Oven Fried Cajun Popcorn Chicken with Creamy Honey Mustard – It is switching up the typical weeknight dinner with this Oven Fried Cajun Popcorn Rooster with candy and creamy honey mustard sauce…bar meals, however more healthy! Cajun breaded “popcorn” rooster bites, oven-baked, and served with an addicting creamy, candy, and tangy honey mustard sauce. Take pleasure in a more healthy sports day appetizer or flip right into a household dinner with oven-roasted french fries and veggies. It’s enjoyable, completely different, delicious, peppery, and filled with taste. This popcorn rooster is certain to be cherished by all.
How a lot of a Tremendous Bowl fan are you? I hope that you simply no less than be watching the sport. As a result of this time’s recipe and tomorrow’s, I could be very a lot impressed by Sunday’s sport. You’d suppose rising with five brothers that I’d be extra into soccer; however, the fact is that I simply by no means received into it. I like Sunday night time soccer as a result of discovering it comforting to listen to taking part in within the background; it takes me again to be a child. Aside from that, it’s simply not likely my factor…that I mentioned, I also by no means watch TV. Possibly I want to present it one other strive?
Both means, my brothers, after all, love all issues soccer. Identical with my dad. They’re all in fantasy leagues and watch each Sunday (Monday and Thursday too). However, most significantly…they dwell for sport day meals. However, then… don’t all of us?
And that’s the place at this time’s recipe comes into play. I knew I wanted to create just a few good recipes for everybody to take pleasure in this Sunday. However, I also wished them to be recipes that may be loved throughout the week, on any given day. Enter on this popcorn rooster. Baked, not fried, and seasoned closely with self-made cajun seasoning.
Nothing is healthier than this oven-fried cajun popcorn rooster. Okay, that’s too dramatic. However, this recipe is delicious. And in case you love a more healthy tackle “bar” meals, you must give this popcorn rooster a strive.
Right here is the way you make this rooster…
I’ve made popcorn rooster earlier than, so I had my fundamental breading components down. Subsequently, throwing this recipe collectively was simple.
First, I made my self-made cajun seasoning mix from the HBH Tremendous Easy cookbook but added extra chili powder for an extra contact spice. You should use this self-made mix or utilize your favorite store-bought cajun seasoning mix (I like this one from McCormick).
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Subsequent, bread the rooster. Toss the rooster in slightly buttermilk, then coat it in finely crushed corn flakes seasoned with a superb quantity of cajun seasoning. The finely crushed corn flakes are KEY. They give the rooster a genuine “fried” style and texture without really frying the rooster. I’ve used this methodology for years, and it by no means fails.
Tip? Pulse the corn flakes within the meals processor to break them down right into a high-quality crumb.
Subsequently, bake the rooster within the oven till it crisps throughout. My secret is to softly dab/brush the rooster with olive oil earlier than it bakes. This helps the coating to crisp up properly within the oven. You possibly can’t skip this step; it’s essential.
Now, on to the sauce.
You possibly can’t have an oven-fried rooster without sauce. At all times want the sauce. At all times.
I went backward and forwards on three variations of this sauce. However, after several textual content messages with my eldest brother, Creighton, who LOVES popcorn rooster greater than anybody AND loves spicy cajun greater than anybody, I landed on a creamier honey mustard sauce. He mentioned it was a brainer, creamy all the time wins.
Whereas the rooster is baking, make the sauce. This sauce is, fingers down, a brand new favorite. For one, it’s EASY. Combine, stir, and finished. It’s made utilizing creamy bitter cream, honey, mustard, extra of that cajun seasoning, and only lemon contact. It’s additional creamy, a contact candy, and a contact spicy. So excellent as an aspect with this rooster. The creaminess within the sauce makes everything heartier. However, the sweetness balances out the spice.
Here’s what I’ll notice, I used bitter cream, which I solely not too long ago began to make use of. Sometimes, I all the time use Greek yogurt in sauces. However, once I made this dish, I decided I wished to strive for one thing completely different. As soon as I used actual bitter cream, I used to be hooked. It makes a very GOOD sauce. Nonetheless, I did make the identical sauce with Greek yogurt and located it to be creamy and delicious as effectively.
One other notice, the bitter cream (or yogurt) provides a slight tanginess; if you’d like one thing extra mellow, I might recommend utilizing mayo. I’m not large on the mayo. However, I’m certain it will be nice on this sauce.
Since Creighton helped me a lot with placing this recipe collectively, I needed to ship him just a few pics for his approval seal. Sadly, he’s not on the town proper now to truly strive the rooster. However, he’ll be residence quickly, so I will likely be remaking.
His response…effectively it made my Monday…
“That appears fireplace! I like how you sprinkled some sauce over the prime of the rooster already. To moist the urge for food. Good transfer.”
I bought to like him. He’s all the time received one thing humorous to say.
Level? This popcorn rooster is so excellent. The seasoning is KEY. The sauce is KEY. I’d suggest serving with home-baked french fries and loads of veggies on the aspect. Nice for a weeknight, enjoyable for sports day, both means, these will likely be a success!
In case you make this oven-fried cajun popcorn rooster, be sure you depart a remark and give this recipe a score! Above all, I like to listen to you guys and do my finest to answer every remark. And naturally, in case you do make this recipe, don’t neglect to tag me on Instagram! Trying via the pictures of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
