Add Preferred SourceCrispy and crunchy outside, with tender, juicy chicken inside, the chicken lollipop is a finger-licking good snack. This popular dish from Indo-Chinese cuisine is a great finger food for parties or get-togethers.
Make a restaurant-style chicken lollipop with this delicious recipe and serve it with tandoori mayo or your favorite dip. This impressive appetizer is not only a crowd-pleaser but also surprisingly easy to prepare at home, making it a fantastic addition to your next get-together, game day, or special occasion. Check out my collection of delicious Indian chicken snacks here.
Chicken lollipop is a popular Indian and Indo-Chinese appetizer or snack made from chicken drumettes or wings. This dish gets its name from the way the chicken drumette is prepared to resemble a lollipop shape.
These chicken pieces are prepared in a manner that makes them resemble lollipops, with the meat pushed down to the base of the bone, creating a small, round, and clean bone handle while the meat is gathered at the top.
Lollipop chicken is popular as a party or appetizer dish because of its convenient handheld size and delicious flavor. It is often seen on the menu at Indo-Chinese restaurants and is a favorite at gatherings and events.
Why you will love this recipe?
- Crispy outside: The chicken is deep-fried until the outer coating is crispy and golden brown. This gives the chicken lollipop a delicious and irresistible crunch.
- Juicy meat: The chicken is marinated in a flavorful sauce, which helps to keep the meat moist and juicy.
- Easy to eat: The chicken is shaped in a way that it can be easily held and eaten with your hands. This makes chicken lollipop a perfect appetizer or finger food for parties or get-togethers.
Ingredients
Chicken drumette: We need to french the drumette so that the meat is gathered to one end with a clean bone handle on the other end. See the steps below for the process.
Sauces and aromatics: I am using soy sauce, rice vinegar, corn flour, ginger, garlic, and green chilies.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: French the chicken drumettes and collect all the meat to one side of the bone (image 1).
Step 2: Combine the prepared chicken with soy sauce, ginger-garlic-chili paste, and rice vinegar in a large bowl. Cover and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes. You can also marinate it for 6-8 hours or overnight in the refrigerator (images 3 and 4).
Step 3: Whisk the egg in a bowl. To this, add hot chili sauce and corn starch. Mix well, making sure there are no lumps in the batter (image 5).
Step 4: Take the marinated chicken drumette and dip it in the egg batter to coat the chicken well. Next, coat the chicken in breadcrumbs (images 6 and 7). Repeat with all of the drumettes (image 8).
Step 5: Carefully place the coated chicken in hot oil and deep fry on medium heat until it is golden brown (image 9).
Expert Tips
Use fresh chicken drumettes. Frozen chicken drumettes will not taste as good.
Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight. The longer the chicken marinates, the more flavorful it will be.
Heat the oil to 350 F before adding the chicken. This will help to prevent the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Also, avoid overcrowding the
You can also use an
Serving Suggestion
Chicken lollipop can be served with complementary side dishes such as coleslaw, egg fried rice, or Hakka noodles for a balanced meal.
You can also serve it with dipping sauces like sweet chili sauce, schezwan sauce, ranch dressing, or tandoori mayo. We also like to pair it with this baked buffalo chicken dip for an indulgent meal.
Recipe FAQs
To store these amazing chicken lollipops, allow them to cool to room temperature. Then, place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate them for up to 4 days. You can also freeze them for longer storage. Arrange them on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, and transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag, removing as much air as possible. Frozen chicken lollipops can be stored for up to 2 months. When reheating, use an instant-read thermometer (or meat thermometer) to ensure they reach the proper internal temperature of 165 F.
Popular dipping sauces for lollipop chicken include sweet chili sauce, buffalo sauce, barbecue sauce, blue cheese dressing, and garlic aioli. These sauces complement the crispy and flavorful chicken, offering a range of sweet, spicy, and savory options to suit various tastes.
No, "Drums of heaven" and chicken lollipops are not the same. They are both Indo-Chinese chicken appetizers made from chicken wings or drumettes but differ in appearance and flavor. Chicken lollipop has a cleaner, round-bone handle and are typically slightly spicy. Drums of Heaven retain the natural wing shape. The chicken is marinated, fried, and then tossed in a sticky sauce to make them.
More chicken recipes
If you tried this Chicken Lollipop Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ? star rating and let me know how it went in the ? comments below.
Recipe card
Indo-Chinese Chicken Lollipop
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken drumettes (10 drumettes)
- ½ inch ginger
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2-3 green chilies (adjust as per taste)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon vinegar
- 1 teaspoon hot chili sauce
- 1 egg (whisked)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- Oil for deep frying
Instructions
- Grind ginger, garlic, and green chili into a smooth paste using a little water. Set it aside.
- French the chicken drumettes and collect all the meat to one side of the bone (refer to images).
- Combine the prepared chicken with soy sauce, ginger-garlic-chili paste, and rice vinegar. Cover and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes. You can also let it marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
- Whisk the egg in a bowl. To this, add hot chili sauce and cornstarch. Mix well, making sure there are no lumps in the batter.
- In a separate wide bowl, add the breadcrumbs and set it aside.
- Heat oil in a deep frying pan or saucepan.
- Take the marinated chicken drumette and dip it in the egg batter to coat the chicken well. Next, coat the chicken in breadcrumbs. Repeat with all of the drumettes.
- Carefully place the coated chicken in hot oil and deep fry on medium heat until it is golden brown. Drain on a paper towel.
- Serve hot chicken lollipop with sriracha sauce or any hot sauce of your choice.
Sheena says
Chicken lollipop is also popular here. The kids love them! I haven't made them spicy before so I tried it this time and my husband loved it!
Shilpa Kerur says
Lollipop chicken is always a hit in kids. I am glad you enjoyed this version 🙂
- Shilpa