Description
Succulent air fryer sweet and spicy bacon wrapped chicken bites deliver a perfect blend of flavors and textures. Crispy bacon exterior and juicy chicken interior make these appetizers irresistible for any gathering you’ll enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts (about 1 lb/450g), cut into 1-inch cubes
- 8–10 bacon slices, cut in half
- ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2 tbsps honey or maple syrup
- 1 tbsp hot sauce
Instructions
- Preparation: Trim chicken breasts into uniform cubes, ensuring consistent sizing for even cooking and aesthetic presentation.
- Wrapping: Envelop each chicken cube with a half bacon slice, anchoring securely with a toothpick to maintain structural integrity during air frying.
- Seasoning: Combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper into a robust spice blend, thoroughly mixing to distribute flavors evenly.
- Coating: Meticulously dust each bacon-wrapped chicken morsel with the spice mixture, creating a comprehensive flavor profile that will caramelize and intensify during cooking.
- Air Fryer Setup: Preheat air fryer to 375°F, ensuring optimal temperature for achieving crispy exterior and juicy interior.
- Cooking Process: Arrange seasoned chicken bites in a single layer within the air fryer basket, maintaining space between pieces to facilitate uniform crisping and heat circulation.
- Finishing Touches: Air fry for 12-15 minutes, rotating halfway through, and brush with a honey-hot sauce glaze during final cooking moments to enhance flavor complexity and create a glossy finish.
- Serving: Verify internal chicken temperature reaches 165°F, remove from air fryer, rest briefly, and plate with complementary dipping sauces for a gourmet appetizer experience.
Notes
- Trim with Precision: Cut chicken into uniform 1-inch cubes to ensure consistent cooking and prevent uneven texture.
- Bacon Wrapping Technique: Wrap bacon tightly and secure with toothpicks to prevent unwrapping during air frying, creating a perfect crispy exterior.
- Seasoning Distribution: Coat chicken thoroughly in spice mixture by gently tossing or rolling to guarantee maximum flavor penetration and even coverage.
- Prevent Overcrowding: Arrange chicken bites in a single layer with small gaps between pieces to allow hot air circulation, achieving optimal crispiness and preventing steaming.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg