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My air fryer chicken bites recipe has the best seasoning blend and yields crispy, golden brown, JUICY chicken every time. Ready in 10 minutes!
If you love chicken in the air fryer as much as we do, try my air fryer BBQ chicken, air fryer chicken nuggets, air fryer chicken drumsticks, or air fryer chicken wings next.
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Whenever I’m feeling rushed or need a low-effort weeknight dinner, I whip up these air fryer bites. It’s the quickest cooking method to cook them, and I don’t get stuck with a mountain of dishes after dinner.
For this recipe, I took bite-sized chicken breast pieces and tossed them in a dash of oil and some common spices. After less than 10 minutes in the air fryer, you’re rewarded with juicy meat and a lightly charred, golden exterior.
Why I love this recipe
- Super versatile. This recipe makes the perfect snack, lunch, or dinner. You can pair them with dipping sauce or add them to rice bowls, salads, pasta, or wraps!
- Easy to customize. The seasonings I listed below are merely suggestions. Feel free to get creative with whatever’s in your spice cabinet.
- Fast. From prep to plate, I’m talking under 10 minutes fast.
- Minimal oil. Just a tablespoon is needed for 4 servings!
Key Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts. Diced into 2-inch cubes. If you’re using frozen chicken, let it thaw overnight.
- Olive oil. Just enough to toss the chicken in. Feel free to use any oil with a high smoke point, like avocado oil or vegetable oil.
- Seasonings. I used Italian seasoning, cumin, and smoked paprika.
- Salt. To taste.
How to chicken bites in the air fryer
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Prep. Preheat the oven and combine the ingredients in a large bowl. Toss to coat.
Air fry. Place the chicken chunks in a single layer in the greased air fryer basket. Air fry until fully cooked, flipping midway through.
Repeat. Continue air frying until all of the chicken is cooked.
Serve the chicken with dipping sauces of sauces or as a protein addition to your main dishes.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Use other cuts of chicken. I tested this recipe with skinless chicken thighs, and they turned out great. Just note you’ll need to increase the cooking time by at least 2 minutes.
- Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken has reached at least 165F.
- Add your favorite dipping sauce! Try my sugar-free sugar free BBQ sauce, ketchup, honey mustard, or ranch dressing.
Variations
- Switch up the seasonings. Try onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, or black pepper.
- Add sugar. While optional, 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar in the seasoning blend will balance out the spices and give the chicken an even crispier bite.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. To cook frozen chicken bites, just increase the air fry time by several minutes. Don’t increase the temperature, as this will cause the outside of the chicken to burn before the center is warm.
Air Fryer Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast diced into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 200C/400F.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the diced chicken, olive oil, Italian seasoning, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Grease the air fryer basket and add a single layer of the chicken. Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Repeat the process until all the chicken is cooked up.
