Air Fryer Chicken Bites

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Limited Ingredients: Like my burger skewer appetizer recipe, it only takes a few ingredients to make this recipe, and most of them are probably in your kitchen right now.

So Easy: This is one of the easiest chicken recipes you'll ever make. All you have to do is coat the chicken and air fry it. There's nothing to it!

Healthy: Chicken breast is a lean protein, and these bites get their crisp outside by using cornstarch and the air fryer. There's no added fat, batter, or oil.

Customizable: You can adjust this recipe by changing the spice amounts or adding different spices to create all kinds of flavor variations.

Versatile: These are perfect with rice and veggies for a dinner or as an appetizer at parties. You can also add them to other recipes, like using them in place of ground beef in my ground beef stir fry.

A Great Meal Prep Option: These bites are freezer-friendly, so you can whip up a big batch and freeze them for future meals.

Ingredients

An overhead shot of a package of chicken breasts with a bowl of cornstarch and a bowl of seasonings.

Diced Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: I use Springer Mountain Farms chicken breasts because they never use antibiotics or added hormones, and they never feed their chickens food with animal by-products.

Cornstarch: Cornstarch gives the chicken's exterior a nice crispness.

Seasonings: A blend of paprika, garlic powder, thyme, and onion powder adds deep, bold, aromatic flavors to the chicken bites.

See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.

Flavor Variations

Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or cayenne to the seasoning mix for a kick of heat.

Seasonings: Play with your favorite seasonings to create different recipes. Seasonings like oregano, marjoram, sage, rosemary, and Italian seasoning all work well.

Chicken Thighs: Boneless skinless chicken thighs work well and deliver deeper flavor.

Other Proteins: The seasoned cornstarch coating will work with cubed beef or pork, as well as shellfish like shrimp or prawns.

Sweet and Savory: Add a touch of sugar for a slightly sweet and savory blend.

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the chicken with the cornstarch and salt, and mix or toss until evenly coated.

Mix the spices in a small bowl, then add them to the chicken and mix until fully coated.

A bowlful of seasoned chicken breast chunks.

Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in an even layer, lightly spray with olive oil, and air fry at 400 degrees until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

An air fyer basket full of cooked diced chicken breast.

Garnish with chopped green onions if you like and serve with dipping sauce or your favorite sides.

An overhead shot of a bowful of seasoned chicken cubes.

Expert Tips

Rinse your chicken and pat it dry after dicing to ensure the cornstarch and seasoning adhere well.

Preheat your air fryer for even cooking and accurate cooking times. It only takes 5 minutes!

Cut your air fryer chicken breast chunks into 1-inch cubes for fast, even cooking and easy eating.

Pairing Suggestions

As an appetizer, serve these air fryer chicken bites with your favorite dipping sauce like ranch, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or hot honey.

As a dinner, these chicken bites pair well with mashed potatoes or rice and vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or any of your other favorites.

FAQ

How do you know when chicken is done?

Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Do you always have to check chicken with a meat thermometer?

A meat thermometer is generally only used to check larger cuts of meat or chicken for doneness. This is because small chunks of chicken are usually cooked through by the time the dish in which they're used is done.

Why do you coat meat in cornstarch before frying?

The most noticeable reason to coat meat in cornstarch before frying it is the crispy texture it gives the outside of the meat. However, coating meat in cornstarch also helps tenderize it, enhances its juiciness, and keeps it from overcooking.

📖 Recipe