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Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Bites Recipe

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4.3 from 5 reviews

  • Author: Sara
  • Total Time: 21 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Description

These Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Bites are crispy, spicy, and incredibly flavorful, made with tender bite-sized chicken breasts coated in a seasoned cornstarch crust and tossed in a tangy buffalo hot sauce. Perfect for a quick snack, appetizer, or a protein-packed meal, they offer a healthier alternative to traditional buffalo wings with the convenience of air frying.

Ingredients

Chicken Bites

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1.5 to 2-inch bite-sized cubes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ⅓ cup cornstarch

Buffalo Sauce

  • ¾ cup hot sauce (such as Frank’s RedHot)
  • ¼ cup chicken broth (optional, for thinning the sauce)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Trim any excess fat off the chicken breasts and dice them into bite-sized cubes, approximately 1.5 to 2 inches each.
  2. Coat with Olive Oil: Place the chicken cubes in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Pour the olive oil over the chicken and mix thoroughly to ensure all pieces are coated evenly.
  3. Season the Chicken: Sprinkle salt, garlic powder, ground black pepper, and smoked paprika over the coated chicken. Mix again until the seasoning is evenly distributed on all pieces.
  4. Add Cornstarch: Sprinkle the cornstarch over the seasoned chicken and toss well to coat each bite-sized piece completely, helping to achieve a crispy texture.
  5. Air Fry the Chicken: Place the coated chicken bites in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Cook at 390°F (199°C) on the Manual setting for 5 minutes.
  6. Flip and Continue Cooking: Flip the chicken bites to ensure even cooking and air fry for an additional 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), confirming the chicken is fully cooked.
  7. Prepare the Buffalo Sauce: While the chicken cooks, mix the hot sauce with chicken broth if you prefer a slightly milder sauce. For spicier bites, you can skip the broth and use the hot sauce as is.
  8. Toss Chicken in Sauce: Once cooked, transfer the chicken bites back to the mixing bowl and toss them thoroughly in the prepared buffalo sauce to coat evenly.
  9. Final Air Fry: Return the sauced chicken bites to the air fryer basket and cook for an additional 3 minutes at 390°F to set the sauce onto the chicken and slightly crisp up the coating.
  10. Serve and Enjoy: Remove the buffalo chicken bites from the air fryer and serve hot, perfect for dipping or as a flavorful main dish.

Notes

  • Ensure chicken pieces are roughly the same size for even cooking.
  • You can adjust the spiciness by adding more or less hot sauce or skipping the chicken broth.
  • For a gluten-free option, confirm that the cornstarch and hot sauce are certified gluten-free.
  • Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing for a classic buffalo experience.
  • Use a meat thermometer to guarantee chicken is perfectly cooked for food safety.
  • Prep Time: 8 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes plus 3 minutes final air frying
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Air Frying
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://saraflavors.com/air-fryer-buffalo-chicken-bites-recipe/