The best meal prep recipe you didn’t know you needed. With only 2 grams of carbs and packed with flavor, this spicy chicken bites recipe makes for a delicious appetizer, snack, or the base of a low-carb dinner.
“The perfect amount of heat for the perfect chicken bites. We all loved them so much that I will make this weekend to bring them to my neighborhood potluck. Thank you.” - Giangi Townsend
Bite-sized pieces of tender chicken seasoned in a spicy blend that will awaken your taste buds no matter how you eat them!
Whether you’re looking for an easy snack or a weeknight dinner, spicy chicken bites are a delicious and versatile option that can be enjoyed with your favorite dipping sauce or as part of a delicious meal (the same goes for teriyaki steak bites!).
Seasoned with both cayenne pepper and tabasco sauce, this spicy chicken bites recipe can be adjusted to suit your spicy preferences.
As a Certified Nutrition Coach, I love how versatile the recipe is and how easily it can fit into a high protein meal template.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Easy to make: With only 7 ingredients, most of them seasonings, the chicken bites are simple to whip up.
Healthy: Less is more, these bites are naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, and whole30-approved.
Versatile: Use them in pasta dishes, as an appetizer with BBQ dipping sauce, or just to munch on throughout the day.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: you’ll need to cut the chicken into small pieces so boneless and skinless breasts are necessary. This is so that they cook quickly, just like these crispy gluten-free Thai chicken bites.
Garlic powder you could use fresh garlic here but the powder helps coat the chicken more.
Salt: salt paired with spice is a classic flavor combo that leaves you wanting more.
Paprika: any paprika will work but smoked paprika will give the most flavor.
Cayenne pepper: this is where you can customize the intensity of the spice a little bit. Add in more if you want more potency.
Tabasco: or your favorite hot sauce! Again, the more you use the more spicy the chicken bites will be.
How To Make Chicken Bites
- Take the time to cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces
- Season the chicken by placing everything into a pasta baggie and tossing.
- Heat a pan over medium heat.
- Cook the chicken in the pan for 15-20 minutes until cooked through. Stir often.
Important Teaching Tips
This spicy chicken bites recipe is not extra spicy, it's just flavored nicely. If you want a big spice kick to opt for the full ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper and 1 teaspoon tabasco. Or, add in ½ a teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
That seasoning also works on something like oven-baked bacon-wrapped steak bites or beef strip loin too.
If you’re cooking in a cast iron pan, you’ll need about 2 tbs of cooking oil. However, if cooking in a nonstick pan you’ll only need 1.
I like my spicy chicken bites slightly drier so I drain the juices from cooking about halfway through.
Make sure to chop the chicken into bite-sized form. Chopping frozen chicken actually makes this easier but it will make cooking times longer.
Flavor Variations
Thai: Add in 1-2 tbs of thai chili sauce to the bag when tossing for a sweet and spicy flavor.
Savory: Mix in a bit of homemade teriyaki sauce to coat them in a sticky, blended sauce.
How To Enjoy Them
You can use these spicy chicken bites as an appetizer or snack all on their own (just like dehydrated chicken) and pair them with your favorite dipping sauce. We like any of the following:
- Spicy thai sauce
- Homemade ranch
- Homemade BBQ sauce
Or, you can use the spicy chicken bites as a meal prep recipe for the base of something like chicken alfredo pasta, or on top of a tangy lemon noodle bowl or fattoush salad.
In the summer the chicken bites are a great compliment to a creamy cucumber onion salad too for warm, lazy nights.
Honestly, I use them most just to snack on to help boost my daily protein intake. Learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet and why you want to amp it up!
Dinner Time Doesn’t Have to Be a Daily Struggle
It’s 5 PM, the kids are hungry, and you have no idea what to make. Sound familiar?
As a mom of three, I know the stress of trying to cook healthy, protein-packed meals when time is tight and energy is low. That’s why I created The Busy Mom’s Protein Cookbook—a collection of 20+ quick, whole-food dinners that come together in 30 minutes or less.
No more scrambling for last-minute meals. No more staring at the fridge in frustration. Just simple, high-protein dinners your family will love—without the stress.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken Bites
You want to make sure the chicken bites are completely white inside. If you’re unsure, use a meat thermometer and make sure that the bites are above 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Store them in an air-tight container and chicken bites will last 2-3 days after cooking.
Other Chicken Recipes You'll Love
Gluten-Free Spicy Chicken Bites Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts boneless & skinless
- 2 tbs garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon salt
- ⅛-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ to 1 teaspoon tabasco
- 2 tbs oil for cooking
Instructions
- Chop each chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and place them in a large plastic baggie. Toss in the spices and Tabasco sauce.
- Toss the chicken in the bag to coat.
- Heat a pan over just over medium heat with the cooking oil (we use avocado).
- Place the chicken in the pan and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently until cooked through and slightly golden brown.
Notes
- These spicy chicken bites are not extra spicy, they’re just flavored nicely. If you want a big spice kick opt for the full ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper and 1 teaspoon tabasco.
- If you’re cooking in a cast iron pan, you’ll need about 2 tbs of cooking oil. However, if cooking in a nonstick pan you’ll only need 1.
- I like my chicken bites slightly drier so I drain the juices from cooking about halfway through.
- Flavor swaps: if you want to amp up or change the flavor you can add in 1-2 tbs of thai chili sauce to the bag when tossing or a bit of homemade teriyaki sauce. Depends on your preference.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Giangi Townsend
The perfect amount of heat for the perfect chicken bites. We all loved them so much that I will make this weekend to bring them to my neighborhood potluck. Thank you.
fitasamamabear
Yay! Glad everyone enjoyed them.
Claire
These were delicious!
I forgot to get the salmon out of the freezer to cook for dinner tonight and just had some chicken chunks (that I had planned to make into homemade nuggets for the kids dinner and the freezer)
So I forgot about making some for the freezer and used the spare chicken to make hubby and I dinner.
I didn’t have any hot sauce 😳 so I used Thai chilli like you suggested and the chicken was delicious!!!
We had it with some Asian greens and sticky rice and it was delicious.
Hubby didn’t even know I had planned crispy salmon and rice 🤪
Thank you.
fitasamamabear
The thai chili ones are my personal favorite too, they're just so yummy! Glad everyone liked them! Ps. I forget to thaw things EVERY time haha
Addison
These chicken bites were great for meal prep! I loved them and this recipe was so quick and easy.
fitasamamabear
Glad it worked for you!
Madison
This cooked perfectly and the flavor was perfectly spicy!
fitasamamabear
Wahoo!
Rose
These spicy chicken bites are perfect! I topped them over a salad and made a chicken salad bowl. So good!
fitasamamabear
I use them on salad too, so yummy!
Inah VA
Yum!
Jill
My husband and his friends came over for a beer night so I made this as an appetizer and man, they loved it so much that I cooked another plate for them with added spice for the second plate so added more Cayenne and Tabasco as suggested. Thanks!
fitasamamabear
oh my god that's too awesome!
Jane
These spicy chicken bites were fantastic! I drained the juices halfway through cooking as suggested, and they came out perfectly. I added a teaspoon of Tabasco and I really enjoyed the heat. I'll try this recipe for meal prep next time.
chhavi
I have recently started eating high-protein meals, and this recipe has been a godsent! Thankyou so much...I air fried it and it came out great!
Barb
These were a hit at dinner! Got the spiciness I like, just the right kick, and they cooked up perfectly! Quick and easy!
fitasamamabear
Yay! Always nice when it's super simple.
Molly
I used chicken thighs instead of breasts and this turned out just delicious. Not too spicy, but very flavorful. No leftovers! Will be adding this to our meal rotation!