Air Fryer Chicken Bites

Tiny bite-size pieces of chicken are tossed with spices and oil before they’re cooked to juicy perfection in the air fryer. These Air Fryer Chicken Bites have become one of my favorite lunches of late. The leftovers keep nicely in the fridge for a few days and they’re a great option for tossing into salads or eating on their own whenever I’m hungry.

I have a well-established fondness for chicken bites. They are my go-to, “I don’t really want to think about what’s for dinner” kind of meal. The whole family enjoys them and they are a fuss-free main dish guaranteed to be a success.

It all started when I stumbled on a recipe for Indian Chicken Bits. I couldn’t resist trying them that same night. To make the chicken bites, (or bits), bite-size pieces of chicken are tossed in a mixture of oil and spices before being quickly cooked in a hot skillet.

Because the chicken is seared and cooked so quickly, it remains incredibly juicy and flavorful. I use chicken thighs most of the time when making chicken bites, however, breasts work nicely too, if that’s your preference.

Air Fryer Chicken Bites

The process is very much the same, but even easier for air-frying chicken bites. You’ll preheat the air fryer while prepping the chicken. Then add the chicken, shake it halfway through, and about 5 minutes later the chicken is ready to serve – without any of the mess of the stovetop method!

Just a note here to watch closely if using chicken breasts instead of thighs, they will cook a little more quickly and you do not want to overcook them or dry them out.

You’ll need the following ingredients for this recipe:

• boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
• olive oil
• kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• granulated garlic or garlic powder
• smoked or plain paprika
• fresh Italian parsley

How Long to Cook Chicken Bites in Air Fryer?

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the chicken in a medium-sized glass bowl and drizzle with oil. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika. Toss again to coat.

Transfer the chicken to the air fryer basket and spread in a single layer with space between each piece, if possible. Air fry the chicken for 6-8 minutes, shaking halfway through.

When the chicken is done cooking, serve warm, sprinkled with parsley if desired.

This recipe can be multiplied for additional servings, however you’ll need to cook the chicken in batches to avoid crowding the basket.

Chicken Bites Recipe

The beauty of making chicken bites this way is the huge variety of flavors you can use to change things up when cooking them. Sweet and just a little bit spicy, these Honey Sriracha Chicken Bites disappear lightning fast whenever we make them. Served with a pot of rice and some steamed vegetables it’s a quick and easy dinner.

Tangy and sweet, Huli Huli Chicken Bites have all the flavor of Hawaii’s ever-popular Huli Huli chicken, but with a quicker cooking process to make dinner time even easier. Fresh ginger, chili paste, and pineapple are combined in a simple marinade for these tender chicken bites.

Steaming hot bites of chipotle ranch-flavored Southwest-inspired chicken, dipped into cold ranch dressing made for a fun and fast dinner. And you can make chicken bites in the oven too! Honey and plenty of spices coat each bite of these honey spice chicken bites as they caramelize under the broiler. It’s finger-licking good.