These Air Fryer Chicken Bites are dredged in Panko Breadcrumbs for the perfect crunch. They stay so juicy in the air fryer and only take 10 minutes to cook. This recipe will be a family favorite and the kiddos will be begging you to make these Chicken nuggets again!
My kids go crazy over my homemade chicken nuggets, but this was my first time air frying them. Usually I fry chicken nuggets in shallow oil, but these tasted just as good, without using as much oil. Total win!
Pair these chicken bites with this Wingstop Ranch, Spicy Honey Mustard, BBQ Sauce or ketchup.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- Easy to Make. A simple dredging in flour, egg, then seasoned Panko Breadcrumbs.
- Quick. Prep them in 10 minutes, then air fry for 10 minutes and dig in!
- Crispy and Juicy. Perfectly cooked chicken with a crunchy Panko exterior.
- Kid Friendly. Watch the kids devour these Chicken bites.
- High in Protein. One serving is over 30 grams of protein, which will keep you full longer and help build muscle & the benefits of protein go on and on.
For more air fryer favorites, try these Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges, Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings and Blackened Salmon in the Air Fryer.
Ingredients:
Panko Bread Crumbs: Ideal texture for this recipe and adhere really well to the chicken. Look for the plain version, which is usually found in the Asian/International section of the grocery store or sometimes with the Italian breadcrumbs near the pasta.
Chicken Breast: I prefer chicken breasts over chicken tenderloins, so I don't have to remove the tendons. Smart Chicken is my favorite brand of chicken, because it's so clean right out of the package and always tastes amazing.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations:
For a spicier seasoning blend, add in ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
I don't recommend using Italian breadcrumbs because the Panko will add a lot of extra crunch.
About 5-6 Chicken tenderloins can be swapped out for the chicken breast, but I highly suggest removing the tendon in each of them.
If you don't have cooking spray, wipe the bottom rack of the air fryer with about 1-2 teaspoons of vegetable oil.
How to Make Chicken Bites in the Air Fryer:
Step 1: Cut the chicken breasts into bite sized pieces or nuggets, about 2 inches in size. Pat dry with paper towel, then season the chicken with ½ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper.
Step 2: In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the Panko Breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon onion and garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of paprika. Set aside.
Step 3: Prepare the ingredients for dredging the chicken. In bowl 1, add in the flour. Bowl 2: Whisk together the eggs. Bowl 3 is the Panko Breadcrumbs and seasoning we've already mixed. Coat each chicken bite in flour, then egg, and lastly, coat it in the panko mix. Place on plate when finished. Note: Make sure to cover the chicken on every surface in each bowl for the best results.
Step 4: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees and set for 10 minutes. Once it's preheated, spray a bit of cooking spray on the cooking surface of the basket. Place all the chicken bites spread apart in the basket in one layer, trying not to overlap. Spray the tops of the chicken with a touch of cooking spray, then close the air fryer basket. Halfway through cooking, give the basket a nice shake.
Step 5: Check that the internal temperature of the chicken has reached at least 165 degrees before removing. If not, cook in 1-2 minute increments until fully cooked.
Step 6: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and serve with your favorite dipping sauces! Enjoy.
Expert Tips:
- Try to cut the chicken bites into similar size so that they cook evenly.
- Make sure to cover all surfaces of the chicken bites with flour, egg and panko for a full coating of crunch.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees before removing from the air fryer.
For more kid friendly recipes, try these Pizza Rolls from Crescent Rolls, Beef Macaroni, One Pound Meatloaf Recipe, High Protein Pasta Salad, and DIY Pizza Lunchables.
Recipe FAQs:
The best temperature for small chicken bites is 400 degrees. Depending on the size of the nuggets, they should be cooked fully between 8-12 minutes. Make sure to use a meat thermometer to check that the centers of the nugget reach 165 degrees.
The dunking is half the fun and I love serving these with ketchup, bbq sauce, honey mustard, and ranch dressing.
Store leftover nuggets in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, add back to the air fryer at 350 degrees for 3-4 minutes to warm up, or pop into a 350 degree oven for 7-8 minutes.
More Family Favorite Chicken Recipes to Try:
If you tried this Air Fryer Chicken Bites Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
PrintRecipe
Air Fryer Chicken Bites
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 25-30 chicken bites 1x
Description
These Air Fryer Chicken Bites are dredged in Panko Breadcrumbs for the perfect crunch. They stay so juicy in the air fryer and only take 10 minutes to cook. This recipe be a family favorite and the kiddos will be begging you to make these Chicken nuggets again!
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, about 1 lb, trimmed and cut into 2 inch sized pieces
- 1 and ½ teaspoons salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 and ½ cups plain panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2 eggs, whisked
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil cooking spray
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts into bite sized pieces or nuggets, about 2 inches in size. Pat dry with paper towel, then season the chicken with ½ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper.
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the Panko Breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon onion and garlic powder and 1 teaspoon of paprika. Set aside.
- Prepare the ingredients for dredging the chicken. In bowl 1, add in the flour. Bowl 2: Whisk together the eggs. Bowl 3 is the Panko Breadcrumbs and seasoning we've already mixed. Coat each chicken bite in flour, then egg, and lastly, coat it into the panko mix. Place on plate when finished. Note: Make sure to cover the chicken on every surface in each bowl for the best results.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees and set for 10 minutes. Once it's preheated, spray a bit of cooking spray on the cooking surface of the basket. Place all the chicken bites spread apart in the basket in one layer, trying not to overlap. Spray the tops of the chicken with a touch of cooking spray, then close the air fryer basket. Halfway through cooking, give the basket a nice shake.
- Check that the internal temperature of the chicken has reached at least 165 degrees before removing. If not, cook in 1-2 minute increments until fully cooked.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer and serve with your favorite dipping sauces! Enjoy.
Notes
- Try to cut the chicken bites into similar size so that they cook evenly.
- Make sure to cover all surfaces of the chicken bites with flour, egg and panko for a full coating of crunch.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees before removing from the air fryer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: dinner
- Method: air fried
- Cuisine: American
Lisa
These are so yummy and easy! I’ve made them twice this week. Thank you!
Tara Smithson
Yay! Thanks Lisa. I love these nuggets too and so do the kids.