Buffalo Air Fryer Chicken Bites

You could your air fryer chicken bites with vegetables to make chicken kabobs or enjoy as is with dipping sauces. This sauce isn’t the only one you could use either. Love super spicy? There are lots of choices when it comes to buffalo sauces. Love savory and sweet instead? Us too.

Chicken bites in air fryer are fun finger foods for kids. There are actually a number of different ways to make these that are delicious. As is you can pick them up, dunk in a sauce and enjoy or mixed with veggies they can become a complete meal. Just one of many simple air fryer recipes we love (affiliate links present)

Air Fryer Chicken Bites

Chicken bites are small pieces of chicken that are often breaded or coated in a seasoned mixture and then fried until crispy. Similar to our air fryer fish nuggets, they are a popular snack or appetizer and can be served with a variety of dips and easy for kiddos to eat.

They can be made with different cuts of chicken, such as breast or thigh, and can be seasoned with a variety of spices or herbs to create different flavor profiles. Often found on restaurant menus or can be made at home using a deep fryer, air fryer or oven. You can make them for guests a bit “fancier” made up as skewer recipes with onions, peppers and vegetables in between each piece too.

Make this into a teriyaki chicken recipe with bottled or a homemade blend of your own too. That is what is great about recipe, you can make it tons of different ways using different sauces night after night. Buffalo spicy is a favorite Super Bowl appetizer, breaded or naked. The list goes on and on…..

How Long to Cook Chicken Bites in Air Fryer

You could transition these into something with fish instead of poultry too. Just cube into bite size salmon bites and use that on your kabob for another tweak! That is right, you can make these into a fun tower or vegetables, onion chunks, even pineapple works well on skewers for that matter.

Chicken Chunks

You may have only cooked frozen chicken nuggets in this machine. Yes, those turn out amazingly well. Air fried vs. the oven is a true game changer for sure. Using fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts though cut into bite size pieces creates a similar finger food but way healthier!

Little Bit of Chicken Fried

No this isn’t just a Country song y’all, it is a favorite after school snack for my kiddos. Ok so I do make this when I am just kinda’ done with cooking but need to make something nutritious for dinner. Still protein packed, submerging in oil will add some calories and fat, let’s be honest shall we.

After coating the bites of chicken breasts, you can heat oil in a deep fryer or a heavy bottomed pot and then essentially make fried chicken with them. Cook until just barely golden brown and cooked through. Once it reaches a safe temp of 165 F you can transfer it to a paper towel lined plate to remove any excess oil.

Fried chicken bites can be served as an appetizer, snack, or as a main dish, and they are often enjoyed with dips like ranch or honey mustard.

Chicken Bites Recipe

Baked chicken bites are a healthier alternative to fried for sure. To make them, you can start by cutting your boneless skinless thighs or breasts into small bite sized pieces and seasoning them. Salt, pepper, and other desired spices can be combined. You could use our chicken dry rub too for a sweeter blend.

Then, you can dip the chicken pieces in a mixture of flour, cornmeal, or breadcrumbs, along with additional seasonings, such as paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.

Baked Chicken Bites in Oven

After coating the outside with seasoned flour or cornstarch, you can place them on a baking sheet.

1. Spray with olive oil or another type of non stick cooking spray. Could line with parchment paper alternatively.
2. Prep boneless skinless chicken thighs or breast pieces into small bits.
3. If you’d like them breaded dip in whisked egg, then in breadcrumbs, or leave naked brushed with bbq sauce.
   • or use the seasoned cornstarch alternative suggested below in the recipe card
4. Lay on sheet in a single layer.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 F for 15 minutes to 20 minutes cook time, or until they are cooked through and golden brown.

Serve with your favorite dipping sauces as an appetizer, snack, or as a main dish to make dinnertime really fun for kids.

Air Fryer Chicken Bites Recipe

In a bowl, mix the cornstarch, as well as salt, spices together. Transfer the diced chicken fillet to a bowl and mix thoroughly so that each piece is covered. You can do this to make pork bites as well. Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees for 5 minutes.

• Spray the air fryer basket inside with olive oil and arrange the pieces in a single layer.
• Spray tops with olive oil.
• Air fry at 380 F for about 10 – 12 minutes (gently shaking basket after minute 5) or until middle of thickest piece is 165 f.
• Pour two types of sauce into a saucepan, and also add butter. Stir, heat the sauce and wait until it bubbles together.
• When meat is crispy and cooked thru pour into a bowl. Drizzle sauce on top, gently toss to coat and serve.

Or just serve sauce on the side of your healthy air fryer chicken to dip each one in. I mean either way it’s delish. Tone the heat down with some cool ranch dressing or serve with a honey barbecue sauce of sorts.