Air Fryer Chicken Bites are juicy with a crispy exterior, perfectly seasoned, and cook in just 10 minutes. A simple, high protein addition to any dinner, and perfect for meal prep!
If you don’t have an air fryer, try my stovetop chicken bites.
These air fryer chicken bites are just like my healthy chicken nuggets minus the breading. Same juicy, flavorful bites, just a little lighter! They take almost no effort to make and they’re perfect for dunking in your favorite dipping sauce.
In our house, we love cooking chicken breast in air fryer because it’s so easy! Even if you forget to thaw the chicken, you can still make air fryer frozen chicken breasts.
We’ve all been there and air fryer recipes are a lifesaver when dinner time sneaks up on you!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: Chicken bites in air fryer are ready to eat in under 30 minutes, including prep!
- Juicy and flavorful: Seasoned with dried parsley and a blend of spices for just the right kick.
- Healthy and high protein: No breading, 36 grams of protein, and naturally gluten-free.
- Versatile: A go-to chicken recipe for anything from dinner to meal prep or appetizers.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Bites
All you need are chicken breasts, oil, and a few simple seasonings.
- Chicken breasts: Cut skinless boneless chicken breasts into 1.5 inch cubes. You can easily swap in chicken thighs.
- Olive oil: Adds a nice flavor and creates a light coating on the chicken for a crispy texture. Avocado oil works well too. You’ll also need some cooking spray to grease the air fryer basket.
- Spices: The blend of dried parsley, red pepper flakes, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper pairs with any dip, sauce, or dish you serve it with.
How to Make Chicken Bites in Air Fryer
The air fryer makes this recipe practically hands-off. Preheat air fryer to 380 F.
- Coat the chicken: Combine the chicken, olive oil, and all the seasonings in a medium bowl, then use tongs to toss until each piece is evenly coated.
- Prepare the air fryer: Spray the basket with cooking spray and arrange the chicken in a single layer. Cook in batches, if needed.
- Air fry: Cook the chicken bites for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway. If cooking in batches, repeat with the remaining chicken.
Tips for Best Results
Here are a few tips to get the perfect air fryer chicken bites with juicy centers and crispy edges.
- Similar sized chicken pieces: Smaller pieces and diced chicken dry out quickly, so it’s best to cut the chicken into uniform, larger chunks for even cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer: If it’s a smaller air fryer you’ll want to cook in batches.
- Don’t overcook: Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature or cut a piece with a knife to make sure it’s fully cooked. And don’t let the chicken sit in the air fryer after it’s done, as residual heat can continue to cook it.
- Enjoy immediately: Chicken bites will be the most juicy served right away as they dry out if left too long.
Serving Ideas
This flavorful protein pairs perfectly with a variety of sides or main dishes.
- Potato wedges and a light, fresh salad
- Wrapped in tortillas for your favorite taco or fajita recipe
- Crispy sweet potato fries and coleslaw
- Tossed in a salad with mixed greens and your favorite dressing
- Serve over a bed of pasta with marinara or pesto sauce
- As an appetizer with a side of dipping sauces
Dipping Sauces That Pair Well
- Homemade ranch dressing or cottage cheese ranch
- BBQ sauce or a sweet and tangy Hawaiian BBQ sauce
- Honey mustard or sweet and spicy mustard
- Greek yogurt blue cheese dressing
- Tzatziki
- Thai sweet chili sauce
How to Store and Reheat
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze chicken bites for up to 3 months and thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheat: Warm up chicken bites in air fryer at 380 F for 2-3 minutes or in a skillet with a little oil. You can also microwave them if you’re short on time, but that can dry out the small pieces.
FAQs
Yes, boneless skinless chicken thighs work too. You may need to adjust the cooking time and make sure the internal temperature hits 165 F.
Chicken bites are ready when they reach an internal temperature of 165 F, are browned on the outside, and cooked through with no pink in the center.
They were likely overcooked. Air fryers and chicken quality can vary, so try cooking them for less time next time.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
More Bite Size Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1.5 inch pieces
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Cooking spray, I use Misto
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl, add chicken, olive oil, paprika, chili powder, dried parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Stir well with tongs to coat each piece of chicken with spices.
- Spray basket of air fryer with cooking spray and lay chicken pieces in a single layer. You may need to cook in batches.
- Air fry for 10 minutes, shaking halfway through the cooking process. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
- Serve immediately with potato wedges and fresh salad.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Reheat quickly in a skillet with a bit of oil. You can microwave them if short on time, but that generally dries out small chicken pieces. Air fryer at 380 F for 2-3 minutes works great though.
- Freeze: Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So delish! I just finished preparing my first batch of these and they taste delicious. I’m planning on serving as part of the snacks tonight as we watch the NCAA Basketball Finals. The directions were easy to follow and I love how easy these were to make. This is going to be an on-repeat recipe at our house.