There’s probably a saying somewhere about not trusting people who hate Garlic Parmesan. If there isn’t, there should be. Because really, who can resist Garlic Parmesan Chicken? Especially when it’s cut into bite-sized pieces. It’s the kind of comforting finger food that just fits, game nights, movie marathon, quick dinner and more! Find out how to make the best Garlic Parmesan Chicken Bites!
The Only Garlic Parmesan Chicken Bites You’ll Ever Need
4
servings20
minutes20
minutesIngredients
- Air Fryer Chicken Bites
500g boneless chicken breast, chopped into small cubes
2 tablespoons Olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons Parmigiano Reggiano or Parmesan Cheese
- Garlic Parmesan Butter coating
3 tablespoons of butter, salted or unsalted
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Garnish
1/2 tablespoon of parsley
1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese
Directions
- Air Fryer Chicken Bites
- On a cutting board, place the chicken breast flat-side down. Trim off any excess fat, tendons, and cartilage. Cut the chicken into strips, then into cubes. You can choose between 1/2-inch and 1-inch cubes. Keep the sizes uniform so they cook evenly.
- Transfer the chicken cubes to a mixing bowl and pour in the olive oil. Using clean hands, a spatula, spoon, or tongs, coat the chicken cubes evenly with the oil. This helps the seasonings stick to the meat better.
- Toss all the seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese).
- Combine thoroughly and cover with plastic wrap. Let the seasonings seep into the meat for at least 30 minutes, or marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the air fryer to 200°C or 400°F for 3 to 5 minutes. This helps chicken cubes cook nicely and end up with a crispy exterior.
- Lightly spray cooking oil into the air fryer basket to help the chicken crisp up.
- Carefully place the chicken bites inside the air fryer basket in a single layer. It’s important to leave enough space between the pieces. Make sure none of them are overlapping to prevent uneven cooking. If needed, cook in several batches, especially when using a smaller air fryer.
- Let it cook for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. If the chicken is still pale, add a few more minutes until it turns golden brown.
- Let it rest for about three minutes.
- In a bowl, combine butter, minced garlic, parsley and parmesan cheese. Give it a good stir until well blended. Then, toss air fried chicken bites into the bowl.
- Once the chicken bites are well coated, take out the air fryer basket and transfer the meat into it.
- Cook it in the air fryer again for another two to three minutes.
- Transfer into a place or bowl, and enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust time and temp: Note that air fryer models vary, and some may require or lower or higher cooking times and temperatures.
- Do not overcrowd: Arrange chicken bites in a single layer with enough space between for even airflow.
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Why you’ll love this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Bites recipe
There’s so much to love about this Garlic Parmesan chicken bites recipe. Here’s why it works, and why you should prepare it.
Best finger food: It’s tiny, so it’s the perfect finger food for everyone. The best part? It’s also boneless, which only goes to say that you don’t have to worry about accidentally biting or swallowing small bones.
Healthier: Since an air fryer also needs a light spray of oil to cook Garlic Parmesan Chicken bites, expect a lower amount of fat content and calorie count. Also, no need to worry about losing that crispy exterior, as crisping up the outside is what an air fryer does best.
High-protein: These chicken bites are not only packed with flavors, but they also come with high protein. So, if you’re looking for protein-rich food that’s easy to eat, this is it.
Easy to make without any mess: Compared to deepfrying it in oil, this method of cooking Garlic Parmesan Chicken Bites leaves less mess. All you have to do is to prepare your marinated chicken, pop it in the air fryer, and coat it with garlic parmesan butter.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are all the ingredients you need to make the best Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Bites.
- Chicken breast: Purchase lean chicken breast without bones, tendons, and cartillages. That way, you won’t have to think twice before biting into the meat.
- Garlic: One of the main ingredients of the recipe is the Garlic. For this one particularly, it’s going to be a mix of garlic powder and freshly minced garlic.
- Parmesan: Much like the Garlic, it’s not Garlic Parmesan without Parmesan. It goes into the marinade, and the garlic parmesan butter. Now, instead of buying storebought grated parmesan cheese, purchase blocks and grate them into fine granules yourself. Pre-grated parmesan cheese has a milder taste, and it does contain additives that could either ruin its melt and taste.
- Parsley: Freshly chopped parsley to add a minty and peppery taste to the garlic parmesan butter. Also serves as a garnish to this dish.
- Seasoning: Italian seasoning, Garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and paprika boost the overall flavor of this chicken.
How to make your Garlic Butter
This Garlic Parmesan Butter is going to be the coating for your chicken bites. Here’s how to make it and some useful tips.
Melt your butter by heating it in a pan on low heat. Cutting it into small pieces and heating it on medium power for around 15 seconds will also do the trick.
Then, start mincing your garlic. Separate the clove from the bulb and peel off the skin by smashing it gently with the flat side of the knife using the heel of your hand. Next, slice it into thin pieces lengthwise and crosswise ’til you end up with cubed pieces. Continue gliding the knife back and forth over the garlic until you get consistent and finely chopped garlic. Alternatively, you could use a garlic press.
In a bowl, combine melted butter, garlic, chopped parsley, parsley and seasoning. Use a spatula or a whisk to mix them thoroughly.
The Best Air Fryer Garlic Chicken Bites tips
- Use boneless chicken breast: Not only to avoid biting into a bone, but chicken breast is lean and high in protein. You can also use chicken thighs or chicken tenders as a substitute, especially if you’re looking for something juicier.
- Cut it into even-sized cubes: Between one and two inches is the sweet spot. This also ensures even cooking.
- Don’t add burnt garlic: You certainly don’t wanna learn it the hard way. Please, don’t add burnt garlic as you don’t want the bitterness of it will easily overpower everything else, and end up ruining the dish.
Estimated Nutrition
Note: The nutrition details provided are based on general calculations and may not reflect exact results. Actual values can differ depending on the ingredients used, portion sizes, and how the food is prepared. Use this as a general guide, not a medical or dietary recommendation.
Nutrition Facts
4 servings per container
Serving Size164 g
- Amount Per ServingCalories414
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat
29.4g
45%
- Saturated Fat 11.1g 56%
- Trans Fat 0.5g
- Cholesterol 110mg 37%
- Sodium 686mg 29%
- Total Carbohydrate
6g
2%
- Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
- Sugars 0g
- Protein 31g 62%
- Vitamin A 17%
- Vitamin C 7%
- Calcium 13%
- Iron 9%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
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