Baked Spicy Chicken Bites

overhead photo of a pan of spicy chicken bites with fresh parsley on top

Tender and juicy bite-size chicken bites tossed in a flavorful spice mixture with a bit of heat.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 16

Total Time 21

Servings

Calories 253kcal

Author Amee

Equipment

9x13 baking dish

Ingredients

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast sliced into 1" cubes
Avocado oil cooking spray or olive oil spray
2 teaspoon paprika you can use smoked paprika for a smokey BBQ flavor
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper *for less heat use ¼- ⅛ teaspoon *see notes for other recommendations
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1.5 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoon avocado oil can also use olive oil
2-3 tablespoon butter sliced into small pieces
*Optional: chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 420 degrees F. and spray a 9x13 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

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 ancho chili powder for a sweet, earthy dimension with less spicy heat, or use dried buffalo seasoning (Franks and Kinders make good ones) in place of the cayenne and paprika.

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.

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