These low carb air fryer chicken bites are ready in about 15 minutes and use just a handful of pantry spices – smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. The air fryer gives you golden edges and the chicken stays so tender and juicy inside, no breading required.
Want a little peek into what I make on nights when I have no plan or nothing sounds good?
Here it is. Chicken bites. Wash, rinse, repeat.
These little air fryer chicken bites have been having a whole moment in my house the last few months and I’m so glad no one is sick of them yet. They are beyond easy (dice up some chicken, season liberally, throw in the air fryer, eat) and so versatile.
I like to pile these over my cauliflower rice pilaf, pop ’em on a green salad with my Green Goddess Dressing, or just eat them with a little dip situation on the side (like my cowboy butter or keto ranch dressing).
So many ways to use these that no one gets tired of them…you can even change up the seasonings depending on your mood!
3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- The whole family actually loves these. No fancy technique, no weird ingredients, just well-seasoned chicken that even picky eaters go back for seconds on.
- It’s ready in 15 minutes. Between the prep and the air fryer time, this is a genuine weeknight dinner solution, not a “quick recipe” that somehow takes an hour.
- It’s endlessly versatile. Salad topper, cauliflower rice bowl topper, snack with ranch, meal prep staple – these chicken bites fit wherever you need them.
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Ingredients, Swaps, & Tips:
Chicken breasts are what I use most often because they cook up fast and stay lean, but chicken thighs work beautifully here too if you prefer dark meat. Thighs are a little more forgiving if you accidentally leave them in an extra minute or two, so they’re a great option if you’re newer to the air fryer.
Smoked paprika is doing a lot of the flavor work here, giving these bites that little bit of smoky depth without any heat. If you only have regular paprika on hand, it’ll still work, you’ll just lose some of that smokiness.
Brown sugar substitute rounds out the seasoning blend and helps with browning, and it won’t spike your blood sugar the way real brown sugar would. I like Lakanto’s brown sugar substitute for this because it measures cup for cup like the real thing. If you’d rather skip it entirely, that’s fine too, the chicken will still be delicious, just slightly less caramelized on the edges.
Store-bought seasoning blends are a great shortcut if you’re short on time. We love Cavender’s Greek seasoning or Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning on these. Just double check the label first, some blends sneak in sugar or fillers you’re not expecting.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step by Step Instructions:
Dice up the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
Combine all of the seasonings and coat the chicken in the spice mixture.
Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and air fry at 400 degrees for 8 minutes,
step 4
Helpful Tip!
Storage
Fridge life: Keeps for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Reheating: Pop them back in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 3 to 4 minutes. The microwave will also work for reheating.
Freezer situation: These freeze well for up to 3 months. Let them cool completely first, then freeze in a single layer before transferring to a freezer bag so they don’t clump together.
Make-ahead magic: Season the chicken up to a day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge, then air fry whenever you’re ready to eat.
Serving Suggestions:
These chicken bites are as versatile as it gets, so don’t feel locked into one way of eating them.
Straight up with ranch: My go-to. Just dunk and go.
Over a green salad: An easy way to turn them into a full meal with an instant veggie boost.
On a bed of cauliflower rice: Pile them on and dig in. Quick and nutritious.
Alongside roasted vegetables: A simple, well-rounded dinner plate in under 15 minutes.
Tucked into lettuce wraps: Great for a lighter, handheld option.
Cold from the fridge: Honestly just as good as a grab-and-go snack the next day.
More Weeknight Favorites:
- Keto Egg Roll Tacos
- Keto Pork Chop Marinade
- Creamy Ham and Cabbage Soup
- Lemon Pepper Salmon & Broccoli
Air Fryer Chicken Bites
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Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar substitute
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cracked pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
- While the air fryer is preheating, chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces and place in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with the oil.
- Add the seasonings to a small bowl and stir to combine. Sprinkle over the chicken and use your hands or tongs to mix it all together, taking care to coat the chicken bites in the seasoning.
- Spritz the air fryer basket with non-stick spray and arrange the chicken in an even layer. For little crispy bits, make sure to leave a bit of space between each piece of chicken. You’ll likely need to work in batches. If you’re in a hurry, you don’t need space between the chicken, but try to spread it into a single layer. You won’t get the crispy bits as nicely, but this will still be tasty.
- Air fry for 8 minutes, shaking gently halfway through cooking, or until chicken has reached 165 degrees internally.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before digging in.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and calculated automatically – it’s an estimate, not a guarantee. Values can vary depending on the brands and ingredients you use, so if you’re tracking closely, I’d recommend calculating with your own preferred tool. Net carbs are total carbs minus fiber and any sugar alcohols.
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