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    Home » Uncategorized » Air Fryer Chicken Bites

    Air Fryer Chicken Bites

    Published: Sep 2, 2022 by Andrea Howe · This post may contain affiliate links.

    28 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Air fryer chicken bites are a surprisingly quick and easy dish that everyone in the family will love. Enjoy them for dinner or an after school snack. Moist and tender, and loads healthier than drive-thru nuggets, you’re going to love these homemade chicken nuggets.

    air fryer chicken bites on a serving tray with dipping sauce

    Like most kids, mine are obsessed with drive thru-chicken nuggets. They’re a quick and delicious treat no doubt, so I don’t write them off completely. But it’s always good to have a healthier homemade version in your back pocket. This air fryer chicken bites recipe is so easy and tasty, your kids will love this new option. Try them with my bacon wrapped asparagus made in the air fryer for a tasty & healthy dinner.

    Jump to:
    • Why we are obsessed with this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-step instructions
    • No air fryer? No problem
    • Common questions answered
    • Cooking and serving tips
    • Air Fryer Chicken Bites

    Why we are obsessed with this recipe

    • A healthier yet equally delicious version of fast food nuggets with a lot less sodium, fat and processed chicken.
    • Easily made gluten-free, dairy-free or even grain-free depending on dietary restrictions.
    • Such a quick and easy healthy meal! Just a few pantry staple ingredients, and a super quick cook time thanks to the technology and speed of the air fryer.
    raw ingredients to make air fryer chicken bites

    Ingredients

    This is pretty much the same recipe as the one I shared 8 years ago, but made even more convenient in the air fryer!

    • Boneless skinless chicken breast – 2-3 depending on size, preferably air-chilled and cut into large 1″-2″ pieces
    • Olive oil – about 2 tbsp, just enough to coat the chicken pieces
    • Panko bread crumbs for the coating – feel free to sub out for your favorite gluten-free or grain-coating. There are so many great options now, it’s hard to tell the difference between them and regular breadcrumbs!
    • Grated parmesan cheese to add flavor, but nutritional yeast is another good alternative if you wish to make these dairy free. If using nutritional yeast, use half as much.
    • Seasonings to give it some flavor – garlic powder, a punch of cayenne pepper and of course salt and black pepper

    Step-by-step instructions

    Cut up chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces about 1″ -2″ in size, making sure to keep them as uniform as possible.

    In a medium bowl, toss the chicken pieces in the olive oil and set aside.

    In a shallow bowl, combine the panko crumbs, parmesan cheese and spices and stir together.

    step-by-step directions to make chicken nuggets in the air fryer

    Working in small batches, toss the chicken chunks in the bread crumb mixture, making sure to thoroughly coat for best results.

    Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray. Lightly spray with a quick coat of nonstick cooking spray and air-fry for 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees f. Make sure to shake the basket or rotate the chicken pieces half way through cooking.

    avocado oil spray over air fryer basket

    Cooking time will vary a bit depending on your air fryer make and model. Begin checking the pieces at 10 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 150-160 degrees f. When done, you will get crispy chicken bites with a fraction of the salt and fat.

    Serve these juicy little chicken tenders with your favorite dipping sauce. My kids love barbecue sauce (you can find my homemade bbq sauce recipe here), and I love a slightly spicy aioli or ranch dressing. I’m not lying when I say the whole family, including adults, love these.

    No air fryer? No problem

    To make these in the oven, place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 400 for 10 minutes, then flip over each nugget and cook for another 5 minutes until internal temperature reaches 155-160 degrees f.

    sweet potato fries and air fryer chicken bites on a baking tray with dipping sauces

    Common questions answered

    How do I store and reheat?

    Store leftover chicken bites in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave, or to get crispy chicken nuggets, pop in the air fryer for 2-4 minutes. These chicken bites make a great option for meal prep because they reheat so nicely.

    Can I use a different cut of chicken?

    You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs, but I prefer chicken breasts.

    Do these taste much different than baked chicken nuggets?

    These homemade air fryer chicken nuggets don’t taste very different than the original recipe I shared 8 years ago. But air frying cooks the pieces of chicken a bit more quickly, and the breading gets crispier. I just love using the air fryer because it preheats so quickly, cooks quickly, and doesn’t heat up my whole house like the large oven does.

    homemade chicken nuggets made in the air fryer on a rimmed baking sheet with dipping sauces

    Cooking and serving tips

    Make a double batch of these crispy air fryer chicken bites to have on hand for a quick lunch, after school snack of even for a perfect appetizer.

    Add lemon pepper seasoning or onion powder to the breadcrumb seasoning mixture for an extra kick of flavor.

    Do not overspray the nuggets with vegetable oil spray, as it will make the nuggets get a bit soggy.

    Serve with buffalo sauce or marinara sauce for dipping. Air fryer potato chips or sweet potato fries would make the perfect side dish.

    sweet potato fries and homemade chicken nuggets made in the air fryer on a round white plate

    Check out my other air fryer recipes, and if you made these and loved them, please consider leaving a 5 star rating!

    • Nourishing Fiesta Salad Recipe
    • Easy Creamy Protein Hummus
    • Creamy Spicy Ranch Dressing
    • Homemade Air Fryer Taquitos

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a comment and/or rating, letting me know how you enjoyed it! Connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, and never miss a post by signing up for my weekly newsletter!

    Air Fryer Chicken Bites

    Air fryer chicken bites are a quick and easy dish that everyone in the family will love. Moist and tender, and loads healthier than drive-thru nuggets, you're going to love these!
    5 from 13 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes
    Total Time: 22 minutes
    Servings: 5 people
    Author:Andrea

    Equipment

    • 1 Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 3 Boneless skinless chicken breasts 2 large or 3 smaller breasts, cut into large bite size chunks
    • 2 tbsp Olive oil just enough to coat the chicken pieces
    • ¾ cup Panko bread crumbs
    • 3 tbsp Grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 tsp Garlic powder
    • 1 tsp Salt & pepper
    • Pinch of cayenne pepper
    • Cooking oil spray just a light spray
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Cut up chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces about 1″ -2″ in size, making sure to keep them as uniform as possible.
    • In a medium bowl, toss the chicken pieces in the olive oil and set aside. In a shallow bowl, combine the panko crumbs, parmesan cheese and spices and stir together.
    • Working in small batches, toss the chicken chunks in the bread crumb mixture, making sure to thoroughly coat for best results.
    • Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray. Lightly spray with a quick coat of nonstick cooking spray and air-fry for 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees f. Make sure to shake the basket or rotate the chicken pieces half way through cooking.
    • Cooking time will vary a bit depending on your air fryer make and model. Begin checking the pieces at 10 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 150-160 degrees f. When done, you will get crispy chicken bites with a fraction of the salt and fat.

    Notes

    To make these in the oven, place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 400 for 10 minutes, then flip over each nugget and cook for another 5 minutes until internal temperature reaches 155-160 degrees f.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 663mg | Potassium: 281mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 46IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Howe.We.Live or tag #HoweWeLiveRecipes!
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    Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs and Veggies »

    About Andrea Howe

    Andrea Howe is the recipe developer and photographer of Howe We Live. She is also a seasoned home cook of over 20 years, for her family of 5. Andrea has spent over 10 years in the food industry, writing for various publications including Babble and Disney. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Taste of Home, Yahoo, Buzzfeed and ABC News.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cathleen says

      September 11, 2022 at 6:55 pm

      5 stars
      I am obsessed with making these chicken bites!! I just took my air fryer out of the storage, and now I am using it daily! Thanks so much for the recipe 🙂

      Reply
    2. Kristina says

      September 11, 2022 at 5:13 am

      5 stars
      The homemade breading was delicious! Giving them a spray with oil before cooking made them very crispy- just like prebreaded fried chicken in a bag. Was a hit with my kids and definitely recommend!

      Reply
    3. Helene says

      September 11, 2022 at 1:33 am

      5 stars
      Always looking for a healthier alternative to fast food. Your recipe turned out perfectly. Everybody loved these homemade chicken nuggets. Thank you.

      Reply
    4. Leslie says

      September 10, 2022 at 1:17 pm

      5 stars
      This is the ultimate, easy kids meal! What would we even do without our air-fryer? I’m not sure how I survived so long without one! haha

      Reply
    5. Amanda says

      September 10, 2022 at 8:44 am

      5 stars
      So good! The air fryer gave the coating such a crisp texture, and it made the process really simple and convenient.

      Reply
    6. Ann says

      September 10, 2022 at 6:22 am

      5 stars
      I love the idea of making these for an after school snack. My kids are always starving when they get home, so this would be a great protein source till dinner.

      Reply
    7. LaKita says

      September 09, 2022 at 5:13 pm

      5 stars
      Made these chicken bites this week and they came out so crispy, juicy, and delicious! Will definitely be making them again.

      Reply
    8. veenaazmanov says

      September 09, 2022 at 12:28 pm

      5 stars
      Easy, cheesy and flavorful. Air Fryer Chicken Bites and homemade sounds healthier and perfect.

      Reply
    9. Tracy says

      September 08, 2022 at 9:35 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great snack!! Another great air fryer recipe, thanks!

      Reply
    10. Patricia says

      September 08, 2022 at 7:55 pm

      5 stars
      What a great treat for kiddos and “big kids” too! I love how versatile the air fryer can be! Great dish!

      Reply
    11. Amanda says

      September 08, 2022 at 1:58 pm

      5 stars
      These have become one of my kid’s favorite snacks after school! I’ve made these a couple of times and they are asking me often to make them more on the regular. Really good recipe!

      Reply
    12. Bernice says

      September 08, 2022 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      I love my air fryer and I’ve been dying to try making chicken bites so your recipe arrived just in time. We loved them and the kids especially gobbled them up.

      Reply
    13. Sharon says

      September 07, 2022 at 5:18 pm

      5 stars
      You will be skipping the bag of frozen nuggets once you make these amazing air fryer chicken nuggets. The kids loved them!

      Reply
    14. Cliff says

      September 02, 2022 at 9:06 am

      For us oven users, I wonder if a quick run under the broiler after the chicken has cooked will crisp up the exterior?

      Reply
      • Andrea Howe says

        September 02, 2022 at 10:19 am

        Yes, that will help, but even in the oven they do come out a bit crispy – you’d be surprised!

        Reply

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    Welcome to Howe We Live. I’m Andrea, a passionate home cook and mother of 3. I’ve been cooking and writing about healthy eating for almost a decade, and my number one goal here is to help you develop the tools needed to throw together a great meal at home that is both delicious, and healthy-ish. All eaters are welcome here! Read More

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