Skip the takeout and make Air Fryer Honey Sesame Chicken Bites right at home in under 20 minutes. Bite-sized chicken breast pieces are air-fried until golden and crispy on the outside, then tossed in a sticky, sweet-and-savory honey sesame glaze that clings to every piece.
The secret to ultra-crispy air fryer chicken without deep frying is Tossing Cut Chicken in Cornstarch and Baking Powder Before Spraying with Oil. The cornstarch creates a delicate outer crust that seals in juices while holding onto the sticky honey-soy glaze.
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Recipe
- Faster Than Takeout: Cooks in just 10 to 12 minutes in the air fryer basket.
- Healthier Crunch: Uses a fraction of the oil compared to traditional deep frying while keeping the exterior crackly.
- Sticky Honey Garlic Glaze: The perfect balance of raw honey, soy sauce, garlic, and rich toasted sesame oil.
- Meal Prep Friendly: Reheats quickly in the air fryer to regain its crispiness.
Key Ingredients Overview
- Chicken: 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (cut into 1-inch bite-sized cubes).
- Crispy Coating: 2 tablespoons cornstarch, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and 1 tablespoon cooking oil spray.
- Honey Sesame Glaze: ⅓ cup honey, 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari), 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil, 2 minced garlic cloves, and ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger.
- Glaze Thickener: 1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon cold water.
- Finishers: 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds and 2 sliced green onions.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1.Prep Air Fryer & Season Chicken:3 min.
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes. Pat 1½ lbs cubed chicken dry with paper towels. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken cubes with 2 tablespoons cornstarch, ½ teaspoon baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
2.Air Fry to Golden Perfection:10-12 min.
Arrange chicken cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket (do not overcrowd; cook in two batches if necessary). Generously spray the chicken with cooking oil spray. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden brown and cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
3.Simmer Sticky Glaze:3 min.
While chicken cooks, combine honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then stir in the cornstarch-water slurry. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until sauce thickens into a glossy glaze.
4.Toss, Garnish & Serve Hot:1 min.
Transfer crispy air-fried chicken bites to a large bowl. Pour the warm honey sesame glaze over the chicken and toss immediately until well coated. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions, and serve over warm steamed rice!
Expert Tips for Success
- Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: Leave space between chicken pieces so hot air can circulate freely; crowding causes the chicken to steam instead of crisp up.
- Pat Chicken Completely Dry: Removing moisture from the surface of the chicken before adding cornstarch guarantees a crispier coating.
- Use Chicken Thighs for Extra Juiciness: Boneless chicken thighs remain remarkably juicy in the high dry heat of an air fryer.
The Recipe Card
- Prep Time: 8 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 4 Servings
Ingredients:
- 1½ lbs Chicken Breasts (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 2 tbsp Cornstarch & ½ tsp Baking Powder
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder, Salt & Pepper
- ⅓ cup Honey & 3 tbsp Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Rice Vinegar & 1 tsp Toasted Sesame Oil
- 2 Garlic Cloves (minced) & ½ tsp Grated Ginger
- 1 tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds & Green Onions for serving
Instructions:
Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Toss dry chicken cubes in cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Arrange in air fryer basket, spray with oil, and air fry for 10–12 minutes until crispy. Simmer honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch slurry in a saucepan for 2 minutes until thick. Toss crispy chicken in the glaze, top with sesame seeds and green onions, and serve over rice!
