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Overhead shot of crispy air fryer chicken bites drizzled with Bang Bang sauce
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Air Fryer Bang Bang Chicken Bites Recipe

The chicken bites that make your air fryer worth owning. Crispy coating that shatters when you bite it, juicy meat that makes you forget frozen nuggets exist, and a sauce so good you'll hide it from your family.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 690kcal
Author: Abi Gunasekaran

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Whisk
  • tongs
  • Baking sheet for prepping coated chicken

Ingredients

For the Chicken Bites:

  • 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • Cooking spray for air fryer

For the Bang Bang Sauce:

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
  • 2 teaspoons sriracha
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Chopped green onions for garnish

Instructions

Prep the chicken bites:

  • Pat the chicken dry and cut it into 1-inch bite-sized pieces.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together all purpose flour, cornstarch, egg, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper and buttermilk until smooth.
    A bowl with flour, seasoning, an egg, and hot sauce sits on a wooden surface near chicken pieces, green onions, a cracked egg, and a glass of milk.
  • Add the chicken pieces, toss to coat, and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
    A bowl of diced chicken in a buttermilk marinade on a wooden table, with green onions, breadcrumbs, and a teal cloth nearby.
  • Remove chicken pieces from the buttermilk mixture, shaking off excess.
  • Dredge each piece in the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently until fully coated on all sides.
    A baking tray lined with parchment paper holds sixteen evenly spaced, breaded chicken pieces ready to be cooked. Green onions and a bowl are nearby on a wooden surface.

Air fry the chicken bites:

  • Meanwhile, preheat your air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
  • Place chicken bites in a single layer, leaving space between each piece. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray as well.
  • Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
    Close-up of golden brown chicken bites in air fryer basket.

Make the Bang bang sauce:

  • In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey until smooth.
    A brown bowl contains mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, black pepper, and seasonings on a wooden table, with green onions and drinks nearby.

Serve:

  • Transfer hot chicken bites to a large bowl.
  • Drizzle with Bang Bang sauce or serve in a bowl on the side for dipping.
  • Garnish with green onions and serve.

Notes

  • Cook the chicken in batches so the coating stays crisp.
  • Preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes at 375°F to get better browning and even cooking.
  • Bread the chicken up to 4 hours ahead and keep it in the fridge until ready to air fry for extra crunch.
  • If you like more heat, add extra sriracha to the sauce or a little more hot sauce to the marinade.
  • For a lighter sauce, swap half the mayo with Greek yogurt.
  • Chicken thighs hold up better in the air fryer and stay juicier than breasts, especially when cooking multiple batches.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 690kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 166mg | Sodium: 1095mg | Potassium: 802mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 183IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 3mg