Air Fryer Chicken Bites (Ready in 15 Minutes)
Air fryer chicken bites are one of the easiest ways to cook juicy, flavorful chicken in about 10 minutes. Cutting chicken breasts or thighs into small cubes helps them cook quickly and gives the seasoning more surface area to coat. Plus, once they’re cooked, the chicken is already cut into bite-sized pieces, ready to add to tacos, salads, rice bowls or whatever you’re making for dinner.
Cutting chicken into cubes is one of my favorite shortcuts for getting dinner on the table faster. I usually do this in a skillet, but the air fryer is another great option because it’s mostly hands-off. I use kitchen shears to cut the chicken quickly, toss everything with the seasonings and let the air fryer do the work. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to start checking the chicken around 8 minutes so it doesn’t dry out.
If you prefer cooking chicken cubes on the stove,, try my 10 minute Italian skillet chicken. My air fryer grilled chicken tenders are are another great option when you want juicy chicken without breading. For more easy air fryer dinners, try my air fryer pineapple chipotle chicken tacos or air fryer teriyaki chicken.
Ingredients
- Olive oil – olive oil helps to coat the chicken to ensure that it doesn’t stick to the air fryer basket when cooking. You could also use avocado oil or melted coconut oil.
- Apple cider vinegar – apple cider vinegar helps to create a well balanced flavor profile and creates a dressing for the chicken when paired with the olive oil. You could also use lemon juice, lime juice, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar.
- Boneless, skinless chicken – you can use boneless skinless chicken breast, chicken thighs or chicken tenders to make air fryer chicken bites. The key is that you want to cut the chicken into about 1-1.5 inch bites and the chicken needs to be boneless and skinless.
How to make air fryer chicken bites
Add the olive oil, vinegar and spices to a large bowl. Cut the chicken into 1-1.5 inch cubes. Add to the bowl with the spices. Stir the chicken well to coat with the spices. Add the cubed chicken to the air fryer basket. Try to keep it in a single layer. Cook at 375F for 7 minutes. After 7 minutes, pause the air fryer and flip the chicken. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Tips for success
- Chicken tenders or boneless, skinless chicken thighs may cook a little faster than chicken breast – start checking for doneness at the 9-minute mark.
- Time-saving tip: Use chicken tenders or prep your chicken 1–2 days ahead and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Customize the flavor easily by swapping in your favorite spice blends or seasoning mixes.
Air Fryer Chicken Bites (Chicken Cubes)
Guided Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1.25 pounds boneless, skinless chicken
Instructions
- Combine the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, garlic powder, paprika and dried thyme in a large bowl.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Cut the chicken into 1-1.5 inch cubes. Add the chicken right into the bowl with the spice mixture.1.25 pounds boneless, skinless chicken
- Stir the chicken well until fully coated.
- Add chicken to the air fryer basket. Cook at 375F for 7 minutes.
- After 7 minutes, pause the air fryer and flip the chicken (use silicone tipped tongs. Continue to cook 2-3 more minutes.
Equipment
Recipe Notes
- Cut chicken into equal size pieces for even cooking. Use a sharp knife or kitchen shears.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer – Some overlap is fine, but don’t pile the chicken.
- Flip the chicken with about 3 minutes left for even browning and thorough cooking.
- Use silicone-tipped tongs to flip the chicken without damaging your air fryer basket.
Nutrition Information
Other seasoning ideas
One of my favorite things about these air fryer chicken bites is how easy they are to change up depending on what you’re making for dinner. The basic seasoning works with almost anything, but here are a few other combinations I like.
- Taco: Skip the dried thyme and add 1 tablespoon taco seasoning. Perfect for tacos, burrito bowls or taco salads.
- Italian: Skip the paprika and dried thyme and add 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning. Great for pasta or serving with roasted vegetables.
- Ranch: Skip the paprika and thyme. Add 1 tablespoon dried chives, 1 teaspoon dried parsley and ½ teaspoon dried dill.
- Cajun: Add 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning to the original spices for a bolder, slightly spicy flavor.
- Curry: Skip the thyme and paprika. Add 2 teaspoons curry powder and 1 teaspoon ground cumin, and use lime juice instead of apple cider vinegar.
Easy recipe to follow. I always reduce salt; can add, harder to subtract. I used minced garlic rather than dry, as I find all dried garlic salty; not my preference. A very tasty, simple dish.
Cary I love that point about reducing the salt, you are right it’s easy to add a little more than take any away! So glad you found this easy to follow and a tasty dish, I’m sure your alterations will help others when trying out this recipe! Happy cooking – Sam
This confuses me a little bit…..
Add chicken to the air fryer basket. Cook at 375F for 10 minutes.
After 7 minutes, pause the air fryer and flip the chicken (use silicone tipped tongs. Continue to cook 3 more minutes.
So am I cooking for 10, flip, then for 7? Or cooking for 3 minutes, flipping, then cooking for 3 minutes more (which isn’t either 10 minutes or 7)
Sorry the directions as written weren’t clear. The total cooking time is 10 minutes. After 7 minutes, pause the air fryer and flip the chicken. Continue cooking for 3 minutes (7 +3=10. Hope that helps! Sam
This was incredibly salty with the 1tsp of salt noted…. Almost inedible. I might try it again using 1/2 the salt and letting the chicken sit in the mixture for a little while. Without marinating it I don’t feel like there is any benefit of the apple cider vinegar.
I appreciate the feedback, I typically use sea salt, so if you are using regular table salt, you may need less. As far as the apple cider vinegar, I find that adding vinegar helps the chicken brown up when cooking, but you are welcome to try the recipe without it. If you do, please come back and let me know! Happy cooking.
The whole family LOVED this chicken—even my little one asked for seconds. If I freeze the leftovers can I reheat from frozen or should I let thaw before reheating in the air fryer?
Hey Ashley! I’m so glad your family loved this recipe. I would defrost before reheating or the chicken might get tough when reheating from frozen. Happy cooking! Sam
Tasted so great!! Super simple and easy dinner! We made some asparagus on the side and rice.
Thank you for coming back to leave a review! So glad you enjoyed them!
The family loves these. Perfect with rice or mashed potatoes.
I love hearing this Zoe. These are so good piled on a bed or rice!