Air Fryer Chicken Bites Without Breading (Quick and Juicy)

These air fryer chicken bites are juicy, flavorful, and made without breading. They are perfect for quick dinners, meal prep, snacks, or easy appetizers. Serve these protein-packed chicken bites with roasted veggies, over salads, or dip them into your favorite sauce.

These no-breading air fryer chicken bites are perfect for busy families, last-minute dinners and you can even make them from frozen with a few simple time adjustments (included in this post).

Ingredients and substitutions

• Chicken breasts: you will need boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs to make this recipe.
• Olive oil: you will need a little bit of olive oil or avocado oil.
• Seasonings: you can use any of your favorite chicken seasonings, homemade or store-bought. Today, I used salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and Chipotle powder.

How to make these juicy chicken bites in air fryer

Step 1: Prep the chicken. Pat dry the chicken breast with a paper towel. Place it on a cutting board and cut the breast lengthwise into ½-1 inch strips. Then, cut each strip into bite-sized pieces. They should be 1-2 size bite.

Step 2: Season the chicken. Place chicken pieces into the medium bowl and add olive oil, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and Chipotle seasoning. Mix well with a spoon until each piece is coated well with the seasoning. You can let the meat rest for about 10 minutes at room temperature or place it in the fridge to marinate longer.

Step 3: Cook. Preheat the air fryer for about 5 minutes. Arrange the chicken bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 390°F for about 7-11 minutes, until the meat is browned and the internal temperature reaches 165F, shaking it halfway through for even cooking.

Can you make chicken bites from frozen?

Yes, the air fryer is a perfect way to make frozen chicken bites without thawing. You will find may types of frozen chicken bites at the grocery store, including lightly breaded, no breading, or fully breaded options.

If you are using store-bought frozen chicken bites, skip the seasonings and oil and simply add 3-4 minutes , making sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Making your own frozen chicken bites

You can also freeze homemade chicken bites for easy meals later. I have tested freezing them raw with really great results. Toss the chicken pieces well with seasonings and olive oil, then spread them on a tray in a single layer and flash freeze them for a few hours until solid. Once frozen, I transfer the chicken into a freezer-safe bag or a container and store for up to 3 month.

When ready to cook, add to the frozen chicken bites to the air fryer with a little bit extra oil. Air fry at 390°F for about 17-18 minutes, flipping half way though, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

How to prevent dry chicken in the air fryer

• Do not over cook. Lean chicken meat can dry out very quick, so using the meat thermometer is the best way to prevent it from overcooking. Once it reaches 165°F, it's ready to enjoy.
• Cut evenly. Cut the chicken into similar size pieces so they cook at the same rate.
• Do not overcrowd the basket. Cooking the chicken in a single layer allows the hot air to circulate, cooking each piece evenly.
• Do not skip oil. Even in air fryer, a small amount of oil is still important (much less than traditional frying). The oil seals helps seal in the juices and creates a nicely browned, slightly crispy layer on top.
• Consider marinating. If you have time, let let the seasoned chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge. For extra tenderness and flavor, squeeze a little bit of lemon or lime juice to the marinade.

What other flavor variations to try?

You can easily change up the flavor of these chicken bite, by using these seasoning ideas:

• Chili-lime: toss the chicken bites into chili powder, and lemon juice.
• Butter garlic: Mix melted butter with garlic powder and a little bit of paprika for a rich, savory bites.
• Lemon pepper: combine lemon zest, lemon juice, cracked black pepper, salt and paprika for lemon-pepper style bites.
• Spicy buffalo: coat them into a buffalo sauce mixed with melted butter after cooking for a buffalo-style chicken bites.
• Cajun seasoning: add smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and thyme for the Southern-inspired flavor.
• Taco seasoning: sprinkle with chili powder, salt, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder for a Tex-mex twist.

How to store and reheat air fryer chicken bites?

• Refrigerate: Store leftover cooked chicken bites in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
• Freeze: For longer storage, freeze cooked bites for up to 3 months.
• Raw chicken: If you are prepping in advance, raw seasoned chicken can be stored in air tight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. If you do not plan to cook it within 24 hours, you can freeze it following the instructions in the paragraph above.
• Reheat: The best way to reheat them is in the air fryer. For best results, reheat them in the air fryer with a little bit of oil to maintain juiciness and crispiness.