25-Minute Sweet & Sour Chicken Bites (Air Fryer) Recipe
These 25-Minute Sweet & Sour Chicken Bites are a quick and irresistible appetizer or meal made in the air fryer. Tender chicken breast pieces are coated in cornstarch and egg, air-fried to crispy perfection, then tossed in a tangy sweet and sour sauce for a flavorful punch. Perfect for a speedy weeknight dinner or entertaining snack.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American-Chinese Fusion
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Bites
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil (for air fryer basket)
Sauce
- 1/2 cup sweet and sour sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) and allow it to preheat for a few minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Season the chicken: Sprinkle the chicken pieces evenly with salt and black pepper to enhance their natural flavor.
- Coat the chicken: Dip each chicken piece first into the cornstarch, making sure they are lightly covered, then dip them into the beaten eggs to create a crisp outer layer once cooked.
- Prepare the air fryer basket: Lightly brush or spray the air fryer basket with vegetable oil to prevent sticking and promote browning.
- Arrange chicken in basket: Place the coated chicken pieces in a single layer inside the air fryer basket to allow hot air to circulate evenly around each piece.
- Cook the chicken: Air fry the chicken bites for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time to ensure they become golden and crispy on all sides.
- Toss with sauce: After cooking, immediately toss the crispy chicken bites in the sweet and sour sauce to coat them evenly with the tangy glaze.
- Serve: Serve the sweet and sour chicken bites right away while hot for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, let the chicken pieces rest for 5 minutes before dipping in eggs and cornstarch.
- Make sure chicken pieces are of uniform size for even cooking.
- You can substitute sweet and sour sauce with homemade or store-bought versions based on preference.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the chicken bites in a conventional oven at 400°F (204°C) for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Use an oil spray for easier and more even coating of the air fryer basket.
Keywords: sweet and sour chicken, air fryer chicken bites, quick chicken recipe, crispy chicken bites, easy appetizer, tangy chicken, 25-minute chicken
