Air Fryer chicken bites are juicy, well seasoned and perfect for a quick protein at meals. Serve as is, in a salad or grain bowl, or pair with your favorite dipping sauce.
Surely I'm not the only one who finds myself needing a quick, healthy protein to go with dinner or to have on hand for meals during the week.
This 15-minute paprika chicken has been a long-time favorite and is often what I turn to.
Or if I've got a little more time and energy, I'll make a batch of baked turkey meatballs or baked chicken thighs. Scrumptious and some good variety.
But since last minute and low-key is usually the name of the game in my kitchen, I wanted another option for a quick chicken recipe I can throw together.
Air Fryer chicken bites are the result!
And I've made these over and over again. Sure, partly to test and confirm timing and to try different seasonings, but also because they have become such a default.
Just mix the seasonings, cube the chicken, toss it all together and throw it in.
Bonus points: No skillets or splattering or turning or watching. You just prep the chicken and season it and let the Air Fryer do its magic.
And they are so flavorful! These juicy little nuggets are perfectly seasoned. And it's a really versatile seasoning mix that can then be paired with pretty much any other flavors you've got going on in your meal.
OK, let's get to cooking.
Recipe Notes:
Chicken: This needs to be cut into 1-inch or slightly smaller sized pieces. Think a small cube or bite size. And try to make yours evenly sized so they cook in the same amount of time.
Cook time: If you can fit them into an even layer in your Air Fryer insert, they should be done at about 16 minutes. If yours are somewhat stacked, you'll want to cook them for at least 18 minutes and possibly up to 20 minutes. It depends a bit on your Air Fryer. I recommend a digital thermometer to ensure your chicken is properly cooked through. It should get to 165 degrees F.
Seasoning mix: The mix in the recipe card below is our go-to and favorite for its depth and balance (after me recipe testing several different versions). However, you could certainly tweak it a bit or use a store-bought seasoning mix and follow these same instructions.
I'm all about whatever works for you!
Last thing, let's get this ready to serve up. These little bites are great all on their own, with whatever starch or veggie you want to add to your plate.
However, they're also great to pair with a dipping sauce. This is true for kids and also for any leftovers, which can dry out a bit when reheated.
Dipping Sauces:
- Honey mustard
- BBQ sauce
- Ketchup
- Spicy mayo or yogurt
- Favorite salad dressing (like ranch or green goddess)
Also, you can make these Air Fryer chicken bites part of a grain bowl or salad. They're great for meal prep for that reason.
I love having a protein cooked and ready to go. Especially with teens and when we've got multiple activities several nights a week and are coming and going.
I hope you give these a try soon and add this as a new quick protein to your rotation.
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
Air Fryer Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon cayenne (or more black pepper)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, paprika, garlic powder, thyme, pepper and cayenne.
- Drizzle the cubed chicken pieces with the olive oil and then add the seasoning mix, tossing well to get all the chicken pieces well seasoned.
- Place the chicken in the Air Fryer insert and cook at 375 degrees F for 16-18 minutes, tossing once halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through. If your chicken is in an even layer, it should be done in about 16 minutes. If the pieces are somewhat stacked, it may take closer to 18-20 minutes, depending on your Air Fryer. (Reminder, the internal temperature of the chicken pieces should reach 165 degrees F.)
- Serve the chicken bites hot, with the juices from the Air Fryer drizzled on top.
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Dale says
These sound amazing! Do you have a recommended cooking temperature to set the air fryer at?
Kathryn Doherty says
Ah, sorry! That got deleted accidentally from the recipe card. I've just updated it but it's 375 degrees F. Thanks for checking in!