Enjoy tender and flavorful Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Bites that are quick and easy to prepare. Perfect for a family dinner or game day snack, these bites are coated in your favorite barbecue sauce and cooked to crispy perfection in the air fryer. Get ready for a delicious, guilt-free treat that everyone will love!
Now, you can make these Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken Nuggets at home!
If you love easy Air Fryer Chicken Recipes, try my recipe for Copycat Wendy’s Saucy Nuggs Recipe, Crispy Chicken Fritta (Olive Garden Copycat), Air Fryer Lemon Chicken Bites, or Air Fryer KFC Chicken Recipe.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Quick and Easy: These BBQ chicken bites are incredibly easy to prepare, making them perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute gatherings.
- Crispy and Flavorful: The air fryer gives the chicken bites a delightful crispy texture while infusing them with rich BBQ flavor.
- Healthy Alternative: Enjoy a guilt-free snack with less oil than traditional frying, keeping them lighter without sacrificing taste.
- Versatile Dish: Perfect as an appetizer, snack, or main dish, they can be customized with your favorite sauces or spices.
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken: Use boneless skinless chicken breast or chicken tenderloins.
- All-Purpose Flour: Gluten-Free Flour or Whole Wheat Flour can also be used
- Seasonings and Spices: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika, Kosher Salt, and Black Pepper
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite barbecue sauce
Recipe Variations
- Gluten-Free: For gluten-free Air Fryer BBQ chicken bites, use gluten-free flour. Ensure your BBQ sauce is also gluten-free to keep the dish safe for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Keto: To make these chicken bites keto-friendly, substitute all-purpose flour with coconut flour or almond flour. Then use a sugar-free BBQ sauce to enjoy a delicious, keto-compliant snack.
- Breading: Since this Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Bites NO Breading Recipe uses no panko or breadcrumbs, you can easily adapt this recipe to any food allergy.
How to make air fryer bbq chicken bites
Step One: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 2-3 minutes. Mix the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Dip each chicken chunks into the flour mixture to coat, then shake off any excess flour.
Step Two: Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, or brush it with olive oil. Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket and set the cooking time for 8-10 minutes.
Once the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F, check with a meat thermometer. Remove the cooked chicken bites from the air fryer and brush the BBQ sauce over the chicken bites.
Step Three: Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the BBQ sauce is sticky, caramelized, and the chicken is golden brown.
Air fryer bbq chicken bites recipe tips
- Cut Uniformly: Ensure chicken pieces are similar in size for even cooking.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheating can help achieve a crispy texture.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Cook in batches to allow hot air circulation for better crispiness.
- Marinate Longer: Letting the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes enhances flavor.
- Adjust Cooking Time: Cooking times may vary based on your air fryer model; check for doneness with a meat thermometer.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Bites With Sauce
Can I use frozen chicken nuggets? Yes, you can cook frozen chicken nuggets directly in the air fryer without thawing.
How long does it take to cook? Cooking times typically range from 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the nuggets. Remove when the internal temperature, reaches 165 degrees F.
Can I use homemade barbecue sauce? Absolutely! Feel free to use your favorite homemade or store-bought barbecue sauce for added flavor.
What dipping sauces pair well? Ranch, blue cheese, or honey mustard complement barbecue chicken nuggets perfectly.
Serving Suggestions
- Air Fryer French Fries or Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries: Serve the chicken bites with crispy and salty fries.
- Coleslaw: Coleslaw is a classic side dish with BBQ chicken bites. It’s refreshing and adds some crunch to the meal.
- Air Fryer Baked Beans: Baked beans are a classic side dish that goes well with BBQ chicken bites.
- Air Fryer Corn on the cob: Corn is a classic summer side dish that goes well with BBQ chicken bites.
- Air Fryer Macaroni and Cheese: Macaroni and cheese is classic comfort food with BBQ chicken bites. It’s cheesy, delicious, and a hit for kids and adults.
- Salad: A simple green salad or a Caesar salad would greatly complement the chicken bites. A salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and a tangy vinaigrette would add some freshness.
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Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Bites
Description
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 2-3 minutes. Mix the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
- Dip each chicken chunks into the flour mixture to coat, then shake off any excess flour
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, or brush it with olive oil.
- Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket and set the cooking time for 8-10 minutes.
- Once the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F, check with a meat thermometer. Remove the cooked chicken bites from the air fryer and brush the BBQ sauce over the chicken bites.
- Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the BBQ sauce is sticky, caramelized, and the chicken is golden brown.
Equipment
- Air Fryer, Air Fryer Basket or Air Fryer Oven
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
Nutrition
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