Air fryer chicken bites are a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional fried chicken. Not only do they taste great, but they are also much easier to make and require minimal clean-up.
And best of all, because they are cooked in an air fryer, they are a lower calorie and lower fat option compared to deep-fried chicken.
Get ready for the crispiest and most flavorful air fryer chicken bites you’ve ever tasted! This easy-to-follow recipe uses only a few simple ingredients to achieve perfectly cooked and juicy chicken every time.
With the help of an air fryer, you can enjoy all the taste of deep-fried chicken without the added fat and calories. Try this delicious air fryer chicken bites recipe today and experience the magic.
To make air fryer chicken bites, you will need:
(Full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post)
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs. You can use chicken breast here as well.
- Garlic salt. Adds a nice pop of flavor.
- Pepper. Black or white pepper works well.
- All purpose flour. This will make up part of the coating of the chicken.
- Eggs. These act as the glue to bind the coating to the chicken.
- Panko. Japanese style bread crumbs. These are part of the secret to crispy chicken. You can find this in the Asian aisle at your local grocery store.
- Dipping sauce of choice. Ketchup, katsu sauce, ranch, the options are endless.
One of the great things about air fryer chicken bites is that you can customize them to your liking. Try experimenting with different seasonings and sauces to find your perfect combination. You can even try adding some diced veggies to the mix for a complete meal.
If you prefer beef you can make air fryer steak bites or for a vegetarian option try air fryer crispy tofu.
How to make air fryer chicken bites
First things first, you’ll want to make sure you preheat your air fryer to 380F. This allows even cooking of the chicken. Now while that’s heating up, time to prep the chicken.
Start by trimming off the excess fat and cutting the chicken into bite sized pieces. Think chicken nuggets size.
Now for the dredge. Get yourself three plates or shallow dishes. Add flour to one, eggs to the next, and panko to the final plate. Whisk the eggs until well combined.
To dredge your chicken, dip chicken pieces into the flour first, be sure to shake off the excess, then the egg, and lastly the panko being sure to cover the entire piece.
Your air fryer should be heated up by now. Spray non-stick cooking spray on the air fryer basket. Lay the chicken in a single layer in the basket.
Spray the chicken bites with non-stick cooking spray. This will help give the chicken a nice crispy exterior.Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until golden brown and an internal temperature of at least 165F.
Remove those delicious chicken bites from the air fryer, cool slightly, and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce. I love some good old ketchup for that, but the possibilities are endless.. ENJOY!
Tips to making the best air fryer chicken bites
- Make sure to preheat your air fryer before cooking the chicken bites. This will help them cook evenly and achieve a crispy exterior.
- Be sure to cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces so that they cook at the same rate. You don’t want some pieces to be overcooked while others are under cooked.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket of the air fryer. Allowing enough space between the chicken bites will allow hot air to circulate and cook the chicken evenly.
Frequently asked questions
es, you can put raw chicken in the air fryer. Just be sure to follow food safety guidelines and cook the chicken to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure that it is fully cooked and safe to eat.
The cooking time for air fryer chicken bites will depend on the size of the chicken pieces and the desired level of doneness. As a general rule, cook chicken bites for 10-12 minutes at 380 degrees Fahrenheit, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yes, you can definitely use frozen chicken in the air fryer. However, you will need to increase the cooking time to allow for the chicken to thaw and cook through. It is recommended to increase the cooking time by at least 50%.
Other air fryer recipes you’ll love
- Air fryer teriyaki salmon
- AIr fryer chicken katsu
- Air fryer crispy pork belly
- Air fryer coconut shrimp
- Air fryer crispy bacon
Air Fryer Chicken Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup panko
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 380F. While the air fryer preheats, start making the chicken.
- Cut chicken into bite sized pieces. Season with garlic salt and pepper.
- Gather 3 plates or shallow dishes. To one plate add flour, to another eggs, and to the last panko. Whisk eggs until combined.
- Dip chicken in flour, then eggs, and then panko. Shake off excess.
- Once the air fryer has preheated, add the chicken bites to the air fryer. Spray the chicken bites with non-stick cooking spray. This will help give the chicken a nice crispy exterior. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and an internal temperature of at least 165F. Shake the basket halfway through cooking.
- Remove from the airfryer, cool slightly, and ENJOY with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Make sure to preheat your air fryer before cooking the chicken bites. This will help them cook evenly and achieve a crispy exterior.
- Be sure to cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces so that they cook at the same rate. You don’t want some pieces to be overcooked while others are undercooked.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket of the air fryer. Allowing enough space between the chicken bites will allow hot air to circulate and cook the chicken evenly.
Nutrition
© Relle Lum for Keeping It Relle. Please do not copy and paste or screenshot recipes online or on social media. I’d love it if you share a link with a photo instead. Mahalo!
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