Chicken Bites Crispy Juicy (Printable version)
Buttermilk-marinated chicken fried to a golden, crisp coating, tender inside and ideal for snacking or parties.
# What you need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.1 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
→ Marinade
02 - 1/2 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Breading
07 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
08 - 1/4 cup corn starch
09 - 1 teaspoon paprika
10 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
11 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ For Frying
14 - Vegetable oil, as needed for deep frying
# How to make it:
01 - In a mixing bowl, combine buttermilk, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Add chicken pieces and mix to evenly coat. Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes to enhance tenderness.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, corn starch, paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper if desired, salt, and black pepper until uniformly blended.
03 - Fill a deep frying pan or deep fryer with vegetable oil and heat to 350°F.
04 - Remove chicken pieces from marinade, letting excess liquid drain. Dredge each piece thoroughly in the flour mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
05 - Carefully fry chicken in batches for 3 to 4 minutes per batch, or until crisp, golden brown, and fully cooked. Drain on paper towels.
06 - Arrange chicken bites while hot and serve immediately with preferred dipping sauce.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- You can have crispy, flavorful chicken bites in half an hour with pantry staples and almost no prep.
- The marinade guarantees juicy, tender results—no one believes they’re homemade.
02 -
- If you rush the marinating, the chicken just isn’t as juicy—it’s worth the wait.
- I once skipped the cornstarch and got soggy results; don’t make my mistake.
03 -
- Coat the chicken just before frying so the crust stays crisp and doesn’t get gummy.
- A quick rest before serving lets the breading set and stay crunchy longer.