Description
Tender, juicy chicken bites coated in a moist, cheesy breadcrumb crust—crispy on the outside, melt-in-your-mouth inside, perfect as a snack or appetizer.
Ingredients
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
Olive oil (for marinating)
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Paprika
A pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt and black pepper
Mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Breadcrumbs (or panko for extra crunch)
Optional: lemon juice, buttermilk, fresh herbs (thyme, parsley), Asiago cheese
Instructions
- **Marinate the Chicken**: In a bowl, toss chicken pieces with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Add a splash of lemon juice if using. Marinate at least 30 minutes.
- **Preheat Oven**: Heat oven to 375 °F (190 °C).
- **Prepare the Coating**: In one bowl, mix mayonnaise (or yogurt) with grated Parmesan. In another bowl, combine breadcrumbs (and any herbs or extra cheese).
- **Coat the Chicken**: Dip chicken into the mayo–Parmesan mixture, then press into breadcrumbs until evenly coated.
- **Bake**: Arrange bites on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 25–30 minutes, turning once, until golden and internal temperature reaches 165 °F (74 °C).
- **Rest & Serve**: Let rest briefly, then serve warm with your favorite dip.
Notes
- Substitute Greek yogurt for mayo for tang and moisture.
- Marinate in buttermilk overnight for extra tenderness.
- Use panko breadcrumbs for a lighter, crunchier crust.
- Add chopped fresh herbs (thyme, parsley) to the breadcrumb mix.
- Air-fry at 375 °F for 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway, for a crispier finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 30-minute marinate)
- Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
