Easy High Protein Air Fryer Chicken Bites With Cheese

Name: High Protein Air Fryer Chicken Bites With Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 17 min
Ingredients: 1 chicken breast; 1 egg; 2 tbsp bell pepper; 1 tbsp onion; 1 tbsp fresh parsley; 4 tbsp grated cheese; 2 tbsp wheat flour; 2 tbsp soy sauce

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These High Protein Air Fryer Chicken Bites with Cheese are made with small pieces of chicken breast, egg, vegetables, cheese, and a little flour to hold everything together. This is one of those air fryer recipes that you get tender pieces of chicken throughout rather than ground chicken, while the bell pepper and onion add a little texture and the cheese makes each bite more savory. Each serving has 34 grams of protein.

I’d make this yummy recipe for breakfast or keep it as an easy low carb high protein snack when I want something savory. If you want another breakfast recipe for the air fryer, try these Air Fryer Oatmeal Breakfast Bars next. Keep reading for the full instructions and to see how these breakfast chicken bites come together in just 12 minutes in the air fryer.

Video Tutorial

Try These High Protein Air Fryer Chicken Bites

These air fryer chicken bites are a nice change from the usual sweet breakfast. You get little pieces of chicken with bell pepper, onion, parsley, and plenty of grated cheese all cooked together in individual portions.

I especially like the cheese with the chicken breast bites because it gives them more flavor without needing a long list of seasonings. They’re good hot from the air fryer with fresh vegetables or a little ranch on the side, so they can be served as main dishes.

Why You’ll Love It

High in protein: Each serving contains 34 grams of protein, and no breading means you can make these gluten-free.
Quick cooking and meal prep: They need approximately 12 minutes in the air fryer, quicker than running to your favorite taco store.
Good for breakfast: I like having a savory option when I don’t feel like starting the day with something sweet.
Plenty of texture with simple ingredients: Small chicken pieces, bell pepper, onion, and cheese give you a bit of everything in each bite, including crispy edges.

Ingredients

Boneless skinless Chicken breasts: I like cutting the chicken into small cubes rather than leaving larger chunks. It spreads the chicken throughout the mixture and makes these easy to portion into the muffin molds. Chicken thighs tend to be a bit drier.
Egg: This gets mixed directly into the chicken before the flour and vegetables. It helps bring all those small pieces together into one mixture.
Grated cheese: Four tablespoons are enough to add that cheesy flavor without hiding the chicken and vegetable add-ins. I’d use whichever cheese I already enjoy since cheddar, mozzarella, and pepper jack are all suggested variations.
Bell pepper: I like the little pieces of pepper in these because they break up the chicken and cheese with some extra texture. Chop it finely so it mixes evenly through each portion.

How to Make High Protein Air Fryer Chicken Bites with Cheese

1. Dice the chicken breast into small cubes. Transfer them to a large bowl and add soy sauce. Mix well.

Note: If you are adding an additional spice blend, you would add it to the soy sauce.

2. Add the egg to the chicken mixture and mix thoroughly.

Diced chicken and added to a bowl with the egg

3. Add the flour and mix once more until a cohesive mixture forms. Add finely chopped onion, bell pepper, and parsley. Stir again to ensure all components are well combined.

flour and finely chopped onion, bell pepper, and parsley mixed in

4. Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C).

5. Fill muffin molds with the prepared mixture. (You can lightly spray the molds with avocado oil or olive oil). This recipe should fill about 6 molds, which will fit conveniently in the air fryer basket of my Instant Vortex Plus XL.

6. Place the muffin cups in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Bake for approximately 12 minutes.

muffin cups filled and added to air fryer basket

7. After 12 minutes, serve the chicken muffins while they’re still hot, and enjoy!

fully baked chicken bites in muffin liners

8. Place them in the refrigerator for later and serve cold on a platter when entertaining guests.

Recipe Tips

Dice the chicken into small pieces so it distributes well between the muffin molds.
You can marinate the diced chicken in the soy sauce for about 30 minutes for more flavor.
Preheat the air fryer before adding the chicken bites.
Don’t overcrowd the basket so they have room to cook evenly. Rather, air fry in batches.
Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer and make sure it reaches 165°F (74°C).
You can add garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt too if you like, but I prefer keeping it more simple.
Place leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

What Can You Serve With This?

High Protein Air Fryer Chicken Bites with Cheese serving suggestions

Fresh vegetables
Crisp salad
Ranch
Honey mustard
Mayonnaise

FAQs

Can you use a regular muffin tin in an air fryer?

Yes, you can use a regular muffin tin in an air fryer, provided it fits comfortably within the air fryer basket. Make sure that there's adequate space around the tin for proper air circulation, ensuring even cooking.

Why aren't my chicken muffins crispy on the outside?

Not preheating the air fryer or overcrowding the basket can result in less crispy muffins. Ensure even spacing and a hot air fryer for that golden crunch.

My muffins are too dry. What did I do wrong?

Overcooking or using chicken that's too lean might be the culprit. Ensure you're following the cooking time, and consider adding a bit more moisture to the mixture next time.

The center of my muffins isn't fully cooked. What should I do?

If the exterior is done, but the inside isn't, lower the air fryer's temperature and increase the cooking time slightly. This ensures even cooking without burning the exterior.

Can I make these muffins without an air fryer?

Absolutely! While the air fryer gives a unique texture, you can use an oven. Adjust the cooking time and temperature accordingly, and keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.