Air Fryer Chicken Pineapple Bites (Printable Version)

Tender chicken and pineapple chunks air-fried for a flavorful bite-sized snack.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (14 oz)
02 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (gluten-free preferred)
03 - 1 tablespoon honey
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Assembly

08 - 1 small fresh pineapple, peeled and cored (or 1 can pineapple chunks, drained)
09 - 24 toothpicks or small skewers

# Steps:

01 - Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes.
02 - Whisk together soy sauce, honey, olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Add chicken cubes and toss until evenly coated.
03 - Allow chicken to marinate for 10-15 minutes at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours for deeper flavor.
04 - Cut fresh pineapple into 1-inch chunks, or drain canned pineapple if using.
05 - Preheat air fryer to 390°F for 3 minutes.
06 - Thread one marinated chicken piece and one pineapple chunk onto each toothpick or mini skewer.
07 - Arrange assembled bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if necessary to prevent overcrowding.
08 - Cook for 10-12 minutes, turning halfway through cooking. Chicken is done when golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
09 - Transfer to serving plate while warm. Garnish with fresh cilantro, green onions, or sesame seeds as desired. Serve with sweet chili sauce or teriyaki dip on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste like you've been cooking all day when you've actually been doing dishes for most of it.
  • The sweet and savory combo hits different when you're feeding a crowd who thought they were getting boring appetizers.
  • Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free without feeling like you're sacrificing anything.
02 -
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket is the one mistake that ruins these every time, so resist the temptation to fit more in and batch them instead.
  • The chicken continues cooking slightly after you pull it out, so don't wait for it to look fully cooked in the fryer or it'll be dry.
03 -
  • If your pineapple is releasing a lot of juice, pat the chunks dry before threading them so you don't steam the chicken.
  • Don't be afraid to crank the temperature up to 400°F if your air fryer runs cool, just watch them closely the first time.
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