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Honey Garlic Chicken Bites are one of my go-to, no fuss main dishes for busy weeknights. Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish has juicy air fryer chicken bites coated in a simple, one-pot homemade honey garlic sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Here’s why this honey garlic chicken bites recipe makes weeknights easier and tastier:
- Juicy, well-seasoned chicken bites: Each piece is flavorful on its own, then coated in a simple homemade sauce that brings everything together.
- Effortless air fryer cooking: The air fryer cooks the chicken evenly with minimal hands-on time, making cleanup quick and easy.
- Ready in under 25 minutes: This fast cook time makes it perfect for busy nights when you want a delicious meal without the wait.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients work together to create juicy chicken bites and a well-balanced honey garlic sauce.
A few notes below will help you choose the right options and get the best results. Get the exact ingredient amounts, as always, in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Chicken Bites
- Chicken Breasts: boneless and skinless. Cut into 1–1½ inch pieces so they cook evenly in the air fryer. You could also use chicken thighs since they stay extra juicy, while breasts offer a leaner option.
- Olive Oil
- Sea Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika: Adds a mild smoky flavor and gives the chicken a warm, golden color.
Honey Garlic Sauce
- Honey: Provides sweetness and helps the sauce lightly caramelize when warmed. Use regular honey or a sugar-free honey alternative if you wish.
- Soy sauce (or coconut aminos): Brings savory, umami flavor; coconut aminos are a good lower-sodium, gluten-free alternative.
- Unsalted butter: Creates a smooth, rich base for the sauce and keeps it from tasting overly salty.
- Rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar): Adds a touch of acidity to balance the sweetness.
- Garlic, minced: Fresh garlic gives the sauce its signature bold flavor.
- Cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water (optional): Useful if you want a thicker sauce that coats the chicken more evenly. If you’re like me with Xanthan Gum in your pantry, this works as a sauce thickener too!
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Bites
Making air fryer chicken bites with honey garlic sauce is easy. Use this step-by-step photo as a guide to learn how to make it in a few key steps:
Get the chicken ready
Start by pre-heating your air fryer. This helps the chicken get a nice sear without overcooking it.
Pat the chicken dry, then toss it with olive oil and seasonings until every piece is evenly coated. This quick step sets the foundation for flavorful, evenly cooked chicken.
Air fry until golden
Spread the chicken pieces in a single layer, making sure they have a little breathing room.
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Let the air fryer do the work, flipping halfway through so the bites cook evenly and turn golden on all sides.
Sauce, toss, and serve
While the chicken cooks, gently simmer the honey garlic sauce until it’s smooth and glossy.
Once the chicken is hot and cooked through, toss it with the warm sauce until well coated, then serve right away for the best flavor and texture.
Other Tool Options
If you’d rather switch things up, these chicken bites can also be cooked in a skillet.
Sear them until cooked through and golden before continuing with the other steps of this recipe.
Pro Tips That Save Time & Add Flavor
A few simple tricks that make this recipe shine:
- Give the chicken some space: Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket so the chicken browns evenly. Cooking in batches is worth it for better texture.
- Sauce it while hot: Toss the chicken with the sauce right away so it clings nicely to every bite.
- Add a hint of ginger (optional): A teaspoon of ginger purée or ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger adds a subtle warmth that pairs beautifully with the honey and garlic.
- Alternate thickening option: If you prefer not to use cornstarch, ¼ teaspoon of xanthan gum works well. Just mix it with a few drops of olive or avocado oil first to prevent clumping.
Swaps & Variations
Easy swaps and tweaks to make this recipe your own:
- Protein swaps: Chicken thighs or breasts both work beautifully. For chicken thighs, I double the cooking time to make sure the bites are crisp.
- Veggie options: Serve with quick air-fried vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, or zucchini for a complete meal in one go.
- Budget-friendly tip: Buying chicken in bulk or on sale is an easy way to save without changing the recipe.
- Low-carb option: Use the Xanthan gum thickening method for a grain-free thickener. I use it in this sweet chili sauce and teriyaki sauce. Swap the honey for a sugar-free alternative for a lower-carb version.
- More flavor: Sprinkle chopped green onions or toasted sesame seeds over the finished dish for a fresh, flavorful touch.
What to Serve With This
Here are some great side dishes to serve with these air fryer honey garlic chicken bites that are just as tasty and easy to make:
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Easy Air Fryer Green Beans
- Cauliflower Rice Pilaf
- Ninja Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe
- Air Fryer Squash
Storage & Reheating
- Store any leftover chicken bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 375°F for 3–5 minutes until warmed through—this keeps them crisp and flavorful.
- If the sauce has thickened in the fridge, stir in a small spoonful of extra soy sauce or honey before reheating.
- Note: This recipe isn’t recommended for freezing, as the sauce and texture don’t hold up well.
Printable Recipe Card
Honey Garlic Chicken Bites
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Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken Bites
- 1½ lbs Chicken Breasts, boneless skinless, cut into 1–1½ inch pieces
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Smoked Paprika
Honey Garlic Sauce
- ¼ cup Honey
- 3 tbsp Soy Sauce, or coconut aminos
- 2 tbsp Butter, unsalted
- 1 tbsp Unseasoned Rice Vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
Optional Sauce Thickener
- ½ tsp cornstarch, optional, for thickening
- 1 tbsp water, optional, for thickening
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
- Pat the chicken pieces dry and place in a bowl.
- Drizzle the chicken with olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Toss until evenly coated.
- Arrange chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between pieces.
- Air fry for 8–10 minutes (see note if using chicken thighs), flipping halfway, until the chicken bites are golden on the outside and cooked through
Honey Garlic Sauce
- While the chicken cooks, add honey, soy sauce, butter, vinegar, and minced garlic to a small saucepan. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until glossy and smooth.
- For a thicker sauce, mix the water and cornstarch together in a small measuring cup or bowl to make a cornstarch slurry. Add the cornstarch slurry to the pot and simmer for 30–60 seconds until the sauce is slightly thickened.
- Toss and serve: Transfer the hot chicken bites to a bowl. Spoon the warm sauce over the chicken and toss gently until evenly coated. Serve immediately.
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Recipe Notes
- For chicken thighs, I double the cooking time (16-20 minutes) to make sure the bites are crisp. The texture of chicken thighs isn’t as firm as chicken breasts so that’s how we enjoy this in my house. You can always start checking for doneness sooner to get them crisp enough for you.
- Avoid overcrowding the basket — cook in batches if needed for even browning.
- Toss with sauce while the chicken is hot so it clings evenly. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 375°F for 3–5 minutes until warmed through.
- Add a small spoonful of extra soy sauce or honey if reheating.
- Add in a tsp of ginger puree or ¼ tsp of ground ginger to the honey garlic sauce
- Alternative option for thickening: ¼ tsp Xanthan gum & a few drops of olive or avocado oil to prevent clumping.
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
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