Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Bites

These Air Fryer Chicken Bites are juicy, crispy perfection infused with a ton of garlic, while the honey soy sauce takes the dish to new heights. With minimal oil, they're a surefire winner packed with amazing flavors!

I love air fryer recipes because it uses minimal oil and achieves the same crispiness as deep frying. 

These are like homemade chicken nuggets but with more flavor! They're great for busy weeknights or get-togethers. They are the perfect appetizer or a fabulous main dish. They make great leftovers for a quick lunch. 

This air fryer chicken bites recipe was inspired by my other recipes, such as Honey Sesame Chicken Bites, Garlic Miso Chicken, and Korean Fried Chicken (Air Fryer). 

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• How to make air fryer chicken bites
• Substitutions
• Equipment
• This is what I use!
• How to store and reheat
• Top Tips for Success
• FAQs for chicken bites in the air fryer
• Related
• Pairing
• Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Bites
• Food safety

Ingredients

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs
• Potato starch 
• Cornstarch 
• Garlic powder
• Baking powder
• White pepper
• Avocado oil spray 
• Honey 
• Dark soy sauce
• Rice vinegar
• Garlic
• Avocado oil
• Green onion
• Everything but the bagel seasoning

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make air fryer chicken bites

Prepare the Chicken:

• Cut 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs into bite-size cubes.
• In a bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of potato starch, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1 teaspoon of white pepper.
• Toss the chicken pieces in the dry mixture until evenly coated.

Preheat the Air Fryer:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for a few minutes.

Air Fry the Chicken:

• Lightly spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil spray.
• Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they're not overcrowded.
• Air fry the chicken at 400°F (200°C) for about 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy.

Prepare the Crispy Garlic and Sauce:

• While the chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce.
• In a small bowl, combine ½ cup of water, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, 3 tablespoons of honey (or white sugar), 2 tablespoons of dark soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar.
• In a wok, medium-high heat, add the avocado oil. 
• Fry the garlic slices until they are crispy. Remove the garlic and set aside. 
• In the same pan, add the sauce ingredients and cook in simmer until the sauce thickens. 

Toss in the crispy air fryer chicken bites:

• Once the chicken is cooked and crispy, transfer it to the pan with the sauce. Toss the chicken in the sauce until evenly coated.
• Garnish the chicken with the crispy garlic slices, chopped green onions, and everything but the bagel seasoning.
• Serve and enjoy! 

Substitutions

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs:
  • You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chicken tenders, or even frozen chicken nuggets as a substitute.
    
• Potato Starch:
  • You can substitute cornstarch, tapioca starch, or arrowroot starch.
    
• Cornstarch:
  • You can use arrowroot powder, tapioca starch, or potato starch.
    
• Garlic Powder:
  • Substitute with onion powder.
    
• Baking Powder:
  • A little bit of baking powder makes the chicken extra crispy. You can omit this if you don't have it. 
    
• White Pepper:
  • You can use black pepper or omit it if you prefer.
    
• Avocado Oil Spray:
  • You can use any cooking spray, like olive oil spray or canola oil spray.
    
• Honey:
  • Maple syrup, agave nectar, white sugar, or brown sugar can be used as well. 
    
• Dark Soy Sauce:
  • You can substitute with regular soy sauce or tamari sauce but the color will not be the same. 
    
• Rice Vinegar:
  • You can substitute with apple cider vinegar or white vinegar.
    
• Garlic:
  • The garlic adds so much flavor and texture. Get fresh garlic. Omit if you don't have it. 
    
• Avocado Oil:
  • You can substitute it with olive oil, vegetable oil, or any other cooking oil you have on hand.
    
• Green Onion:
  • Use chives if you cannot find green onions otherwise, omit it. 
    
• Everything But the Bagel Seasoning:
  • You can create your own seasoning blend using a combination of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, and salt. Toasted sesame seeds will work as well. 

Equipment

• Air fryer 
• Wok 
• Cutting board
• Knife
• Bowls
• Measuring spoons 

This is what I use!

Air Fryer

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Wok

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How to store and reheat

• To store, place leftover chicken bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 
  
• Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes or until warmed through. Alternatively, reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes. Garnish with fresh toppings before serving, if desired.

FAQs for chicken bites in the air fryer

Related

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:

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Food safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.