I love having high-protein meal options for the week that are fast to prep and easy to reheat for many meals throughout the week. These juicy and savory air fryer chicken bites fit that bill perfectly. Learn my prep tips and how to customize your bites with lemon juice, white miso, and more seasonings below.
Cuts of chicken to use
I like to use this recipe for meal prep and healthy protein options for the week, so I use skinless chicken breast or chicken tenderloin because they’re leaner; however, you can also use chicken thighs for a juicier option.
Chicken breasts and tenderloins are also easier to cut into uniform cubes since the pieces are bigger and don’t have bones. If you buy chicken thighs, buy skinless and boneless cuts to make it easier to prep, but your pieces will be a tad smaller.
Seasoning & marinade ingredients
The seasoning for these air-fryer chicken bites is packed with flavor. All you have to do is mix the seasoning, which is made of lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, white miso, agave, garlic powder, and onion powder.
I like sprinkling the salt over the chicken first to get even coverage, then add the marinade ingredients. Marinate the chicken for at least four hours to get juicier chicken bites.
Tips for perfect chicken bites
Here are tips for the perfect chicken bites:
- Cut the chicken into one-inch cubes similar in size and shape to marinate and cook all the bites evenly.
- Marinate your chicken for at least 4 hours. Since this recipe uses leaner cuts of chicken like breast or tenderloin, you want to infuse the chicken with as much seasoning as possible.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check for the temperature and prevent overcooking the chicken bites.
Customizing your chicken bites
This recipe is easily customizable, too. While this marinade has a base of tangy lemon juice and savory Worcestershire sauce, you can also add other ingredients, like a sweet and spicy combination of sriracha and brown sugar, or Greek-inspired chicken with yogurt, Greek oregano, and lemons.
There are also other options for ingredient-specific substitutions. If you want to try other types of proteins, you can use turkey breast. You can also substitute some of the seasoning based on what you have at home.
For example, you can swap the Worcestershire sauce or white miso with low-sodium soy sauce – make sure to taste the marinade as you go to adjust for saltiness. You can also try different types of miso you have on hand. If you want to try more herbs, add fresh or dried herbs like oregano, basil, or marjoram that offer earthy flavors to balance the savoriness.
What to serve with chicken bites
Since these air fryer chicken bites are good for meal prep because they’re so fast and easy to make, I like to serve them with fresh veggies and filling carbs that work well for all meal prep dishes. You can easily make these side dishes ahead of time, too:
- broccolini salad with sesame dressing
- Asian coleslaw
- garlic sauteed green beans
- sweet potatoes
- string beans with garlic hoisin sauce
- Instant Pot brown rice
- microwave brown rice
- brown rice in a rice cooker
- quinoa
Can you put raw chicken in an air fryer?
Yes, you can put raw chicken in an air fryer and cook it safely. Air fryers are cooking appliances similar to ovens, except smaller and have a very fast circulatory fan that cooks food rapidly.
How long should you cook chicken bites in an air fryer?
For chicken bite pieces that are about one inch in thickness, I cook each batch at 400 °F for about eight to ten minutes. If you are cutting your chicken bites bigger or smaller, you will need to adjust this timing. Don’t forget to use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness, which is 165 °F.
Why is my chicken rubbery in the air fryer?
Chicken can become rubbery if you overcook it. Since the air fryer cooks food quickly, keeping track of how long the chicken is cooking inside is essential. Typically, chicken pieces that are one-inch cubes cook quickly at 400 °F in eight to ten minutes.
I highly recommend using an instant-read thermometer in the center to check if it reaches 165 °F. Higher temperatures will cause rubbery chicken.
Air Fryer Chicken Bites
Ingredients
Marinade
- 16 oz chicken breast or tenderloin cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tsp kosher salt Diamond Crystal brand
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 4 tsp white miso
- 2 tsp agave or honey
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
Breading
- ½ c flour
- 2 large eggs whisked
- 1 c panko
- ¾ tsp kosher salt Diamond Crystal brand
- neutral oil spray
Equipment Used
- cutting board and knife
- bowl
- Spoon
- food storage container with a lid
- 3-quarter sheet pans or plates
- tongs
- air fryer
Instructions
- Prep your 16 oz chicken by cutting them into 1-inch cubed pieces.
- Place the chicken into a food storage container, and thoroughly coat the chicken with 1 tsp kosher salt on all sides.
- In a bowl, combine all rest of the marinade ingredients: 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce4 tsp white miso, 2 tsp agave, ½ tsp garlic powder, and ½ tsp onion powder. Mix until incorporated.
- Coat the chicken with the seasonings thoroughly and cover with a lid. Place in the fridge for at least four hours (and not more than 8 hours). Mix halfway.
- Remove the chicken from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking to bring it to room temperature on the counter.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 °F.
- Prepare the dredging station. Place the ½ c flour in a shallow container. In a shallow bowl, add the 2 large eggs and whisk lightly. In another shallow container, combine the ¾ tsp kosher salt with 1 c panko and mix.
Breading chicken
- Take one piece of chicken and coat thoroughly with flour on all sides.
- Then dip the piece of chicken into the egg and cover on all sides.
- Finally, transfer to the panko and coat thoroughly. Place it onto a sheet pan or a plate. Repeat with all chicken pieces.
- Repeat until all pieces are coated.
Cook
- Spray the inside of the air fryer with neutral oil spray. Place the chicken pieces evenly in one layer inside the basket. Spray the top of the chicken with neutral oil spray. Air fry for 8-10 minutes and turn halfway (4 minutes) for each batch, or until the chicken measures 165 °F internally with an instant-read thermometer.
- Serve immediately.
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