These air fryer chicken bites are tender, juicy, and packed with flavor, thanks to a seasoned cornstarch blend that also gives them a nicely crisped exterior. They're the perfect way to easily add more protein to your diet for lunch, dinner, or as an appetizer and they remind me of the grilled nuggets at Chik-Fil-A.
Whether you need an easy appetizer or a flavorful main dish, these air fryer chicken bites are always the way to go.
This is one of my favorite air fryer recipes because it delivers a ton of flavor and crispy texture, thanks to a simple, seasoned cornstarch coating. In addition to how delicious they are, their simple coating and air fryer cooking make them super healthy, as well.
This chicken bites recipe is the perfect main course or an appetizer, and they're freezer-friendly, making them perfect for meal prepping. You can't go wrong with them!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Limited Ingredients: You'll only need seven 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.
- 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
- 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.
Equipment
- Measuring spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Airfryer
- Meat thermometer - I really like my ThermoPro Lightning meat thermometer. It's super fast and very accurate.
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.
- 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.
- Garnish with chopped green onions if you like and serve with dipping sauce or your favorite sides.
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.
For dessert, pair the bold flavor of these bites with treats like Reese's Pieces peanut butter cookies, chocolate cheesecake cake, or Oreo mint cheesecake parfaits.
FAQ
Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
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.
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.
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts diced into 1-inch cubes
- 1 ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon thyme
- ½ tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes and preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Add the cornstarch and salt to a large bowl. Then, add the chicken chunks and toss or stir to evenly coat.
- Mix the paprika, garlic powder, thyme, and onion powder in a small bowl. Then, add it to the chicken and toss again to coat.
- Place the seasoned chicken in a single layer in the air fryer tray. Then, lightly spray it with olive oil.
- Air fry the chicken for 6 to 8 minutes until the chicken is crisp and the internal temperature registers 165 degrees.
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible.
- To reheat, defrost overnight in the refrigerator if frozen. Then, microwave at 1-minute intervals until heated through.
- When using your meat thermometer, make sure the tip is in the center of the chicken cube. If it's too close to the outside, the temperature won't be correct.
- When rinsing the chicken breasts, hold them as close to the bottom of the sink and use a gentle stream of water to limit splashing.
- Wash your sink and counters as soon as you've finished rinsing the chicken.
- Avoid using nonstick spray on your air fryer tray. Over time, it can damage the coating. Instead, brush it with oil.
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