Chicken Bites
These Chicken Bites are seasoned cubed chicken with garlic, ginger and more, that are air fried or baked to crispy perfection. Takes less than 30 minutes make for the perfect easy weeknight dinner! Serve over a mixed green salad or your favorite rice and sides.
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast , cut into equal-sized cubes (about 1-inch)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- kosher salt or sea salt , to taste
- cracked black pepper , to taste
For the sauce
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos , you can also sub with gf tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 tbsp honey , feel free to use maple syrup or another sticky liquid sweetener of your choice. You can opt for a sugar-free sweetener option such as Lakanto Sugar-free maple syrup, allulose or yacon syrup for a lower carb / lower sugar option. Omit and sub with orange juice or homemade date syrup for a Whole30 option.
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1-2 tsp Sriracha , or preferred hot sauce such as gochujang or chili crisp oil, to taste or omit if sensitive to spice
- 1 tsp rice wine vinegar , or 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
For serving:
- 1/2 - 2/3 cup cooked rice of choice . Jasmine, Basmati, long grain or opt for a Whole30 / paleo / low carb options such as cauliflower rice, broccoli rice, zucchini noodles, hearts of palm rice, shirataki rice / shirataki noodles / konjac noodles etc.
- 1/4 avocado , sliced or cubed
- 1-2 tbsp shelled frozen edamame , thawed or heated up
- 4-5 slices of Mini or Persian cucumber slices
- 1-2 tbsp shredded / grated carrots
- Tiny sprinkle of chopped green onions
- Tiny sprinkle of sesame seeds , for garnish
Instructions
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Pat the chicken dry and cut into 1” cubes. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder and ground ginger.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut aminos, honey, sesame oil and Sriracha until combined. Pour a little more than half of the sauce over the chicken. Toss chicken to coat and allow to marinate for 20-30 minutes. Add the vinegar to the remaining sauce and set aside for topping the cooked salmon later.
Air Fryer Option
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If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat to 380F. Spray the air fryer basket with oil spray. Working in batches as needed, place the seasoned chicken bites on the basket in a single layer. Air fry for 8-12 minutes, or longer as needed until the chicken is golden and cooked through (with some pieces with a light char if desired), shaking the basket around every few times (or flipping the chicken halfway through) to ensure even cooking.
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Transfer the chicken bites to a bowl. Whisk the reserved sauce once more to combine, if needed, then drizzle over the chicken. Sprinkle chicken with a little bit of green onions and sesame seeds.
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When ready to serve, assemble the rice bowl by adding some rice, then top with a few pieces of chicken, along with edamame, avocado, cucumber, carrots and green onions. Top with another small sprinkle of sesame seeds, if desired.
Oven Option
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Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper for easier clean-up.
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Spread chicken evenly onto the lined baking sheet.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes and flip.
Cook for another 8-10 minutes, or until golden and crispy. You can switch the oven to the broiler setting for the last 1-2 minutes of the baking time, for extra crispy edges.
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Transfer the seasoned chicken bites to a bowl. Whisk the reserved sauce once more to combine, if needed, then drizzle over the chicken. Sprinkle chicken with a little bit of green onions and sesame seeds.
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When ready to serve, assemble the rice bowl by adding some rice, then top with a few pieces of chicken, along with edamame, avocado, cucumber, carrots and green onions. Top with another small sprinkle of sesame seeds, if desired.
Recipe Notes
How to store:
- Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: For future cravings, freeze individual chicken bites on a baking sheet before transferring them to a freezer bag. This preserves the crispiness when reheating.
Note: Nutritional info is calculated for the chicken bites only:
Nutritional info with jasmine rice and toppings listed are estimated to be:
266 calories, 24 carbs, 26 protein, 6 fat and 2 fiber