Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Bites Recipe
Crispy and flavorful Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Bites featuring tender bite-size chicken pieces marinated in buttermilk and a blend of spices, coated in a seasoned flour mixture, air fried to golden perfection, and tossed in a sweet and spicy hot honey sauce. Perfect for a quick snack or appetizer with a delightful balance of heat and sweetness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes (including 30 minutes marinating)
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Chicken and Marinade:
- 500 g (1 lb) skinless chicken breasts, chopped into small bite-size pieces
- 80 ml (1/3 cup) buttermilk
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- ¼ tsp garlic salt (or garlic powder plus an extra ¼ tsp regular salt)
Crispy Coating:
- 100 g (2/3 cup) cornflour (cornstarch in USA)
- 1 large egg
- 120 g (1 cup) plain (all-purpose) flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- ½ tsp celery salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- Spray oil (approx 15 ml or 1 tbsp)
Hot Honey Sauce:
- 180 ml (1/2 cup) runny honey
- 3 tbsp hot pepper sauce (e.g. Frank’s hot sauce)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
To Serve:
- Sliced spring onions (scallions)
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chopped chicken breasts to a bowl along with the buttermilk, salt, white pepper, and garlic salt. Mix well to coat the chicken evenly and let it marinate for 30 to 60 minutes to tenderize and infuse the flavors. If short on time, marinate for at least 10 minutes.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer basket(s) to 200°C (400°F). This ensures the chicken starts cooking immediately and crisps up nicely.
- Prepare the Coating Stations: Set up three bowls: one with cornflour, one with a lightly whisked egg, and one with a mix of flour, salt, black pepper, garlic salt, celery salt, paprika, and dried thyme. This three-step coating helps create a crunchy and flavorful crust.
- Coat the Chicken Pieces: Spray the preheated air fryer basket lightly with spray oil. Dredge each piece of marinated chicken first in the cornflour, then dip fully into the egg, and finally coat thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture.
- Arrange and Cook: Place the coated chicken pieces in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, leaving space between pieces for air circulation. You may need to cook in two batches depending on your air fryer size. Spray the chicken liberally with spray oil.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Cook for 15 to 20 minutes at 200°C (400°F). Turn the chicken pieces or shake the basket twice during cooking, spraying more oil each time to ensure an even, golden, and crispy finish.
- Prepare the Hot Honey Sauce: Combine honey, hot pepper sauce, butter, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes until butter melts, then stir well. Alternatively, melt ingredients over medium heat in a saucepan, stirring until combined.
- Toss and Serve: When the chicken bites are cooked and crispy, toss them in the hot honey sauce until evenly coated. Serve immediately topped with sliced spring onions and sesame seeds for added freshness and texture.
Notes
- Marinating for longer than 30 minutes enhances flavor and tenderness but you can marinate briefly if pressed for time.
- Use spray oil to keep the coating crispy without excess fat.
- Work in batches if your air fryer basket is small to avoid overcrowding, which prevents even cooking and crisping.
- You can adjust the amount of hot pepper sauce in the honey sauce to increase or decrease spiciness.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute plain flour with gluten-free flour blend and ensure all spices are gluten-free.
Find it online: https://forkvista.com/air-fryer-hot-honey-chicken-bites-recipe/
