Description
Tender chicken pieces coated in a smoky, spicy rub, cooked fast in the air fryer for a crunchy texture.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- 2 teaspoons paprika (smoked if available)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (use less for mild heat)
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons milk or water
Instructions
- Prep the air fryer and chicken. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and cut into even 1-inch pieces. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3–5 minutes.
- Mix the spice coating. In a shallow bowl, combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, and cayenne. In another bowl, whisk eggs and milk. Toss chicken pieces in the egg wash, then dredge in the seasoned flour until well coated. Shake off excess.
- Lightly oil the chicken. Drizzle the coated chicken with the tablespoon of olive oil and gently toss so the oil spreads over the pieces.
- Arrange in the air fryer basket. Place chicken bites in a single layer with small gaps. Do not overcrowd — cook in batches if needed.
- Air fry and flip. Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 8 minutes, then flip each piece and cook another 4–6 minutes until they are golden brown and reach 165°F (74°C) inside.
- Rest and serve. Let the chicken rest for 2 minutes after cooking so juices settle. Taste and sprinkle a pinch of extra salt or parsley if you like.
Notes
Cut the chicken into similar-size pieces for even cooking. Dry chicken helps the coating stick and gives a better crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 220mg