Air Fryer Chicken Bites

This air fryer chicken bites recipe will show you how to cook chicken chunks in air fryer in easy, quick steps. It is ready in under 15 minutes and the chicken cubes turn out tender, juicy, and packed full of flavor. Serve on its own or with side dishes like air fryer diced potatoes, baked vegetables, or any other side dish.

Air Fryer Chicken Bites Recipe

This air fryer chicken bites recipe is so simple and you get the best boneless chicken bites in air fryer that are juicy, tender, and flavorful.

Cooking cubed chicken in air fryer is easy, and quick and in less than 20 minutes you have tasty, moist air fryer cubed chicken that's bursting with flavors.

This air fried chicken bites recipe is chicken nuggets no breading. No breadcrumbs, panko, cornflakes, or the like are used in this recipe. Only natural herbs and spices are used to season it.

A few simple ingredients that are budget friendly and easily found in stores are used in making these chicken pieces in air fryer. In fact, the ingredients are less than 10.

The chicken chunks can be tossed in sauces like bbq sauce, buffalo sauce, Peri Peri, or any sauce of your choice. We like to serve it air fried vegetables and jollof rice.

Air fryer diced chicken is healthy, a good source of protein, low in carbs, and nutritious. You can use boneless chicken breast or thighs for it.

In the post, I will show you how to make it, how long to cook it for, and share helpful tips for success. I have also included instructions for frozen chicken bites in air fryer.

Related: Air fryer chicken breast

Ingredients

The detailed ingredient list, measurements, and directions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Chicken- Use boneless skinless chicken breast or Boneless chicken thighs. Use kitchen scissors or a knife to cut the chicken into cubes or you can buy ready-cut chicken chunks if you prefer.

Paprika- Any paprika powder or Smoked Paprika for a slightly smokey flavor.

Onion granules - You can substitute for onion powder

Garlic granules- Can be substituted for onion powder

Black pepper - cayenne, chili, sriracha, or any other pepper works fine.

Parsley and thyme

Salt

Olive oil

How To Cook Chicken Bites In Air Fryer

Here's how to make air fried chicken bites:

Dice the chicken into bite-size cubes of about 1- 1.5 inches.

Transfer to a bowl, and pat them dry with a paper towel.

Add the paprika, onion granules, garlic granules, parsley, black pepper, salt, and olive oil into the bowl.

Mix with the diced chicken till all are evenly covered in the seasoning.

Transfer the seasoned chicken to the air fryer basket.

Don't overcrowd the basket and It's best to leave spaces in between the chicken.

Set the air fryer to 400F/200C and air fry chicken bites for 6 minutes.

Bring out the basket and flip the chicken then continue to air fry chicken bites for another 6 minutes or until cooked.

It is cooked when the inside is no longer pink and the outer is brown. You can cut into a chicken piece to check this. The internal temperature when checked with an instant thermometer should be at least 165F.

Bring out the basket.

Serve and enjoy chicken.

Frozen Chicken Bites In Air Fryer

Can you cook frozen chicken bites in air fryer? Yes, you can! Here's how to:
Remove all packaging from the chicken.
Transfer the chicken bites to the air fryer basket or rack.
Set the air fryer to 400F/200C then air fry frozen chicken bites for 15-20 minutes or till cooked through.

Bring out and toss in any sauce of your choice.

Serve and enjoy.

If the chicken hasn't been seasoned before frozen, cook it in the air fryer for 5 minutes, after which it would have thawed, you can then season the diced chicken and put them back in the air fryer to continue to cook.

How Long To Cook Chicken Bites In Air Fryer

This depends on the size of the cubed chicken, the quantity, and the temperature it's cooked. The type, size, and wattage of the air fryer also play important roles. Small diced chicken will cook quicker than larger chunks.

Typically, how long to cook chicken bites in air fryer is between 10-15 minutes if cut into 1-2 inch bite size. This is at a temperature of 400F.

How long to cook frozen chicken bites in air fryer is 15-20 minutes.

They are cooked when the inside is no longer pink, it's tender and the outer is golden brown. You can cut into one of the chicken pieces to check this. Also when checked with an instant meat thermometer the internal temperature should be at least 165F/75C.
Don't leave the chicken in the air fryer when cooked so they don't dry out as the retained heat in the air fryer continues to cook the chicken.

What To Serve With

It can be served on its own as an appetizer and can also be served with any of the dishes listed below:
Fried potatoes, Home fries, roast potatoes, air fryer crispy potatoes

Mediterranean vegetables, air fried baby carrots, Boiled asparagus, roasted carrots

Sauces- Ranch sauce, Peri Peri sauce, buffalo sauce, bbq sauce, Garlic butter sauce

Spicy rice, curry rice, rice and peas, yellow rice

Spicy pasta, lemon pasta

Use in wraps, pizza toppings, and sandwiches

How To Store

It stores and reheats well. To store, let the chicken bites cool completely then transfer them to an airtight container or a ziploc and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To store them for longer, it's best to store them in the freezer from the start. It will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Label with name and dates before putting in the freezer.
The best way to reheat is in the air fryer and they can also be reheated in the oven and microwave.
To Reheat in the air fryer- Transfer the air fryer cubed chicken into the air fryer basket.  Set the air fryer to 400F/200C and air fry chicken for 4 minutes or till warmed through to how you want it.

Reheat in the oven- Transfer to a baking paper lined baking tray and bake at 400F for 8-10 minutes.

In the microwave- put on a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at high settings at 30 seconds intervals till heated through.

Leftovers can be used in stews, sauces, curries, and soups.

Tips

Tips for making fried chicken bites in air fryer are as follows:

• Try to cut the chicken into similar sizes so they cook evenly.
• Pat chicken dry with paper towels before adding the seasoning to it.
• Adjust seasoning to your taste. You can also switch it up by using seasoning like Peri Peri, jerk seasoning, cajun seasoning, or fajita seasoning.
• No need to preheat the air fryer for this recipe
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Don't fill it more than a third of the basket.
• Flip chicken halfway through cooking so all sides cook evenly.
• Toss in sauces like buffalo or bbq sauce if you like.
• Take it out of the air fryer when cooked as the heat from the air fryer can keep cooking them.

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

Air fryer chicken whole chicken wings

Air fried chicken drumsticks

Frozen chicken wings in air fryer

Air fryer breaded chicken breast

Air fryer chicken legs

Chicken thighs in air fryer

More Chicken Breast Recipes

Stovetop chicken breast

Pan fried chicken breasts

Baked frozen chicken breast

Boiled chicken breasts

Buttermilk chicken breast marinade

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