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. I like 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 these for breakfast or keep them 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 to see how these breakfast chicken bites come together in just 12 minutes in the air fryer.
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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.
Why You’ll Love It
- High in protein: Each serving contains 34 grams of protein.
- Quick cooking: They need approximately 12 minutes in the air fryer.
- Good for breakfast: I like having a savory option when I don’t feel like starting the day with something sweet.
- Plenty of texture: Small chicken pieces, bell pepper, onion, and cheese give you a bit of everything in each bite.
Ingredients
- Chicken breast: 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.
- 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 vegetables. 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.
2. Add the egg to the chicken mixture and mix thoroughly.
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.
4. Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C).
5. Fill muffin molds with the prepared mixture. 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. Bake for approximately 12 minutes.
7. After 12 minutes, serve the chicken muffins while they’re still hot, and enjoy!
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.
- Check the center with a food thermometer and make sure it reaches 165°F (74°C).
What Can You Serve With This?
- Fresh vegetables
- Crisp salad
- Ranch
- Honey mustard
FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Recipe
High Protein Air Fryer Chicken Bites With Cheese
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Large bowl
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Spoons
- Silicone muffin molds
- Serving dish
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoon bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
- 4 tablespoon grated cheese
- 2 tablespoon wheat flour
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
Instructions
- Dice the chicken breast into small cubes. Transfer them to a large bowl and add soy sauce. Mix well.
- Add the egg to the chicken mixture and mix thoroughly. Add the flour and mixing once more until a cohesive mixture forms. Add finely chopped onion, bell pepper, and parsley. Stir again to ensure all components are well-combined.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C).
- Fill muffin molds with the prepared mixture. This recipe should fill about 6 molds, which will fit conveniently in the air fryer basket of my Instant Vortex Plus XL.
- Bake for approximately 12 minutes.
- After 12 minutes, serve the chicken muffins while they’re still hot and enjoy!
Notes
Cooking Time and Temperature
Air Fry at 360°F (180°C) for approximately 12 minutes.Taste & Texture
Tender, savory chicken bites with pieces of bell pepper and onion, grated cheese, and a lightly crisp exterior.Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Refrigerator: Store the chicken bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Wrap each one snugly in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Thaw them in the refrigerator, then reheat using the air fryer or oven.
Serving Recommendations
- I’d serve these warm with fresh vegetables and a little ranch for dipping.
- For breakfast, I like the idea of adding a crisp salad or some colorful vegetables on the side.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Try cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack for the grated cheese.
- Replace the chicken with sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or other vegetables for the suggested vegetarian variation.
- Replace the wheat flour with almond flour or a gluten-free baking blend for the suggested gluten-free option.
- Use ground turkey instead of chicken for the suggested alternative.
Proper Storage Tips
- Store the chicken bites in an airtight container.
- Keep them refrigerated.
- Use within 3 days.
Pro Tips
- Marinate the diced chicken in soy sauce for about 30 minutes if you have extra time.
- Preheat the air fryer to help the bites cook evenly.
- Check that the center reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Let the chicken bites rest for a few minutes after air frying so they firm up before serving.
Video
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