Air fryer chicken bites
February 13, 2023
Air fryer chicken bites are marinated in kefir, a super tenderizer. Covered in Panko breadcrumbs, parmesan, almond powder and thyme for a sweet and salty chicken bite!
This Air fryer chicken bites recipe is easy to make; kids love it! Kind of a deconstructed Chicken Parm, smaller and funnier. Plus, you can use the leftovers for a nice chicken wrap the next day or on top of a green salad for work. This kid-friendly recipe doesn’t use eggs; the kefir will make the coating stick. This dish could be used as a main meal or as a snack for a birthday party. The parmesan flavour comes through and is well-balanced with the sweet almond coat! A fantastic, fun bite for the whole family!
Kefir the Super Tenderizer
The chicken got marinated in kefir, which tenderizes the meat twice! Thanks to its lactic acid and probiotics, which make it a super tenderizer! It’s perfect for chicken breast because it helps to retain moisture and prevent it from drying out. No Kefir at home? No worries! You can substitute it with buttermilk or plain yogurt.
Marinating time is up to you; you could go from 20 minutes to 24 hours. Preferably overnight would be the ultimate; the meat will bring in the kefir taste and be tender and not chewy.
The Coating
The coating is where the magic lies for this recipe. It’s a mix of Panko (Japanese Breadcrumbs), grated parmesan, almond powder and fresh thyme, and it’s divine! This mix of salty parmesan and sweet almond makes a perfect duo. Again, you could substitute the Panko for regular breadcrumbs, the parmesan for aged cheddar and fresh thyme for dry basil or thyme.
Serving with
I’ve drizzled some lime over the chicken. But if you would like a fun dip, try a simple tomato sauce! It would be all the ingredients of Chicken Parmesan reunited! Plus, these two are way healthier than mayonnaise or ketchup. Although the chicken is moist and tender, so it goes perfectly without any dip!
Storage
You can store them easily in the fridge for up to two days. They would complement nicely the top of a lovely salad the next day. These are adaptable and fit in any bowl or quick lunch, whether cold or warm.
Coleslaws SideKick Ideas
As for the sides, you can serve a lovely coleslaw, fries, creamy pasta or green salad. Here are some excellent ideas to serve these bites with:
Ingredients
- 600 g chicken breast approx. 3 breasts
- 250 ml kefir
- 100 g panko or breadcrumbs
- 75 g parmesan cheese
- 30 g almond powder
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme or dry basil, thyme or parsley
- 2 limes
- 2 tbsp olive oil spray
Instructions
- Start by cutting the chicken into small cubes.
- Add to bowl with the kefir and some salt.
- Let marinate in the fridge, covered for 6-12 hours.
- Add the panko, grated parmesan, almond powder and thyme to a bowl and mix.
- Add a few chicken pieces at a time in the dry mix and cover throughfully.
- Add to the Air fryer at 200°C (400F°) for 10 minutes. Make sure not to overfill the basket, make a few batches if necessary.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
9 Comments
Bernice
Great timing! Yesterday I bought a huge tray of chicken breasts from Costco and then I was too tired to make dinner (classic move, I know!) However, I did start marinating them last night and am looking forward to an easy dinner tonight.- Vanessa
These were so delicious and the chicken was still tender thanks to the kefir! My boys gobbled them up! - Sean
I love bite sized crispy chicken in general, but the air-fryer aspect PLUS the cool flavouring-and-tenderizing aspect with the kefir really makes this work for me. Awesome idea, and great for an appetizer or small meal! - Patricia
These turned out fabulous, and I loved (and used) your suggestion for adding leftovers to a wrap! Little chicken parms — brilliant!
im obsessed with these Air fryer chicken parmesan bites!! my DD and I literally fight for the last little bite. thanks for the delicious recipe