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by mansee muzumdar

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    Home » Meal Prep » Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Bites

    Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Bites

    Published: Nov 14, 2023 by Mansee Muzumdar · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 2 reviews

    One of my favorite meal prep components to make, these air fryer chicken bites are juicy, delicious and perfect to have on hand to use for so many snacks and meals! They are easy to make, store in the fridge or freezer really well and completely customizable so you can use whatever seasonings you love and have on hand! I always make a full pound at a time, but it's super simple to scale this recipe down (or up!) as needed.

    Air fryer chicken bites on white plate with spices and fork next to plate.

    One thing about me: At any given point, I'm probably meal prepping chicken.

    Is that as sad as it sounds? Sometimes!

    But also completely necessary to make sure I have a chance at eating healthy, high-protein meals and snacks at least a few days each week.

    I often fall back to my Weeknight Chicken recipes (yes, even when prepping on a Sunday), but these juicy chicken bites have been my go-to for months now.

    They are so easy to make & they don't require me to turn my oven on which is a HUGE win in my book. They are also developed to use chicken breast or tenders, rather than thighs, so great for anyone looking for a high-protein, lower calorie option when it comes to chicken.

    Ingredients for air fryer chicken bites.

    How to make chicken bites in the air fryer

    1. Toss your cut up chicken with salt and cornstarch until all the chicken is evenly coated. I like to do this first before adding seasoning so I can see the cornstarch better and make sure it's not clumping up!
    2. Add seasoning of your choice and toss again.
    3. Spread chicken out in a single layer in air fryer basket or tray. Spray with avocado oil just to lightly coat.
    4. Air fry at 400 for 8-10 minutes, until slightly crispy and cooked through.
    5. Enjoy!
    Raw chicken mixed with spices in glass bowl.

    How to season your chicken bites

    The best part of this recipe is that you can truly use whatever seasoning you love. Fajita, Italian, lemon pepper, you name it!

    For a few quick homemade options that make exactly 1 tablespoon (needed for this recipe), consider:

    Cajun: 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon each onion powder, black pepper, dried oregano and dried thyme and cayenne pepper.

    Blackened: 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon each, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, dried oregano and dried thyme.

    Taco: 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon each ground cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, dried oregano and red pepper flakes. (Alternatively, you can use my house seasoning for a similar taste!)

    NOTE: I add salt separately, so no salt measurements above. A rule of thumb I go by is 1 teaspoon salt per pound of chicken, so scale up or down as needed!

    Chicken bites piled on white plate.

    What's the secret to crispy chicken with no breading?

    Cornstarch!

    I like to use a little cornstarch to help the chicken crisp up as it's cooking.

    These obviously are not a replacement for breaded or fried chicken nuggets, but that light coating of cornstarch does crisp up as they are air fried and make this chicken that much more delicious.

    How to serve chicken bites

    These juicy little chicken bites are perfect to thrown in wraps, salads, pastas and more!

    Salads: Add to a simple House Salad, Italian Chopped Salad, Roasted Artichoke & White Bean Salad or Kale Caesar Salad.

    Pasta: Use in this One Pan Creamy Gnocchi For One or add to One Pan Baked Tomato and Feta Pasta.

    Or eat as-is with a side like 10-minute Sauted Kale, Everyday Roasted Potatoes, Gochujang Roasted Sweet Potatoes or Fried Rice For One.

    If you are like me and totally happy to just stand at your counter and dip pieces of chicken in a sauce/dip of some sort, maybe try Jalapeno Ranch, Lemon Tahini, Hot Green Chutney or Smoked Paprika Greek Yogurt Dip.

    Close up shot of chicken bites on plate.
    Print
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    Chicken bites on plate with fork.

    Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Bites


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Mansee Muzumdar
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 4 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    One of my favorite meal prep components to make, these air fryer chicken bites are juicy, delicious and perfect to have on hand to use for so many snacks and meals! They are easy to make, store in the fridge or freezer really well and completely customizable so you can use whatever seasonings you love and have on hand! I always make a full pound at a time, but it's super simple to scale this recipe down (or up!) as needed.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or tenders, cut into 1-inch bites
    • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon seasoning of your choice (see post for a few ideas!)
    • Avocado oil spray

    Instructions

    1. If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat to 400 degrees.
    2. Add 1lb chicken bites to a large bowl and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 1 teaspoon salt. Mix to combine really well so all the chicken is lightly coated with cornstarch.
    3. Add 1 tablespoon seasoning and toss again to coat.
    4. Spread chicken in air fryer basket or tray (depending on the type you have) and spray with avocado oil spray.
    5. Air fry chicken at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes, until slightly crispy and cooked through.
    6. Serve immediately or at room temperature. Store remaining chicken in fridge for one week or freezer for up to six months.

    Notes

    You can use whatever seasoning you like for this recipe. See post for homemade seasoning ideas!

    This recipe can be scaled up and down, as needed. I like to make a pound at a time and keep leftovers in the fridge to use throughout the week. Chicken bites can be frozen as well. 

    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Category: Main
    • Method: Air Fryer

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @manseemuzumdar on Instagram so I can see!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. stayshia

      April 09, 2025 at 6:46 pm

      hi! these look amazing! could I use gluten-free flour as a substitute for cornstarch and get similar results?

      Reply
      • Mansee Muzumdar

        April 14, 2025 at 3:52 pm

        Hi! Sorry for the delay, but yes, I think that would work because it's not too much flour. Rice flour or potato starch should work too if that's an option for you!

        Reply
    2. Alison

      December 13, 2024 at 10:46 pm

      What do you recommend for the seasoning

      Reply
    3. Marie

      June 23, 2024 at 12:38 am

      These were so tasty and juicy. Thank you for a great recipe!

      Reply
    4. Marci

      May 07, 2024 at 1:58 pm

      I am having a graduation party coming up shortly and this sounds like a perfect recipe. Can you give me any advce as to how I might prepare this a few days before. We are expecting a lot of people and it will be part of a buffet type party. I don't want to cook it the day of the party. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Mansee Muzumdar

        May 09, 2024 at 4:51 pm

        You can definitely fully cook the chicken ahead of time and keep in the fridge for a few days. Before serving, you can either reheat them in a low oven for 10-15 minutes OR pop them back in the air fryer at the lowest setting for just 2-3 minutes. I find that I can do that without overcooking the chicken, but just make sure they aren't in there too long! I'd suggest taking the chicken out of the fridge for about 20 minutes before you start reheating them so they don't go into the oven/air fryer super cold. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    5. Paula

      January 13, 2024 at 1:56 pm

      Perfect! I wasn’t sure how to get the crispy without bread crumbs….thank you!

      Reply

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