Description
These Parmesan Chicken Bites are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and loaded with cheesy flavor in every bite. They cook fast, use simple ingredients, and make the perfect appetizer, snack, or weeknight dinner. Whether baked, air-fried, or pan-fried, they come out golden, crunchy, and incredibly delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1–1 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley or Italian seasoning
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk or water
- Olive oil or melted butter, for baking
- Neutral oil, for pan-frying
- Optional: cayenne pepper, lemon zest, extra herbs
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces and pat dry with paper towels.
- Make the Dry Coating: In a shallow bowl, stir together the Parmesan, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and dried herbs.
- Make the Wet Mixture: In another bowl, whisk the eggs and milk until smooth.
- Coat the Chicken: Dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture, then into the Parmesan breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently so the coating sticks.
- To Bake: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the coated chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet, drizzle lightly with olive oil, and bake for 15–18 minutes, flipping once, until golden and cooked through.
- To Air-Fry: Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C). Place chicken in a single layer in the basket and cook for 10–12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- To Pan-Fry: Heat a thin layer of neutral oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken bites for 3–4 minutes per side until crispy and cooked through.
- Serve: Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces such as marinara, ranch, barbecue sauce, or garlic aioli.
Notes
For extra crispy bites, chill the coated chicken for 10 minutes before cooking. You can use chicken thighs instead of breasts for even more juiciness. Make a low-carb version by swapping the breadcrumbs for crushed pork rinds or almond flour.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baked, Air Fryer, Pan-Fried
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 6–8 chicken bites
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 115mg