Spicy Chicken Treat Bites (Printable version)

Golden crispy chicken bites with a spicy marinade, ready in 40 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh, cut into 1 inch cubes

→ Marinade

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tbsp hot sauce (Sriracha or Tabasco)
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1 tsp garlic powder
06 - ½ tsp cayenne pepper
07 - 1 tsp salt
08 - ½ tsp black pepper

→ Coating

09 - ¾ cup gluten-free or regular breadcrumbs
10 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ To Serve

11 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
12 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, hot sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Add the chicken pieces to the marinade, tossing well to coat. Let sit for at least 10 minutes, up to 1 hour for more flavor.
04 - In a shallow dish, combine breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
05 - Dredge each marinated chicken piece in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Arrange evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
06 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F.
07 - Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • The spice blend hits that perfect balance between warming heat and actual flavor, not just fire for the sake of it
  • Baked instead of fried means you can eat twice as many without that heavy feeling afterward
  • Everything comes together in about 40 minutes but tastes like you spent all day planning it
02 -
  • The coating will not stick if your chicken is too wet from the marinade, let excess drip off before dredging
  • Crowding the baking sheet creates steam instead of crunch, use two sheets if necessary
  • Internal temperature matters more than time, invest in a good meat thermometer for perfectly cooked chicken every time
03 -
  • Let the coated chicken sit for 10 minutes before baking to help the coating adhere better during cooking
  • Skip the Parmesan and add extra garlic powder if you need this to be dairy-free

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