Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 4
These juicy Air Fryer Chicken Bites come out perfectly crispy every time. They’re seasoned just right and make an excellent high-protein meal or snack that the whole family will love. If you’ve enjoyed my chicken tenders and fries, you’ll definitely want to try this bite-sized version!
Key Takeaways:
- Ready in just 20 minutes from start to finish
- Uses simple ingredients you likely have at home
- Perfect for meal prep – stays crispy when reheated
- Kid-friendly and great for dipping
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Chicken Bites
Want juicy, crispy chicken without the mess of deep frying? These Air Fryer Chicken Bites are your answer. They’re quick to make, use minimal oil, and turn out perfectly golden every time. Plus, they’re versatile – serve them with your favorite dipping sauce, add them to salads, or pack them for lunch.
Equipment Needed for Air Fryer Chicken Bites
- 5-quart air fryer (or similar size)
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- 2 medium mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons
- Paper towels
- Tongs
- Meat thermometer
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Bites
For the Chicken:
- 2 large chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds), cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the Coating:
- 1 cup seasoned panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Olive oil cooking spray
Step-by-Step Instructions for Air Fryer Chicken Bites
Preparation Phase (5 minutes)
- Set up your workspace:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap for 20 seconds
- Clean your counter and gather all ingredients
- Place a paper towel-lined plate nearby for coated chicken
- Have a clean plate ready for finished chicken bites
- Prepare the chicken:
- Remove chicken breasts from packaging
- Rinse under cold water (optional)
- Pat completely dry with paper towels (important for crispy results!)
- Place on a clean cutting board used only for raw meat
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces:
- First, slice each breast horizontally into 3 even strips
- Then cut each strip into 1-inch cubes (about the size of a dice)
- Make pieces as uniform as possible for even cooking
- Remove any fat or tough parts as you cut
- Preheat your air fryer:
- Make sure the basket is clean and properly inserted
- Select the preheat function (if available) or simply set temperature
- Set temperature to 380°F
- Allow to preheat for exactly 5 minutes
- You’ll know it’s ready when the indicator light changes or it beeps
Seasoning Phase (3 minutes)
- Prepare your seasoning mix:
- In a medium bowl that’s completely dry, add:
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning (level, not heaping)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Mix all seasonings together with a spoon until well combined
- In a medium bowl that’s completely dry, add:
- Season the chicken:
- Place all chicken pieces in the bowl with seasonings
- Drizzle exactly 2 tablespoons olive oil over chicken
- Using clean hands or tongs, toss thoroughly
- Keep mixing until each piece is completely and evenly coated
- Every piece should look moist with seasonings clinging to surface
Coating Phase (2 minutes)
- Prepare your coating station:
- In a separate clean, dry bowl, combine:
- 1 cup seasoned panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Mix these together with a fork until well incorporated
- Place bowl directly next to your seasoned chicken
- Have your paper towel-lined plate ready nearby
- In a separate clean, dry bowl, combine:
- Coat each chicken piece:
- TIP: Use one “wet” hand for handling raw chicken and one “dry” hand for breadcrumbs
- Work in small batches of 4-5 pieces at a time
- Pick up a piece of seasoned chicken with your “wet” hand
- Drop it into breadcrumb mixture
- Use your “dry” hand to gently press coating onto all sides
- Shake off excess coating
- Place coated piece on paper towel-lined plate
- Repeat until all pieces are coated
Cooking Phase (10 minutes)
- Prepare the air fryer basket:
- Once preheated, carefully pull out the hot basket
- Spray bottom and sides with olive oil cooking spray
- Hold spray can 6-8 inches away while spraying
- Use a light, even coating (too much oil will make bites soggy)
- Arrange Air Fryer Chicken Bites in basket:
- Place chicken pieces carefully in a single layer
- Leave a small space between each piece
- Pieces should not touch each other
- IMPORTANT: Don’t stack pieces or overfill
- For a 5-quart air fryer, you’ll likely need 2-3 batches
- Don’t rush by overcrowding – it affects crispiness!
- Final preparation before cooking:
- Spray tops of chicken bites lightly with cooking spray
- This helps achieve golden-brown, crispy coating
- Close basket carefully and slide back into air fryer
- Set timer for exactly 4 minutes at 380°F
- First cooking phase:
- Cook at 380°F for 4 minutes
- When timer beeps, carefully pull out basket
- Using tongs (never touch with hands!), gently flip each piece
- Spray newly exposed tops with cooking spray
- Return basket to air fryer
- Second cooking phase:
- Cook for another 4-6 minutes (8-10 minutes total)
- About halfway through, check for browning
- When chicken appears golden brown, check temperature
- Insert meat thermometer into thickest piece
- It should read at least 165°F for food safety
- If not ready, continue cooking in 1-minute intervals
- Finishing your Air Fryer Chicken Bites:
- Once cooked, remove basket carefully
- Let chicken rest for 1-2 minutes (improves texture)
- Transfer to clean serving plate with tongs
- Begin cooking next batch if needed
- Clean any crumbs from air fryer between batches
Troubleshooting Your Air Fryer Chicken Bites
- Coating falling off? Make sure to:
- Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning
- Press coating firmly onto each piece
- Spray with enough cooking spray before air frying
- Handle gently when flipping
- Not crispy enough? Try:
- Ensuring chicken is completely dry before coating
- Adding more cooking spray halfway through
- Cooking for 1-2 minutes longer
- Making sure pieces aren’t touching
- Burning too quickly? Solutions:
- Lower temperature to 370°F
- Check sooner (at 6-7 minutes)
- Use less cooking spray
- Make pieces slightly larger next time
- Not cooking evenly? Fix by:
- Cutting pieces more uniformly
- Arranging in a single layer
- Flipping carefully halfway
- Making sure your air fryer preheats properly
Variations & Substitutions for Air Fryer Chicken Bites
- Gluten-free version:
- Replace regular panko with gluten-free panko breadcrumbs
- Check that your poultry seasoning is gluten-free
- Low-carb option:
- Replace breadcrumbs with crushed pork rinds
- Add extra parmesan for crunch
- Extra spicy version:
- Add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to seasonings
- Mix in 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Italian style Air Fryer Chicken Bites:
- Use Italian seasoning instead of poultry seasoning
- Add 1 teaspoon dried basil to the coating
- Serve with marinara for dipping
- Sloppy Joe style:
- Try coating your chicken bites in my cheesy chicken sloppy joe sauce after air frying for a delicious twist
Storage & Reheating Air Fryer Chicken Bites
- Refrigerator storage:
- Allow to cool completely (about 10 minutes)
- Place in airtight container
- Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days
- Layer with parchment paper if stacking
- Freezer storage:
- Cool completely
- Place in single layer on baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour
- Transfer to freezer-safe container or bag
- Store for up to 3 months
- Label with date and contents
- Reheating from refrigerator:
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F
- Spray basket lightly with cooking spray
- Heat for 3-4 minutes until warmed through
- No need to flip if just reheating
- Reheating from frozen:
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F
- Cook for 5-7 minutes until heated through
- Check internal temperature reaches 165°F
Safety Notes & Tips for Air Fryer Chicken Bites
- Food safety:
- Always check that internal temperature reaches 165°F
- Use separate cutting boards for raw chicken and other foods
- Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw chicken
- Disinfect all surfaces that come in contact with raw chicken
- Air fryer safety:
- Never touch inside of basket with bare hands when hot
- Place air fryer on heat-resistant surface
- Keep at least 5 inches of space around air fryer for ventilation
- Never overcrowd air fryer basket
- Always let air fryer heat fully before cooking
- Time-saving tips:
- Cut chicken ahead of time and store in refrigerator
- Mix dry seasonings in advance
- Clean air fryer immediately after use while still warm (but not hot)
Serve these Air Fryer Chicken Bites hot with your favorite dipping sauces. They pair perfectly with steamed veggies or sweet potato fries for a complete meal. For a more substantial dinner option, consider serving alongside my chicken with bell peppers and onions for a delicious protein-packed feast!
