Indian Spiced Chicken Bites - Air Fryer Recipe

indian spiced air fryer chicken bites served in a white bowl, with a fork and dipping sauce on the side

Indian Spiced Chicken Bites - Air Fryer Recipe

step by step recipe of making Indian spiced boneless chicken bites in the air fryer using chicken thigh meat

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Total Time 40

Servings

Calories 800kcal

Author Shantala Shenoy Nayak

Equipment

Philips Air Fryer

Ingredients

3 pounds boneless chicken thighs
4 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
2-2.25 teaspoon salt
2-2.25 teaspoon red chilli powder
2.5 teaspoon garam masala powder
2.5 teaspoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 tablespoon oil

Instructions

Clean and cut boneless chicken thighs into bite sized cubes / chunks.
In a bowl, mix together ginger garlic paste, salt, chilli powder, garam masala powder, coriander powder, and cumin powder to make the marinade.
Apply this marinade to the boneless chicken cubes, and let the chicken marinate in the spice mix for 2-4 hours in the refrigerator.
Before air frying the chicken cubes, ensure to thaw out the refrigerated chicken at room temperature for at-least 30 minutes.
Then right before you are ready to air fry the chicken cubes, add a little oil to the marinade and mix it in. Not too much, just 1 tablespoon oil for 3 pounds of chicken.
Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket - a little at a time - no more than 2 layers in one batch, and air fry @ 390 F for 20-25 minutes, ensuring to flip once at the 10 min mark.
Indian Spiced Air Fryer Chicken Bites are ready. Eat them as is, or use them to fill tacos, quesadillas, or even as pizza toppings.

Notes

The air frying time might vary depending on the quantity of chicken put per lot and the crispiness required.
The smaller the batch size, the faster the chicken cooks, and crispier it gets.
This is true for anything you put in the air fryer, but it’s best to monitor the chicken every few minutes, especially towards the end, so as to not over cook it.
Use thigh meat instead of breast meat, as it's easier to overcook breast meat in the air fryer, and the chicken will turn rubbery. Using thigh meat will ensure the chicken stays juicy while getting crispy.
Adding a little oil before air frying is optional, but highly recommended, because just one spoon of oil makes a significant difference to the taste and texture.

Stove-top Variation

You can always pan fry or deep fry the marinated chicken cubes on the stove-top instead of air frying them
If you are pan frying the chicken, it’s best to cut the chicken into palm sized pieces and pan fry. And then cut them into cubes later, once the chicken is cooked. That way, you wouldn’t have to deal with flipping all those small cubes on the pan. Pan fry for 3-5 minutes per side, depending on the size of the chicken pieces.
If you are deep frying the chicken, it's best to use chicken cubes, as they will fry faster. Deep fry the cubes in small batches for 3-5 mins per batch, depending on the size of the cubes and your batch.

Oven Bake Method

You can also bake the chicken in the oven at 350 F for 20-25 minutes, ensuring to flip once at the 10 minute mark. Though this method will not make the chicken super crispy.

Please note: The nutrition values are best estimates provided as a courtesy. The exact values can vary depending on the exact ingredients or brands used. If you rely on them for your specific diet and/or health issues, please consult a registered dietician or nutritionist.

Nutrition