Name: Air Fryer Chicken Bites
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast; 1 Tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/4 cup mayo; 2 teaspoons hot honey; 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

These Air Fryer Chicken Bites are perfectly seasoned, perfectly tender, and so easy to make. They’re completely delicious all on their own, and we love adding them to our favorite sandwiches, salads or bowls!

The thing about chicken is it always gets a bad rap. People tend to find it too boring or too plain or too dry. And sometimes… they’re not wrong. But these Air Fryer Chicken Bites? They’re the exact opposite! They’re tender and juicy and packed with the most amazing flavor. In other words, anything BUT boring.

I made them on a whim one day when I had some chicken to use up… and the only thing I knew was that I wanted them to be well-seasoned. As in I wanted them to be SO delicious, sauce of any kind would be completely optional.

So I added salt and pepper and smoked paprika and onion powder and garlic powder and dried thyme… and I tossed the chicken in it until I could see that it was WELL seasoned. I popped it in the air fryer for less than 10 minutes, and let’s just say the results blew my mind.

And yes, I did make a hot honey mayo to dip them in, but to be perfectly honest they definitely don’t need it. And just to prove how delicious they really are? My kids came home from school and devoured the entire bowl of them. And I’ve been making them on repeat ever since.

what you’ll need for this recipe

Chicken – I used 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces.

Olive oil – 1 Tablespoon olive oil coats the chicken, helping the spices to stick. It also helps with crisping. Substitute avocado oil if you prefer.

Seasonings – I seasoned it thoroughly using a combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme and red pepper flakes. I also made a simple hot honey mayo for dipping (see recipe below!)

how to make air fryer chicken bites

Cut the chicken. Cut the chicken into 1 1/2 inch pieces. *For the most tender bites, cut against the grain, or perpendicular to the direction of the muscle fibers.

Season the chicken. Place the chicken in a medium mixing bowl; add the olive oil and toss to coat. Add the seasonings and toss until evenly coated.

Air fry. Preheat the air fryer to 385°F for 5 minutes. Add the seasoned chicken to the air fryer basket (I used the grate for extra crispiness) and air fry 6-8 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Shake the basket a few times during cooking.

Oven Baked Chicken Bites

This recipe is easy to make in the oven! Simply spread the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet brushed with oil. Bake at 425° for 15-18 minutes, stirring halfway through, until internal temp reaches 165°F.

how to make hot honey mayo

Hot Honey Mayo is easy to make with just 2 ingredient: hot honey and mayo! I used 1/4 cup mayo and 2 teaspoons hot honey, topped with some crushed red pepper flakes for extra heat. Feel free to adjust the amounts to taste.

more dipping sauce suggestions

I’m a sucker for a good dipping sauce, and although these chicken bites don’t NEED one at all, these would also be delicious:

storing & reheating

Chicken Bites can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, spritz lightly with oil and transfer to a preheated air fryer (350°F). Heat for 4-6 minutes or until heated through.

More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes

Looking for more ways to use your air fryer? These are some of our favorites!