Description
Easy Oven Baked Chicken Bites with juicy chicken, crispy coating, and flavorful seasoning – a quick, crowd-pleasing recipe!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ pounds (680g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1½ cups (150g) panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup (45g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons (6g) garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons (6g) onion powder
- 1 teaspoon (3g) paprika (sweet or smoked)
- 1 teaspoon (5g) salt
- ½ teaspoon (1g) black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon (0.5g) cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- Cooking spray or 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare Your Station Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, then place a wire rack on top and lightly spray with cooking spray. This setup ensures air circulation for maximum crispiness. Pat your chicken pieces dry with paper towels – this crucial step removes excess moisture that would otherwise prevent proper browning and crispiness.
- Step 2: Create Your Coating MixturesSet up your breading station with three shallow bowls. In the first bowl, combine the flour, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. In the second bowl, beat the eggs until smooth. For the third bowl, mix together the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, remaining salt, black pepper, and cayenne (if using). This three-step coating creates layers of flavor and the perfect texture.
- Step 3: Coat the Chicken Working with a few pieces at a time, dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Next, dip into the beaten eggs, allowing extra egg to drip off. Finally, press firmly into the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Place the breaded chicken bites on your prepared rack, leaving a small space between each piece to allow for proper air circulation.
- Step 4: Bake to Perfection Lightly spray the coated chicken bites with cooking spray or drizzle with olive oil – this helps achieve that beautiful golden color. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until the coating turns a deep golden brown and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). For extra crispiness, broil for the final 1-2 minutes, but watch carefully to prevent burning. Let your Easy Oven Baked Chicken Bites rest for 3-5 minutes before serving – this allows the juices to redistribute and the coating to set for maximum crunchiness.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 chicken bites
- Calories: 315 calories per serving
- Sugar: 1g sugar
- Sodium: 635mg sodium
- Fat: 10g total fat
- Saturated Fat: 3g saturated fat
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g unsaturated fat
- Trans Fat: 0g trans fat
- Carbohydrates: 23g total carbs
- Fiber: 1g fiber
- Protein: 30g protein
- Cholesterol: 126mg cholesterol