Air Fryer Diced Chicken: Perfect Timing For Tender Meat

Air fryer diced chicken is a quick and easy meal option. It takes just 7-11 minutes to cook, depending on the temperature of your air fryer and the size of your chicken pieces. The chicken is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 160-165°F. You can season the chicken with lemon pepper, cajun seasoning, or all-purpose seasoning, and serve it with a sauce of your choice, such as garlic butter or lemon butter sauce.

Cooking time depends on the size of the chicken cubes

The cooking time also depends on the type of chicken you are using. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs and chicken tenders are often not as thick as chicken breast, so they may be done cooking in 9 minutes.

To cook diced chicken in an air fryer, first spray the air fryer basket with olive oil nonstick spray. Then, add the seasoned cubed chicken to the basket in a single layer. Cook for 7-11 minutes, shaking the basket or flipping the chicken every few minutes for even cooking. The chicken bites are done when the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F. After cooking, let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Cooking time depends on the temperature of the air fryer

It's important to note that the cooking time also depends on the size of the chicken pieces. For even cooking, it's recommended to cut the chicken into similar-sized cubes. The chicken bites are done when the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F.

To cook diced chicken in an air fryer, you can follow these steps:

• Cut boneless chicken breast into cubes.
• Season the chicken cubes with your choice of seasonings, such as lemon pepper, cajun seasoning, or all-purpose seasoning.
• Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil nonstick spray.
• Add the chicken pieces to the basket in a single layer. You may need to do this in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer.
• Cook for 7-11 minutes, shaking the basket or flipping the chicken pieces every few minutes for even cooking.
• Rest the chicken bites for 5 minutes before serving.

You can also toss the chicken bites in a sauce of your choice, such as garlic butter, bang bang sauce, or lemon butter sauce, to enhance the taste.

How to season the chicken

To cook diced chicken in an air fryer, you should cook it for 8-10 minutes at 200C/400F. Shake the basket once during cooking.

There are many ways to season chicken for an air fryer. Here are some ideas:

• Olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper
• Olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper
• Lemon pepper
• Cajun seasoning
• All-purpose seasoning
• Tandoori seasoning, ginger garlic paste, yoghurt, lemon juice
• Brazilian spice mix: oregano, paprika, cumin, black pepper, coriander, thyme, basil, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg

To season the chicken, brush the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle the seasoning blend on both sides of the chicken, rubbing it in with your hands. You can also add salt to the chicken and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before cooking.

How to serve the chicken

Once you've cooked your diced chicken in the air fryer, you can serve it in a variety of ways. If you want to keep things simple, just season your chicken with salt and pepper before cooking, and then serve it as it is. Alternatively, you could experiment with different seasonings like lemon pepper, cajun seasoning, or all-purpose seasoning. You could also toss your cooked chicken in a sauce of your choice, such as garlic butter, bang bang sauce, or lemon butter sauce.

If you want to get a bit more creative, you could use your air-fried diced chicken as a topping for a salad or a grain bowl. You could also add it to a wrap or sandwich with some vegetables and a sauce or spread of your choice. If you're looking for a heartier meal, you could use the chicken as a filling for a quesadilla or taco.

Another option is to serve your air-fried diced chicken as an appetiser or snack. You could skewer the chicken pieces on toothpicks and serve them with a dipping sauce, or you could simply serve them in a bowl with some napkins for guests to help themselves.

Finally, don't forget that presentation is important. No matter how you choose to serve your air-fried diced chicken, make sure to plate it nicely and add some garnishes or fresh herbs to enhance the flavour and visual appeal.

How to prepare the air fryer basket

To prepare the air fryer basket, spray it with an olive oil nonstick spray. This will help to ensure the chicken doesn't stick to the basket. Add the chicken pieces to the basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. You may need to cook the chicken in batches.

Before adding the chicken to the basket, cut the chicken into cubes of a similar size. This will ensure the chicken cooks evenly. You can use a sharp knife and a plastic cutting board or kitchen shears to cut the chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs and chicken tenders are often thinner than chicken breasts, so they may cook more quickly.

Once the chicken is in the basket, you can add seasoning. You can experiment with different seasonings like lemon pepper, cajun seasoning, or all-purpose seasoning. After seasoning, the chicken is ready to be cooked in the air fryer.

After cooking, remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. You can serve the chicken bites with a sauce of your choice, such as garlic butter, bang bang sauce, or lemon butter sauce.

Frequently asked questions