Baked Spicy Chicken Bites
Satisfy your craving for fiery flavor with Spicy Chicken Bites! These mouthwatering morsels are seasoned with spicy, smoky, and savory ground spices, then baked to crisp and juicy excellence. Perfect served as a crowd-pleasing party appetizer or as a protein-packed main course.
Do you love bite-size chicken dishes like the “spicy chicken bites” from Longhorn Steakhouse, but you’re trying to avoid heavily breaded, deep-fried foods. In that case, you’ll definitely want to add these spicy chicken bites to your healthy recipe Rolodex!
It’s NOT a Longhorn copycat recipe, per se. However, it’s guaranteed to make your taste buds do a happy dance. Imagine tender chunks of boneless, non-breaded chicken coated in a delectable blend of seasonings, adding heat to each bite.
I recommend baking the seasoned pieces of chicken in the oven to achieve a crispy, golden exterior with melt-in-your-mouth meat, but you can just as well bake them in the air fryer for an even healthier twist with the same satisfying crunch.
Whichever method you choose, these bites are ready in no time, making them ideal for busy weeknights with your favorite sides or impromptu gatherings accompanied by an array of dipping sauces and other tasty finger foods to complement all of that spice!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick and easy. All you need is a short list of ingredients and about 20 minutes to bake a batch of these bites.
- Great as an appetizer and entree. These bites will smash at your next gathering or weeknight dinner table.
- Adjustable level of heat. You can easily tailor the seasonings to suit your tastes, whether you prefer a subtle warmth or blazing heat.
- NO breading. It’s the perfect gluten-free and keto dupe for less healthy breaded chicken dishes, like spicy chicken nuggets, boneless wings, and popcorn chicken.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Chicken – I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but chicken tenderloins and boneless, skinless chicken thighs also work. Remove any excess fat or gristle and adjust the cooking time as needed.
- Cooking spray – Spraying the baking dish with healthy oils like avocado or olive oil helps prevent the chicken from sticking.
- Paprika – There are a few types of paprika to choose from. Sweet paprika is mild and slightly sweet, whereas smoky paprika has a deeper flavor with BBQ-like smokiness. Opt for hot paprika if you can handle the extra heat.
- Cayenne pepper – This ground spice is quite spicy, and a little bit of it goes a long way, so you may need to adjust the amount or leave it out to accommodate your heat tolerance. You can also use dried buffalo seasoning here.
- Garlic powder – Incorporating this aromatic spice balances the heat with a contrasting savory flavor.
- Onion powder – It adds depth, complexity, and a slightly sweet, umami quality.
- Salt – Preferably coarse salt, enhances the overall taste and adds a desirable texture.
- Black pepper – It adds a touch of pungent, peppery heat.
- Avocado oil – Or olive oil; coating the chicken with a thin layer helps the seasonings adhere to the meat and encourages even browning with lightly crisped edges.
- Butter – As the chicken bakes, a tiny bit of butter melts over the top of each piece, making it extra juicy and flavorful.
How to make baked spicy chicken bites
Step 1: Prepare for baking. Preheat the oven to 420℉, and grease a 9×13” baking dish with oil spray.
Step 2: Mix dry spices. In a small bowl, whisk the paprika, cayenne (or dried buffalo seasoning), garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until combined.
Step 3: Season chicken. Place the chicken pieces in the prepared baking dish, and drizzle with avocado oil. Sprinkle the spice mixture all over, and toss until evenly coated. Then spread in a single layer, and place the pieces of sliced butter on top.
Step 4: Bake, rest, and serve. Bake, uncovered, for 16-18, flipping halfway through. Let the spicy chicken bites rest before serving.
Recipe tips
- Cut into bite-size chicken nuggets. Before applying the seasonings, cut the chicken into approximately 1½” even-size nuggets. They can be square-shaped, rectangular, or any shape you like!
- Preheat with patience. Allowing your oven to fully preheat to 420°F before baking ensures evenly cooked tender chicken pieces.
- Check for doneness. You can use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached a safe 165℉ or simply cut one open to ensure the juices run clear and there is no pink.
- Rest before serving. Letting the chicken bites rest for 3-5 minutes after baking allows the flavorful juices to redistribute, making the meat extra tender and juicy.
Variations
Consider marinating – Combine a little oil with spices like paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, black pepper, and salt for a simple marinade. Or, try Mexican chicken marinade or grilled chicken marinade.
Cool down the heat – If you prefer spicy chicken bites on the milder side, use less cayenne or omit it entirely. You can also swap it with dried buffalo seasoning (Franks and Kinders make great options) ancho chili powder for a sweet, earthy dimension with less spicy heat.
Add smoky flavor – Opt for good quality smoked paprika over regular paprika to give the chicken bites rich, smoky BBQ undertones, and pair them with BBQ sauce for dipping.
Toss in sauce – Add the crispy baked chicken bites to a mixing bowl with buffalo sauce, Korean BBQ, teriyaki, or your favorite wing sauce. Then toss until they’re drenched in the sauce like boneless chicken wings.
“Chicken on a stick” – Before cooking, for a fun handheld version, thread the raw, seasoned chicken chunks on skewers with bell peppers, onions, and cherry tomatoes. For grilling guidance, head to my grilled honey chicken kabobs recipe.
Make it a meal
These spicy chicken bites are a fantastic party snack served with various dipping sauces, such as buffalo, BBQ, ranch, bleu cheese dressing, or honey mustard.
I like serving them as a meal over a bed of fluffy rice or cauliflower rice drizzled with the flavorful pan juices and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Here are more ways to make these crisp and juicy chicken bites the main course:
- Serve the bites on top of hearty salads like this BLT salad or this Cuban avocado salad for a boost of mouthwatering protein.
- Make loaded mashed potatoes, loaded cheesy fries, or loaded nachos EXTRA loaded with spicy chicken bites.
- Stuff the chicken inside a baked sweet potato with shredded cheese and chives! 😋
- Fill a bun, hoagie roll, tortilla, or lettuce wrap with chicken bites and your favorite fresh toppings and condiments.
- Use the chicken as a topping for store-bought or homemade pizzas like this barbecue chicken flatbread or this gourmet chicken pizza.
Storing and freezing
Storing: Let the spicy chicken bites cool completely, then place them in an airtight bag or container and store them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Freezing: After cooling to room temperature, place the chicken in a freezer-safe zip-top bag, and keep it frozen for 1-2 months.
FAQs
If you’d rather cook the seasoned chunks of chicken in your air fryer, follow these simple instructions: First, preheat the air fryer to 400℉. Meanwhile, toss the chicken in oil and seasonings, then place the pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Sure, but there must be room in the dish to do so without overcrowding the chicken and veggies. It’s best to opt for vegetables that will cook at the same rate as the chicken bites, like thick spears of asparagus, large broccoli florets, 1” potato chunks, brussels sprouts, etc.
More crowd-pleasing chicken appetizer recipes
- Crockpot BBQ Pineapple Chicken
- Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Skewers
- Savory Peach Chicken Kabobs
- Shredded Buffalo Chicken Sliders
If you love this gluten-free spicy chicken nugget recipe, I would be so grateful if you could leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below. I love reading your comments and feedback!
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Baked Spicy Chicken Bites
Equipment
- 9×13 baking dish
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast sliced into 1" cubes
- Avocado oil cooking spray or olive oil spray
- 2 tsp paprika you can use smoked paprika for a smokey BBQ flavor
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper *for less heat use 1/4- 1/8 tsp *see notes for other recommendations
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp avocado oil can also use olive oil
- 2-3 tbsp butter sliced into small pieces
- *Optional: chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 420 degrees F. and spray a 9×13 baking dish with avocado oil spray.
- In a small bowl, whisk together: paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, salt. and pepper until combined.
- Spread the chicken pieces, evenly, in the greased baking dish and drizzle the avocado oil on top.
- Sprinkle the spice mixture all over the chicken and toss well to evenly coat all pieces.
- Place the pieces of sliced butter on top.
- Bake, uncovered, for 8 minutes. Stir well, and cook for 8-10 minutes more until chicken reaches a safe 165 degrees F.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes to redistribute the juices and serve with pan juices over rice or with your favorite buffalo or BBQ sauce. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
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These bites were excellent! I did marinate in oil and spices. I used the exact measurements given for the spices and they were perfect. The spice level was just right. Thank you for sharing this recipe, I will be making it again and again.
Hi Denise! I’m so glad that you enjoyed them! ๐