JUICY TASTY BBQ Chicken Bites in the Air fryer - no breading | Easy Homemade chicken nuggets

bread crumbs

🥗Healthier: oats

💰Cheaper: crushed crackers

Oats provide fiber while crushed crackers are often cheaper.

barbecue sauce

🥗Healthier: homemade BBQ sauce

💰Cheaper: ketchup + vinegar

Homemade BBQ sauce can be lower in sugar, and ketchup + vinegar is a budget-friendly option.

ground chicken

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground beef

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground beef is often less expensive.

brown sugar

🥗Healthier: coconut sugar

💰Cheaper: white sugar

Coconut sugar is less processed, while white sugar is typically cheaper.

To a bowl, add chicken pieces.

Add olive oil and mix.

Mix together salt, pepper, paprika, garlic and onion powder, and Italian seasoning and sprinkle over the chicken pieces.

Mix well to coat the chicken and let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes.

Place seasoned chicken pieces into the air fryer basket and spread them around.

Air fry at 400F for 8-10 minutes until the temperature is 165 degrees and above.

Halfway through, give the basket a gentle shake.

Continue cooking until the chicken is cooked through, checking with a meat thermometer to ensure the temperature is 165 degrees and above.

Remove the chicken from the air fryer basket and add it to a large mixing bowl.

To a bowl, add the BBQ sauce and hot sauce and mix together.

Pour over the cooked chicken and gently mix/toss until all of the chicken has been well coated.

Place them back into the air fryer and air fry at 400F for an additional 4-5 minutes or to your liking.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens