Western
Air Fryer Chicken Bites with Onion and Bell Pepper
Crispy chicken pieces coated with simple seasonings, air-fried alongside chunks of onion and bell pepper for a healthy and easy meal.
About this recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Bites with Onion and Bell Pepper is a western lunch for 2 that leans on the air fryer to do the work while you tidy up. It’s built around chicken, and it takes about 30 min total but only ~15 min of hands-on work — the rest is waiting. We sized it for a small household and ranked it on OneToCook by how much of it you already have in the fridge.
Ingredients
- 300g chicken
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1/2 large bell pepper
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder buy
- 1 tsp paprika buy
Equipment
Method
- 1
Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes. Cut onion and bell pepper into similar-sized chunks.
~5 min
- 2
In a bowl, toss chicken, onion, and bell pepper with cooking oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika until evenly coated.
~5 min
- 3
Preheat air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for 3 minutes.
~3 min
- 4
Arrange the chicken and vegetables in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
~15 min
- 5
Serve immediately.
Smart swaps
Out of something? Try one of these.
- Chicken
- pork, prawns, or firm tofu — keep pieces thin so they cook fast.
- Garlic
- garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push.
Cook's notes
- Smash each clove with the flat of your knife first — the skin slips off and it minces in seconds. How to mince garlic →
- Dice the onion before anything heats up so it’s ready when the pan is — a even dice cooks evenly. How to dice an onion →
- Slice the pepper flat-side down on the board — it’s steadier and your knife stays in control. How to cut a bell pepper →
- Slice chicken thinly across the grain — it cooks faster and stays tender. How to slice chicken thinly →
- Do your chopping first (mise en place). With everything prepped, the actual cooking here is only about 15 min.
Storage & leftovers
Crispy bits soften in the fridge. Keep leftovers airtight for up to 2 days and re-crisp in the air fryer or a hot dry pan rather than the microwave.
Frequently asked
How long does Air Fryer Chicken Bites with Onion and Bell Pepper take to make? +
About 30 min from start to finish, but only roughly 15 min of that is hands-on — the rest is cooking or resting time.
How many people does this recipe serve? +
As written it serves 2. To cook for 4, roughly multiply the ingredients — but cook in batches if the pan gets crowded, so things sear instead of steaming.
What equipment do I need? +
You’ll want: air fryer. OneToCook only suggests recipes that fit the equipment you tell it you have, so you can filter these out if your kitchen is more minimal.
What can I use if I'm missing an ingredient? +
Common swaps for this dish: Chicken → pork, prawns, or firm tofu — keep pieces thin so they cook fast; Garlic → garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push. See the full list of smart swaps above.
Can I make Air Fryer Chicken Bites with Onion and Bell Pepper ahead of time? +
Crispy bits soften in the fridge. Keep leftovers airtight for up to 2 days and re-crisp in the air fryer or a hot dry pan rather than the microwave.
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