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A low-effort, kid-friendly recipe for air fryer chicken bites you can make on a busy weeknight.
Air Fryer Chicken Pieces
For a while, my kids were obsessed with Cane’s chicken strips; before that, they were deep into Chick-fil-A nuggets. And now they’re obsessed with the air fryer, so we’re making these chicken bites on repeat!
My daughter says they’re nearly as good as the grilled chicken bites. This means you’ll avoid the drive-thru, eat better, and save money. We officially have a new favorite.
Seasoning Options
In this recipe, I season the cubed chicken in a bowl with oil, paprika, salt, and pepper before cooking them. You can use Italian seasoning, blackened seasoning, taco seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, you name it! I recommend not skipping the oil to help the seasoning stick to the meat.
Cutting Chicken Pieces
For cutting chicken breasts into bites you’ll need a sharp knife and a plastic cutting board. Simply cut the meat into strips and then each strip into bite-sized cubes. Check out how easy it is to make chicken pieces in this quick video.
How to Air Fryer Chicken Pieces
You’ll place the chicken bites in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving some space between them to allow air to circulate. Cook them at 390F for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even cooking.
How to Use Air Fried Chicken Bites
Chicken bites are a terrific meal builder. I always keep on hand for quick lunches and dinners. You can serve these with healthy veggie sides, toss them with your favorite pasta, or add them on top of rice bowls or salads. It’s also an easy fix to serve chicken tacos super fast!
Air Fryer Chicken Bites (15-Minute Recipe)
Watch how it’s made:
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs chicken breasts, about 2 large
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Prep:
- Preheat the air fryer with the tray inside for 5 minutes at 390F (200C).
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. Slice each breast into vertical strips, then into small, 1-inch cubes.
- In a large bowl, combine the olive oil and seasonings. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss to coat them with the seasoning.
Cook:
- Place the chicken pieces in the preheated air fryer in a single layer, leaving a little space between each piece to allow the hot air to flow. Cook them for 10 to 12 minutes, stopping halfway through the cooking process to give the basket a good shake and flip the pieces over.
- When the internal temperature of the thickest piece has reached 165F (74C), remove the cooked chicken bites from the basket and serve.
Marysa says
This is such an easy recipe to put together. The chicken would go well with a lot of things, like rice. Very convenient to make on a busy weeknight!
Bedabrata Chakraborty says
I don’t have an air fryer, but you have convinced me to get one for my kitchen. I am wondering if this gadget would be useful for frying samosas.
katandbeyond.net says
I really appreciate your tip about using oil to make the seasonings stick to the meat. Avoiding the drive thru while saving money is a huge relief for my budget.
Melanie E says
These chicken bites sound perfect for my son. They’re tasty and easy to make after school!
MayPal says
Yummmmm!!!It’s really good that you are recreating these restos and fastfood staples at home. I agree, they are much better and healthier options because you know exactly what’s going on in them, and it is much more affordable.
I have actually spoken to my boys about this. I told them that I will cook the good food here at home and give them as much “restaurant” tasting dishes here while we try to restart our finances. We’re on our last stretch of a really tedious two-year loan and we need to get back up on our feet after January.