Easy Air Fryer Chicken Bites: Your Go-To Recipe for Copycat Chick-fil-A Grilled Nuggets

Get ready to discover your new favorite weeknight meal: Easy Air Fryer Chicken Bites! This incredible recipe delivers perfectly tender, juicy chicken pieces that taste remarkably like Chick-fil-A’s famous Grilled Nuggets. Not only are they unbelievably delicious, but they’re also super simple to make, healthy, and an excellent choice for meal prepping protein throughout your busy week. Imagine having these flavorful bites ready to toss into salads, wraps, rice bowls, or enjoyed simply with your favorite dipping sauce, especially a homemade spicy honey mustard that’s a dead ringer for a certain popular fast-food condiment!

You absolutely have to make a batch of these Air Fryer Chicken Bites. They are the epitome of an easy-breezy chicken recipe, simplifying your cooking without sacrificing an ounce of flavor. The magic begins with a special marinade: bite-sized chicken pieces are soaked in a blend of tangy buttermilk and dill pickle juice. This combination isn’t just for show; the pickle juice infuses the chicken with incredible flavor and helps tenderize it, just like it does for my favorite crispy chicken sandwiches. After their flavor bath, the chicken gets coated in a savory seasoning blend, featuring staples like garlic powder and paprika, before heading into the air fryer basket to cook to golden perfection.

What makes these Air Fryer Chicken Bites truly irresistible is serving them with the right sauce. While ranch dressing or a sweet Polynesian sauce are always great choices, I highly recommend my ultra-flavorful spicy honey mustard sauce. With a hint of BBQ sauce, it tastes uncannily like a copycat Chick-fil-A sauce, elevating these chicken bites to an entirely new level. It’s the perfect complement to the tender, seasoned chicken.

These chicken bites are designed to mimic the beloved Chick-fil-A Grilled Nuggets. Of course, without a traditional grill, you won’t get those distinctive grill marks. However, if those marks are absolutely essential to your dining experience, you could easily finish them off on a stove-top grill pan for a minute or two after air frying, making them nearly identical in appearance. Rest assured, the flavor and texture are already spot-on!

The versatility of these homemade grilled chicken nuggets is truly amazing. They are fantastic on fresh salads, tucked into wraps, served in hearty rice bowls, or as a protein-packed side with crispy fries or potato wedges. They’re also ideal for meal prepping; keep a batch in the fridge to quickly add to pasta dishes, incorporate into flavorful buffalo chicken bowls, or simply enjoy as a quick snack. Plus, a major bonus: these Air Fryer Chicken Bites are naturally gluten-free and so straightforward to prepare that even novice cooks can achieve perfect results every time!

Essential Ingredients for Tender Air Fryer Chicken Bites

Creating these incredibly flavorful and tender air fryer chicken bites starts with selecting the right ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that delicious, juicy result, reminiscent of your favorite fast-food grilled nuggets. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need:

• Chicken: For the best results, I typically opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. They’re lean and easy to cut into uniform 1-inch pieces, which is crucial for even cooking in the air fryer. However, boneless, skinless chicken thighs would also work wonderfully, offering a slightly richer flavor. You could even use chicken tenders, cutting them down to size.
• Pickle Juice: This might seem unusual, but dill pickle juice is a game-changer! It acts as a fantastic brining liquid, not only tenderizing the chicken but also infusing it with a unique tangy flavor that is characteristic of those beloved fast-food nuggets. Don’t skip this step for that authentic taste!
• Buttermilk: Another key ingredient for tenderization, buttermilk, with its low pH, gently breaks down the chicken fibers without making them tough. If you don’t use buttermilk often, a great tip is to freeze leftover buttermilk in ice cube trays so you always have some on hand for recipes like this. (See tip below for a homemade substitute!)
• Cornstarch: Just a tablespoon of cornstarch makes a big difference. It helps to lock in moisture, ensuring your chicken bites remain juicy, and contributes to a very subtle, light exterior crispness without creating a thick coating.
• Powdered Sugar: A secret ingredient for that perfect golden hue! Powdered sugar helps achieve a lovely caramelized color on the chicken surface during air frying, adding to its visual appeal and a touch of sweetness that balances the savory seasonings.
• Seasoning Salt: I prefer using a pre-blended seasoning salt (like Lowry’s) because it contains a harmonious mix of salt, sugar, paprika, celery seeds, turmeric, and onion powder. This blend provides a robust and well-rounded flavor base, eliminating the need to measure out multiple individual spices.
• Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a warm, subtle hint of spice and depth to the overall flavor profile of the chicken bites.
• Garlic Powder: Essential for any savory chicken recipe, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder ensures that each bite is packed with aromatic flavor. It’s a foundational spice that truly enhances the chicken’s taste.
• Paprika: I personally love using hot paprika for a bit of a kick, but if you prefer a milder flavor or already have it on hand, smoked paprika or sweet paprika are perfectly fine substitutes. Smoked paprika would add a delightful smoky depth.
• Cooking Spray: A high-heat cooking spray, such as avocado oil spray, is crucial. Avocado oil has a high smoke point, making it ideal for air frying at higher temperatures. Avoid olive oil, as its smoke point is generally lower than the temperature required for crisping these chicken bites.
• Spicy Honey Mustard: While optional, this is my absolute favorite dipping sauce for these air fryer chicken bites. Its sweet, tangy, and spicy notes perfectly complement the savory chicken, making every bite extra delicious. It’s also fantastic with chicken tenders and many other dishes!

Quick Tip: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, don’t fret! Simply combine ⅓ cup of 2%, 1%, or skim milk in a bowl with 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar). Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it slightly curdles, then add the pickle juice and proceed with the recipe.

How to Make Delicious Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Nuggets

Creating these incredible air fryer chicken bites is a straightforward process, broken down into a few simple steps. Follow these instructions carefully to ensure perfectly tender, flavorful, and wonderfully juicy chicken every time.

1. Prepare the Chicken Marinade: Begin by combining the pickle juice and buttermilk in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk them together thoroughly. Once mixed, add your bite-sized chicken pieces (cut into approximately 1-inch cubes) to the liquid. Ensure all chicken pieces are submerged. Cover the bowl and refrigerate. For optimal flavor and tenderness, allow the chicken to soak for at least 30 minutes. For the best results, marinating for several hours or even up to 24 hours will yield incredibly juicy and flavorful chicken, truly mimicking those Chick-fil-A grilled nuggets.
2. Craft the Custom Seasoning Mix: While the chicken is marinating, prepare your signature seasoning blend. In a separate small bowl, combine the cornstarch, powdered sugar, seasoning salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined and uniformly distributed. This ensures that every chicken bite gets a balanced flavor coating.
3. Season the Chicken to Perfection: Once the chicken has finished marinating, carefully drain it using a colander. Allow as much excess liquid to drip off as possible, but do not rinse the chicken. Transfer the drained chicken back into the bowl. Evenly sprinkle the prepared seasoning mix over the chicken pieces. For best coverage, I recommend using clean, gloved hands to toss and massage the seasoning into the chicken, ensuring every piece is thoroughly coated. This direct contact helps the seasoning adhere beautifully.
4. Preheat Your Air Fryer: Proper preheating is key for achieving that desirable crispy exterior and even cooking. If your air fryer has a dedicated preheat setting, use it to preheat to 425ºF (220ºC). If not, simply turn your air fryer on to 425ºF (220ºC) and let it run for 3-4 minutes to come up to temperature. For easier cleanup, you can line the air fryer basket with a perforated parchment liner designed for air fryers.
5. Air Fry the Chicken Bites: Arrange the seasoned chicken pieces in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket; cooking in batches if necessary ensures proper air circulation and even cooking. Lightly spray the chicken pieces with a high-heat cooking spray (like avocado oil) to help them crisp up and achieve a beautiful golden-brown color. Cook for approximately 7-9 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a chicken piece reads an internal temperature of 160ºF (71ºC). Halfway through the cooking time (around 4-5 minutes), you might want to shake the basket or flip the chicken pieces for even browning. If your air fryer has a broil setting, you can broil the nuggets for the last 30-60 seconds to give them an extra boost of color and slight char, similar to grilled chicken. Serve these delicious chicken bites warm with your preferred dipping sauce.

More Delicious Chicken Recipes You’ll Love:

• Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
• Sticky Baked Chicken Bites
• Firecracker Chicken Meatballs
• Crispy Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken
• Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken
• Turmeric Black Pepper Chicken