You won't believe how easy it is to make deliciously crisp, juicy, and spicy TGI Fridays boneless chicken bites in the air fryer in under 10 minutes! These air fried boneless "wings" are perfect to toss in a fiery buffalo sauce, pair with a creamy dip, and serve as a fun and flavorful party appetizer or anytime snack.
Love to prepare quick chicken meals in your air fryer? Try air fryer chicken fries and this air fryer mandu recipes, so good and quick!
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You know them, you love them, now you can enjoy them right at home! When you cook TGI Fridays boneless chicken bites in the air fryer you get all of that spicy goodness you crave from your favorite fast casual restaurant... But without the hassle of actually having to leave the house.
These iconic bites start with chunks of boneless skinless chicken breast meat, then are coated in a thick-but-not-too-thick breading that has a great balance of seasonings. In this easy recipe we air fry the precooked nuggets for less than 10 minutes - without any extra oil!
The result is a basket of chicken bites that are golden and crunchy on the outside, moist and juicy on the inside, and completely yummy throughout.
To really kick up the flavor, the air fried bites are tossed in TGI Fridays' classic spicy buffalo chicken sauce before serving warm. This sauce is smooth and buttery rich, with just the right touch of heat. It isn't hot enough to set your mouth on fire, but there is definitely a bite...
Which you'll either LOVE as a fan of spicy foods, or you'll want to skip if you are sensitive to spice. That being said, you can certainly use any other spicy or mild sauces - like another brand of buffalo sauce, hot sauce (or mild sauce), or even barbecue sauce.
How to make TGI Fridays boneless chicken bites in air fryer
Place the TGI Fridays boneless chicken bites directly into the air fryer basket, arranging them in a single layer to allow for even cooking. Set the air fryer temperature to 400°F and cook the chicken bites for 7 minutes.
It's important to intermittently remove the basket and give it a light shake, doing this a couple of times throughout the cooking process to make sure the chicken bites cook uniformly and achieve a perfectly crispy exterior.
Once the 7 minutes are up, carefully take the chicken bites out of the air fryer. They should have a golden-brown color and a satisfying crispiness. Finish by generously tossing the chicken bites in the sauce until they're well-coated, then serve immediately, offering a delightful and easy dish.
Servings suggestions
For balancing the spiciness of the boneless chicken bites I suggest enjoying with your choice of cool and creamy dressings or dips. You can't go wrong with a ramekin of ranch or blue cheese dressing!
We also like to pair them with fresh crunchy veggies, like carrot sticks and celery sticks. These bites are sure to be a big hit however you choose to serve them!
Kids and adults alike love spicy boneless chicken bites as an after school or weekend afternoon snack. Or serve them up as a fast and fun lunch or dinner with any number of side dishes! They are also great to share at game day or game night gatherings, as an appetizer before a laid back dinner party, or to add bold flavors to any occasion.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the frozen breaded chicken bites are precooked before packaging.
However, they need to be properly and thoroughly reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F before eating. Under-heated frozen foods, even precooked ones, can potentially cause foodborne illness.
No, the breaded nuggets themselves are not spicy. The frozen bites come with a package of spicy TGI Fridays buffalo sauce. After air frying the warm chicken is tossed in the sauce; you can use more or less depending on how much heat you like.
A serving of TGI Fridays buffalo chicken bites is roughly 3 ounces, or approximately 5-6 bites.
Yes, TGI Fridays boneless chicken bites are cooked in the air fryer from frozen without thawing. This ensures that the outside breading stays crisp while the inside meat stays perfectly juicy and tender.
Essentially these breaded and fried chicken snacks are the same, but with one key difference... Chicken bites (also sometimes called "boneless wings") and nuggets are both typically made with white breast meat. However, bites are solid pieces of meat that are cubed, while nuggets usually are machine-formed with ground chicken meat.
Expert tips
- Arrange the chicken bites in a single layer with space between each piece. This allows the hot air to circulate freely, cooking each bite evenly and making them crispy.
- Shaking the basket a few times during cooking isn't just about preventing the chicken from sticking; it also helps in getting an even crispness on all sides of the chicken bites.
- After cooking, let the chicken bites rest for a short period. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring that each bite is juicy and flavorful.
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Hope you will like this air fryer TGI Fridays boneless chicken bites as much as we do. Please rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.
Recipe
TGI Fridays Boneless Chicken Bites in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 package TGI Fridays boneless chicken bites
- celery or carrot sticks
Instructions
- Cook at 400 for 7 minutes, shake the basket couple times, toss in sauce and serve.
Notes
- Arrange the chicken bites in a single layer with space between each piece. This allows the hot air to circulate freely, cooking each bite evenly and making them crispy.
- Shaking the basket a few times during cooking isn't just about preventing the chicken from sticking; it also helps in getting an even crispness on all sides of the chicken bites.
- After cooking, let the chicken bites rest for a short period. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring that each bite is juicy and flavorful.
Nikk says
Thanks for putting the time and temp on here... I picked up a box from the supermarket and was shocked to find that it didnt have an air fryer section on it... I didnt even look in-store... Most stuff these days does, especially when it comes to pre-cooked chicken items! Tried it and it was great... The sauce of the buffalo nuggets was a bit much if you dump the whole packet on, but I did it old-school and put the sauce of the side and only used about half the 3 oz packet... The base nugget by itself is great... The sauce adds a bit of flavor and a little kick to it.. but if you just like nuggs by themselves then the breading and seasoning on these is great as-is without the buffalo sauce! A whole box of these, with nothing else, is enough for a grown man's lunch... Plenty to fill you up in the box..