Honey Garlic Chicken Bites (Printable version)

Tender chicken glazed in honey garlic served alongside crisp air-fried broccoli for a flavorful dish.

# Ingredient list:

→ Chicken Bites

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
05 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika

→ Honey Garlic Sauce

06 - 1/4 cup honey
07 - 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
10 - 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 2 teaspoons water

→ Broccoli

11 - 2 cups broccoli florets
12 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
13 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

15 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional
16 - 2 green onions, sliced, optional

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
02 - In a mixing bowl, toss chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, pepper, and paprika until evenly coated.
03 - Arrange chicken bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking halfway through, until golden and cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove and set aside.
04 - While chicken cooks, toss broccoli florets with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl.
05 - Place broccoli in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 6 to 8 minutes, shaking halfway, until tender and slightly crisp.
06 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and vinegar. Bring to a simmer. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until thickened.
07 - Add cooked chicken bites to the saucepan and toss to coat in the honey garlic sauce.
08 - Serve chicken bites over the air-fried broccoli. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • Your dinner hits the table in 30 minutes, leaving you actual free time on weeknights instead of being chained to the stove.
  • The honey garlic sauce tastes like you spent hours developing it, but really it's just five ingredients simmered until glossy and perfect.
  • Everything cooks in one appliance, which means your kitchen stays cooler and cleanup is minimal enough that you won't dread it.
02 -
  • The cornstarch slurry is what separates a glossy coat from a runny mess, so don't skip it or use cornstarch straight—it won't hydrate properly and you'll end up with lumps.
  • Not shaking the basket halfway through cooking is how you end up with one side perfectly golden and the other side pale, so set a mental timer or phone reminder if you tend to forget.
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket means some pieces steam instead of fry, so resist the urge to cram everything in at once even though you want dinner immediately.
03 -
  • Pat your chicken dry before seasoning it because any surface moisture prevents that beautiful golden crust from forming and traps steam instead.
  • Make the sauce while the chicken is cooking so everything comes together at exactly the right moment instead of cold sauce meeting hot chicken.
  • Don't skip garnishing with sesame seeds and green onions even though they seem optional—they add crunch and brightness that makes the whole dish feel finished instead of rushed.
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