Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Bites (No Breading)

Name: Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Bites (No Breading)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 9 min
Total time: 14 min
Ingredients: 1.5 pounds chicken (cut into 1-inch pieces); 1 tbsp avocado oil; 3/4 tsp garlic powder; 3/4 tsp onion powder; 3/4 tsp paprika; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 3 tbsp hot honey (more or less to taste); 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tsp Dijon mustard

Air fryer hot honey chicken bites are crispy, sweet, and a little spicy! Combine tender chicken and a homemade hot honey glaze to create the perfect easy protein to add to bowls, wraps, or salads.

close up of hot honey chicken bites on a black air fryer tray with a wooden spatula.

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Why I Love These Hot Honey Chicken Bites
Ingredients for Hot Honey Chicken Nuggets
How to Make Hot Honey Chicken Bites
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Top Tip
Recipe FAQs
Other Healthy Chicken Recipes to Try
Pairing
Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Bites (No Breading)

Why I Love These Hot Honey Chicken Bites

Not your typical boring chicken: Hot honey glazed chicken bites pack a punch of flavor and a bit of spice. They are slightly sweet and a little spicy, the perfect combo!
Healthy chicken recipe: High-protein, lower in carbs than breaded chicken bites, and made with simple ingredients.
Fast and easy: Cooked in just 20 minutes, these chicken bites are the perfect base for meal prep or an easy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients for Hot Honey Chicken Nuggets

Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.

Chicken breast: Chicken breasts are the best shape to cut 1-inch bites.
Hot honey: Mike's Hot Honey is my favorite hot honey that delivers a slightly spicy, sweet flavor.
Dijon mustard: Adds tangy flavor and helps to thicken the glaze.
Apple cider vinegar: Balances out the sweetness of the honey. You can use lemon juice as a substitute.
Soy sauce: Use coconut aminos as a substitute.
Avocado oil: Avocado oil coats the chicken bites and creates a base for the hot honey glaze. Olive oil or butter also works.
Seasonings: Seasonings such as paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper are my favorite seasonings for chicken.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Hot Honey Chicken Bites

Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe with the best results. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.

raw chicken covered with seasonings in a glass bowl.

Step 1: Prepare and season the chicken

Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch even pieces. Add it to a large bowl along with the seasonings and avocado oil.

Step 2: Coat the chicken

Stir the chicken with a wooden spoon and evenly coat the meat with the seasonings. Whisk the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.

hot honey chicken bites on an air fryer tray.

Step 3: Air Fry Chicken Bites

Place the prepared chicken pieces on a tray and air fry them at 390 F for 4-5 minutes per side.

cooked hot honey chicken bites in a white dish with glaze.

Step 3: Coat and finish cooking

Remove chicken bites from the tray and evenly coat them in a dish with the glaze ingredients. Place them back on the air fryer tray and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes or until the glaze is slightly browned and the chicken is 165 F.

Hint: If you do not have an air fryer, you can make these in the oven! See the Recipe FAQs or the recipe card for instructions.

Variations

Here are some of my favorite variations for making chicken bites.

Spicy - add a drizzle of hot sauce or some red pepper flakes for even more heat.
Buffalo - in place of hot honey glaze, try making these with buffalo sauce.
Kid-friendly - use regular honey in place of hot honey (only children over 1 should have honey).

See this breaded chicken bites recipe on my site!

Equipment

I use a Ninja Foodi Air Fryer oven. I also use a meat thermometer to ensure my chicken is cooked.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Drizzle with a bit of avocado oil and reheat in the air fryer for one minute or until heated through.

These ingredients do/don't stand up well to freezing for X days/weeks/months.

Top Tip

Do not overcrowd or overcook the chicken. Place the chicken in a single layer on the air fryer pan and cook in multiple batches if necessary.

Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken and stop air frying once it registers 165 F.

Recipe FAQs

How can I make the glaze thicker?

If you want a thicker glaze, you can simmer it in a small saucepan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes before coating the chicken.

Can I make hot honey chicken bites in the oven?

To make these in the oven, preheat the oven to 425 F and prepare the chicken bites as directed in the instructions. Place prepared chicken on a sheet pan and bake for 7-8 minutes per side. Broil for 1-2 minutes at the end to add crisp. Toss with the glaze and serve.

How spicy are these?

The amount of spice will depend on how much hot honey you use and what type. However, using Mike's Hot Honey will provide a nicely balanced, sweet and spicy flavor.

Other Healthy Chicken Recipes to Try

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with hot honey chicken bites:

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