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These Air Fryer Chicken Bites are perfectly juicy and bursting with flavor. The chicken is seasoned with zesty spices, air-fried to perfection, then tossed in a homemade zesty cilantro lime dressing. A delicious 20 minute dinner the whole family will love!
If you are looking for an easy-prep dinner the whole family will love, try this flavor-packed recipe for grilled chicken in the air fryer! It is slightly sweet and spicy with a hint of tangy citrus and made with simple healthy ingredients.
There are many ways to enjoy this cilantro lime chicken recipe! Use it in tacos, burritos, rice bowls, wraps, taco soup, or on salads or nachos. Or pair with simple sides like black beans and chips and salsa for a lighter meal. This is also a fantastic recipe to make ahead for busier weeks so you can get a quick and healthy meal on the table!
Want more main dish air fryer recipes? Try my easy keto chicken tenders, air fryer buffalo wings, or air fryer fish recipes.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Quick & Easy. All you need is 10 minutes of prep and 12 minutes of hands-free cooking in the air fryer to get dinner on the table.
- Grilled Flavor. Get the delicious smoky flavor of grilled chicken without needing an outdoor grill!
- Healthy. This protein-rich dish uses simple whole-food ingredients, with no added junk.
Ingredients
Below are the simple ingredients you will need to make this recipe. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page to see the exact amounts for each ingredient.
- Chicken: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Alternatively, you can use chicken thighs for a juicy fattier flavor.
- Avocado Oil: Full of healthy fats and has a high smoke point suitable for cooking in the air fryer. Alternatively, you can use olive oil.
- Seasonings: A delicious combination of garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, and salt.
- Lime: Use a microplane zester or grater to lightly grate the peel of a lime to make lime zest. You will also be using the lime to make fresh lime juice.
- Honey: Adds a slight sweetness to the dressing in this cilantro chicken recipe. Alternatively, you can use sugar free maple syrup if you are on a low carb or keto diet.
- Cilantro: Wash fresh cilantro leaves under cold running water to remove any debris or dirt before chopping.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken
Below are photos and recipe steps so you can easily make this recipe at home. You will also need an air fryer, a knife, a cutting board, cooking spray, and a small and medium mixing bowl.
Season
Preheat the air fryer to 380ºF. Toss the chicken pieces in the oil until well coated, then set aside. In a medium bowl stir together the garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder, salt, and lime zest. Toss the oiled chicken in the seasoning mixture until well combined.
Air Fry
Once the air fryer is preheated, spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and carefully add the chicken bites in the air fryer in a single layer. Cook the chicken breast in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes (or until internal temperature reaches 165ºF), flipping halfway through.
Toss
While the chicken cooks, stir together the ingredients for the cilantro lime chicken dressing in a small bowl. Once the air fryer chicken breast bites finish cooking, carefully remove them from the air fryer and place them in a large bowl. Toss with the cilantro lime sauce and serve!
Serve
There are many ways to enjoy this versatile dish! Below are some of our favorite recipes to serve with air fryer cilantro lime chicken bites.
Tips and Tricks
- Cut the chicken into uniform pieces to ensure the bites cook evenly in the air fryer. Additionally, place them in a single layer so they do not crowd and can get nice and crispy.
- Preheat the air fryer so the temperature is at its peak when you cook the chicken. This will make the bites extra crispy.
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush it with additional avocado oil to keep the chicken from sticking.
Air Fryer Chicken Bites FAQ
Allow air fried grilled chicken to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer or the microwaves. This recipe also freezes well. Store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight then reheat in the air fryer or the microwave.
Yes, this recipe is gluten free when prepared as described.
Yes! This is an easy recipe to make ahead. You can even marinate the chicken in the seasoning rub for 1 hour or overnight if you have the time for an even richer flavor. Then cook the marinated chicken in the air fryer when you are ready to eat. This is also a great recipe to cook and eat throughout the week or freeze to enjoy quick-fix meals when you need them.
This recipe makes super flavorful boneless chicken bites in the air fryer as is, but you can also make alterations per your taste. Make it more spicy by using chipotle chili powder or stirring in a large pinch of cayenne pepper. You can also experiment with different citrus flavors like lemon or orange instead of lime. Additionally, you can make creamy cilantro lime chicken by mixing in a dollop of sour cream.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 1 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tsp EACH garlic powder and smoked paprika
- ½ tsp EACH chili powder, onion powder and salt
- Zest of 1 lime
Cilantro Lime Mixture
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tbsp honey*, (sugar free maple syrup if keto)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- Juice of 1 lime
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees.
- Toss the chicken pieces in the oil and set aside.
- Stir together the garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder, salt, and lime zest in a medium bowl. Toss the oiled chicken in the seasoning mixture until well coated.
- Once preheated, spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray and carefully add the chicken pieces in a single layer. Air fry for 10-12 minutes (or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees), flipping halfway through.
- While the chicken cooks, stir together the cilantro lime mixture ingredients.
- Once the chicken is cooked, carefully remove it from the air fryer and place in a large bowl. Toss with the cilantro-lime mixture and serve!
Notes
- This chicken is slightly sweet but citrusy from the lime zest/juice. It also has plenty of cilantro flavor!
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This chicken also freezes really well.
- This would be great in taco soup, wraps, salads, and in tacos/burritos!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
