Juicy, tender and delicious air fryer chicken breast cubes are easy to make in a little over 30 minutes! This family-friendly chicken bites recipe without breading is gluten-free, easy to customize, and perfect to serve with favorite sides or use in other dishes.
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The humble chicken breast is one of my favorite proteins. This kitchen staple is lean but hearty, easy to season, and SO versatile! While there are many ways they can be cooked, this simple air fryer chicken breast cubes recipe is my go-to for a quick weeknight meal and weekly meal prepping.
These bite-size pieces of chicken are tender and moist, and packed with lots of flavor from only a few spices. And no breading! Here I share my favorite blend of spices but you can easily swap with other combinations like cajun or creole, lemon pepper, Italian or taco seasoning. Or any combo you prefer!
Air fry just bare chicken cubes for 15 minutes or less, until they are lightly browned on the outside and fork-tender. Then you have lots of options... Serve the cooked bites as a lean and protein-rich main dish for dinner or lunch with any number of sides. It's fun to try different spice combinations to pair with different side dishes!
Ready-to-use pieces of chicken are also great to toss in salads, grain bowls, pasta dishes, and any recipe that calls for precooked breasts. They are even terrific for including in your weekly meal planning rotation!
Then you can add them to lunch or dinner dishes in a snap, either cold from the fridge or briefly reheated. Consider making a double batch - one to enjoy tonight, and another to keep on hand for quick meal planning!
Recipe ingredients
- 1 lb Chicken Breast: Skinless and boneless chicken breasts are high-protein, low calorie and low fat. The naturally mild taste is great for marinating in vibrant spices.
- Olive Oil: A quality EVOO is my favorite high-heat oil to make a marinade for air frying chicken. It is rich and buttery but does not have an overpowering flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: These two classic seasonings elevate all other flavors.
- Other Spices: We are using a combination of paprika, dried thyme, and cumin for a smoky, savory and enticing taste. But feel free to swap out other spices or seasoning blends to your liking.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is totally safe to air fry raw chicken. I suggest lining the basket with parchment paper to help cut down on mess. Insert the paper after preheating the fryer, right when you are ready to add the chicken.
No. You do not need to spray the chicken breast cubes in the air fryer basket. They get coated in just the right amount of oil in the marinade.
Marinating the cubes first helps to tenderize the meat. Then simply follow the practically foolproof recipe steps for cooking chicken to moist and tender perfection!
Let the chicken breast cubes marinate for 20 minutes before air frying. You can keep them in the marinade in the fridge for up to 12 hours. But any longer than that and the small pieces of chicken can become overly tender and mushy.
Use a quality olive oil and cook the chicken pieces at high heat. In only about 10 minutes or so they are golden brown and slightly crisp on all sides.
You do not need to flip the chicken, but it is a good idea to occasionally shake the basket every few minutes. This helps the hot air to evenly cook around each cube of chicken.
Leftovers and reheating
I like to store leftovers in the air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also just keep it in the ziplock bag or simply place chicken in the bowl and cover with foil or plastic wrap.
Reheat in the microwave until heated though, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Or reheat in the air fryer for 2 minutes at 350 degrees. Do not overheat or chicken breast will be dry and chewy.
More chicken breast recipes
- Air fryer teriyaki chicken breast
- Trader Joe's breaded chicken air fryer recipe
- Air fryer chicken tenders with corn flakes
Hope you will like this easy air fryer chicken breast cubes recipes as much as we do. Rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.
Recipe
Air fryer chicken breast cubes
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika, thyme, cumin each
Instructions
- Cut chicken breast in about 1 inch cubes.
- Mix all the ingredients in the bowl. Let it marinate for 20 minutes.
- Place chicken in the air fryer in one layer. Cook for about 7 minutes at 375 degrees. Do not overcook!
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