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Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Bites

Crispy, golden-brown chicken bites with a sweet and spicy honey glaze, perfect for a healthy family meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken Bites
  • 1 lb Skinless chicken breasts Chopped into small bite-size pieces
  • 1/2 cup Buttermilk For tenderness and flavor
  • 1/2 tsp Salt Divided
  • 1/4 tsp White pepper
  • 1/4 tsp Garlic salt Divided
  • 1/2 cup Cornflour Creates a satisfying crunch
  • 1 large Egg For binding the coating
  • 1/2 cup Plain flour Adds texture and crispness
  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper For flavor
  • 1/4 tsp Celery salt Offers unique taste
  • 1/2 tsp Paprika Adds smoky warmth
  • 1/2 tsp Dried thyme Adds aromatic freshness
  • 1 spray Spray oil Helps achieve a golden crunch
For the Hot Honey Sauce
  • 1/4 cup Runny honey For sweet stickiness
  • 2 tbsp Hot pepper sauce Adjust for spiciness
  • 2 tbsp Unsalted butter Enriches the glaze
  • 1/2 tsp Smoked paprika For deeper flavor profile
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper For extra heat
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic powder Amplifies savory goodness
For Garnish
  • 2 tbsp Sliced spring onions (scallions) For fresh garnish
  • 1 tbsp Sesame seeds For decorative crunch

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Chop the skinless chicken breasts into small bite-size pieces.
  2. In a bowl, combine the buttermilk, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp white pepper, and 1/4 tsp garlic salt. Add the chicken pieces and marinate for 15 minutes.
  3. Prepare the coating by mixing cornflour, plain flour, remaining salt, black pepper, garlic salt, celery salt, paprika, and dried thyme in a separate bowl.
Cooking
  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Beat the large egg in a bowl, dip each marinated chicken piece into the egg, and then coat thoroughly in the flour mixture.
  3. Arrange the coated chicken bites in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don’t touch.
  4. Spray lightly with oil and air fry for 10-12 minutes, turning halfway through until golden brown and crisp.
Serving
  1. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the hot honey sauce in a small saucepan. Melt unsalted butter and mix in honey, hot pepper sauce, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. Stir until well combined.
  2. Once the chicken bites are golden and cooked through, transfer them to a large mixing bowl.
  3. Pour the hot honey sauce over the chicken bites, tossing until well coated. Garnish with sliced spring onions and sesame seeds before serving.

Notes

For extra crunch, double-coat the chicken bites. Prefer gluten-free? Substitute plain flour with a gluten-free blend. Store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.