Description
These Air Fryer Chicken Balls are a delicious and healthier alternative to traditional fried chicken bites. Coated in a crispy panko breadcrumb crust and cooked to perfection in the air fryer, they offer a crunchy outside and juicy inside. Perfect as an appetizer or snack, they come together quickly and are served best with a tangy sweet and sour sauce.
Ingredients
Chicken Mixture
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 tsp salt (divided)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Breading
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ tsp salt (for breadcrumb mixture)
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Mix and shape: In a large bowl, combine 1 pound of ground chicken with ¾ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper. Mix thoroughly and form the mixture into 12 evenly sized chicken balls. Place the shaped chicken balls in the refrigerator to keep cold while preparing the breading station.
- Prepare breading bowls: Place ½ cup of all-purpose flour into a small bowl. In another bowl, whisk two eggs until smooth. In a third bowl, combine 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs with ¼ teaspoon of salt.
- Dip and coat: Working in an assembly line fashion, dip each chicken ball first into the flour, ensuring an even coating. Next, dip it into the beaten eggs, then roll it thoroughly in the panko breadcrumb mixture. Make sure each ball is fully coated at each step. Set aside on a clean plate until ready to cook.
- Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 360°F (182°C) and allow it to preheat. This step ensures the chicken balls cook evenly and develop a nice crust.
- Initial cooking: Arrange the breaded chicken balls in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, avoiding overcrowding to promote even cooking. Cook at 360°F for 8 minutes.
- Spray and crisp: After 8 minutes, carefully shake the basket to turn the chicken balls for uniform crisping. Lightly spray the chicken balls with olive oil spray to enhance browning and crispiness. Increase the air fryer temperature to 400°F (204°C) and cook for an additional 4 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken balls reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Serve: Remove the chicken balls from the air fryer and serve hot. They pair wonderfully with sweet and sour sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken balls are chilled before breading to help the coating stick better.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary for best results.
- Using olive oil spray during cooking improves the crispiness without adding excess oil.
- Always check that the chicken internal temperature is at least 165°F to ensure safe consumption.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the air fryer to maintain crispness.
