipping Sauce is a delicious appetizer to share with friends and family for game day tailgating parties!

Now that we’re deep into football season, I’ve been experimenting with game day dishes to serve during parties and events. Coming up with tailgating recipes that are easy and delicious is always important, because game day food is something football fans really look forward to when getting together for game watching. I feel like bite-sized finger foods are always crowd pleasers, so I whipped up these tasty Popcorn Chicken with Spicy Mango Coconut Dipping Sauce!

These crispy chicken bites make a delicious game day snack whether you are tailgating at the stadium parking lot with friends or throwing a football party in the comfort of your home with family.

I wanted to make a dipping sauce that would complement the crispy popcorn chicken bites, so I immediately thought of a sweet and tangy dip made with mango and coconut. Next, I wanted to spice it up a bit so I added habanero sauce to the mix for a little kick and a punch of additional flavor. That cool, creamy tropical taste and the flavor from the habanero pair so perfectly together, it reminds me of something I would have on vacation in the Caribbean!

Marinating the chicken overnight really helped keep it tender and flavorful, so I highly recommend it. You could get by without marinating first, but I think it’s definitely better if you give it a couple of hours for the flavors to develop.

By the way, I love how these popcorn chicken bites are baked rather than deep fried, because that means you can quickly and easily make a big batch to serve a crowd. I shared this with my family and my sister was amazed at how crispy the coating was – the best part was she couldn’t even tell it was baked.

They really turned out amazing, and next time I will be doubling the recipe in hopes that they won’t disappear so quickly!

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Popcorn Chicken with Mango Coconut Dipping Sauce

Popcorn Chicken with Mango Coconut Dipping Sauce is a delicious appetizer to share with friends and family for game day tailgating parties.

Servings 4 to 6

Author Karen @ The Tasty Bite

Ingredients

For the popcorn chicken:

1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1-inch chunks
2 cups buttermilk
2 tbsps hot sauce
2 cloves garlic smashed
1/2 tsp dried thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup flour
2 eggs beaten
3 cups panko breadcrumbs or crushed rice crispy cereal
Cooking spray

For the mango coconut dipping sauce:

1 cup frozen mango chunks thawed
1/3 cup coconut cream
1 tsp lime juice
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tbsp hot sauce

Instructions

In a large bowl or ziplock bag, combine chicken, buttermilk, hot sauce, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper, to taste. Refrigerate and allow to marinate for at least one hour, preferably overnight.
Preheat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Working one piece at a time, dip chicken into the flour until lightly coated, then dip in eggs and roll in the breadcrumbs. Place the chicken on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the chicken pieces are cooked though and the coating is crispy and lightly golden brown.
To make the mango coconut dipping sauce, combine all of the ingredients for the sauce in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Serve popcorn chicken with the sauce.

What is your favorite game day food? Is there something you can’t live without while watching football?