Description

These Pretzel Chicken Minis are a fun and tasty appetizer that combines crunchy popcorn chicken wrapped in soft, honey mustard–spread crescent dough and finished with a classic pretzel boil and salt topping. Ready in just 25 minutes, these bite-sized treats are perfect for parties, snacks, or game day gatherings, delivering a delightful blend of salty, savory, and slightly sweet flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken & Dough

48 pieces frozen popcorn chicken
2 (8-oz) cans refrigerated crescent rolls

Honey Mustard Spread

⅓ cup honey mustard

Boiling Solution

10 cups water
⅔ cup baking soda

Egg Wash & Seasoning

1 large egg
1 Tbsp water
Pretzel salt or coarse sea salt, for sprinkling

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Instructions

Preheat the oven. Set your oven temperature to 375ºF (190ºC) to prepare for baking the pretzel-wrapped chicken minis.
Prepare the baking soda water bath. In a large pot, combine 10 cups of water with ⅔ cup of baking soda and bring it to a rolling boil. This bath will give the dough its classic pretzel texture and flavor.
Prepare the dough and spread honey mustard. Unroll both cans of crescent dough and separate each into 16 triangles. Spread a heaping teaspoon of honey mustard evenly on each triangle. Then, cut each triangle lengthwise into 3 narrower triangles to create smaller dough pieces for wrapping.
Assemble the chicken rolls. Place one piece of popcorn chicken at the wide end of each narrow dough triangle. Roll the dough around the chicken tightly to encase it completely.
Boil the wrapped chicken. Using tongs or a strainer, carefully dip each wrapped mini into the boiling baking soda water for 15-20 seconds. This step is crucial for the pretzel crust to form. Remove and place the dipped rolls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Apply egg wash and salt. Whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon of water to make the egg wash. Brush this mixture over each dipped roll to enable browning. Sprinkle pretzel salt or coarse sea salt generously on top for authentic pretzel flavor and texture.
Bake to golden perfection. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and cooked through. Remove from oven and allow to slightly cool before serving.

Notes

Use frozen popcorn chicken for convenience and consistent bite-sized pieces.
Be careful when dipping the dough-wrapped chicken in boiling water; use tongs or a slotted spoon to avoid burns.
For extra flavor, consider adding a sprinkle of garlic powder or your favorite seasoning inside the dough before wrapping.
Serve these minis with additional honey mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.
These minis are best enjoyed warm for optimal crispiness and flavor.