• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Hungry Bites
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Categories
    • Main Dishes
      • Beef and veal
      • Chicken and Poultry
      • Lamb and Goat
      • Pork
      • Fish and seafood
      • Other Meats
      • Legumes
      • Salad Meals
    • Side Dishes
    • Appetizers and Meze
    • Pasta and rice
    • Soups and stews
    • One pan - One pot
    • Air Fryer
    • Salads
    • Desserts and Sweets
      • Cakes
      • Cheesecakes
      • Cupcakes and muffins
      • Cookies
      • Chocolate
      • Ice Cream
      • Pies Bars and Tarts
      • Puddings, jams and creams
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Bread Recipes
    • Drinks
    • Dietary
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Gluten-free
      • Healthy
  • The Mediterranean Diet
  • About me
    • Contact me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Fall Favorites
  • Recipes
  • MDiet
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Fall Favorites
    • Recipes
    • MDiet
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Extra Crispy Deep Fried Chicken Bites

    Published: Mar 16, 2017 · Modified: Sep 23, 2018 by Makos

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This recipe is a crowd pleaser!

    extra crispy fried chicken bites

    What name do you prefer?
    Popcorn chicken?
    Chicken nuggets?
    Or maybe chicken fingers?
    Strips or fillets? No matter how you call them, this recipe will be one of your favorites! These little pieces of chicken breast get very tender and juicy due to a simple combination of brining and marinating. Then, they get fried not once, but twice, for that extra crispy, extra crunchy effect! Can you think of something more mouthwatering?

    extra crispy fried chicken bites 2

    I know this is a mediterranean diet oriented food blog, so you may wonder what a recipe for fried chicken is doing here. Well, except from the fact that it’s chicken (!) I also have to bring to your attention that in Cretan cuisine – which is the basis of the mediterranean diet – frying is a common way of cooking. Yes, in Crete there are lots of recipes using frying as a cooking method, since this is a quick way to prepare food and gives extra flavorful results (I’m not going to talk again about the maillard reaction, I’ve done it in my healhty chicken sandwich post).
    Almost every family in Crete has an olive grove, so olive oil is used in everything; from salads and olive oil cake recipes to baked recipes such as these Greek oven baked burgers (patties) and potatoes .

    Since olive oil can be pretty expensive for someone who hasn’t direct access to it, I would suggest using a vegetable oil with a high smoking point.

    extra crispy fried chicken bites 1

    Some notes/tips:
    Why does this chicken get so juicy?
    The answer is the combination of a brining method (I use this method in my bacon wrapped turkey roll) with a basic buttermilk marinade. That way you get the best from both worlds: the acidity of the marinade tenderizes the tissue of the meat, while the brine fills it with moisture making it plump and extra juicy.
    And why is it so crispy?
    It’s twice fried! Seriously guys, if you want that extra crispiness in every fried food you make – including french fries – the secret is to fry it until almost done, let it drain and cool on a rack and then fry it once more until golden and beautiful!
    The chicken shouldn’t be cold when frying, because it will lower the temperature of the oil
    The spice mix I use is my personal preference, but you can certainly make your own combinations!

    extra crispy fried chicken bites 3

    After frying the chicken for the first time, you can store it in the fridge and re-fry it another day when you don’t have much time. So, prepare it on the weekend and eat it during the week!
    Don’t salt the chicken! It already has absorbed the required salt from the marinade!

    Serve this chicken bites with an everyday green salad with herbs, some fluffy long grain rice (in a pot) or french fries!

    Share this post if you liked it (share buttons at the top!) and don’t forget to subscribe for new recipes or follow me on Instagram,   Pinterest,   Facebook

    Recipe

    extra crispy fried chicken bites

    Extra Crispy Deep Fried Chicken Bites

    Makos
    This recipe is a crowd pleaser! Juicy, tender and extra crispy chicken pieces for your everyday diner or your next get-together party!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 hours hrs
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Mediterranean

    Ingredients
     

    • For the salty marinade:
    • 1 ½ cup buttermilk (or milk with 2 tablespoons vinegar)
    • 1 tablespoon fine salt
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • For the chicken:
    • 1 pound boneless chicken breast (cut in approximately 1.5-2 inch pieces)
    • ½ cup all purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons dried onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
    • 2 eggs beaten
    • A pinch of salt
    • 1 ½ cups bread crumbs
    • Vegetable oil for frying
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Mix the ingredients for the marinade in a bowl, add the chicken, mix to coat well and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or even overnight.
    • Place the flour, onion powder, paprika, cumin and cayenne (if used) in a zip log bag and shake a little to mix.
      Take chicken out of the marinade, place in the bag, seal and shake well until all the pieces are fully coated.
    • Place the crumbs in a big plate.
      Place the eggs in a bowl, add a pinch of salt and beat them well.
    • Dip each chicken piece in the eggs, coat with breadcrumbs and place on plate.
      Let them rest for 5-10 minutes.
    • In the meantime, fill a deep pan with oil, about 2 inches high. The amount of the oil will depend on the size of your pan.
      When the oil is hot, fry the chicken pieces taking care not to over crowd them inside the pan.
    • When the chicken bites are almost done and just begin to brown, remove them with a slotted spatula and let them cool on a rack, about half an hour. (At this point you can store them in the fridge for up to 2-3 days or freeze them for up to two months).
      Fry the chicken bites for the second time until golden brown (bring them to room temperature first, if refrigerated or frozen).
      Eat!
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Don't lose it, Pin it!

    extra crispy fried chicken bites 4

    More Mediterranean Main Dishes

    • Featured image of Mediterranean vegetable orzo pasta (orzotto).
      Mediterranean Vegetable Orzo Pasta (One Pot Recipe)
    • Featured image for spaghetti sauce with ground beef.
      Best spaghetti sauce with ground beef (ragu Bolognese)
    • Featured image for dry rub for beef short ribs.
      Best dry rub recipe for beef short ribs
    • Oven baked swordfish featured image.
      Oven baked swordfish recipe with lemon vinaigrette




    Vegan mixed berry smoothie without yogurt - featured image.

    Healthy mixed berry smoothie without yogurt (vegan)

    Greek yogurt substitute featured image.

    19 best Greek yogurt substitutes and how to use them

    See All Recipes →

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    author profile image.

    Hi, I’m Makos. I make traditional Mediterranean recipes more accessible to modern people. Sometimes I'll add a twist. Take a look!

    More about me →

    Fall Recipes

    • Easy red lentil and pumpkin velvet soup (Vegan) feat
      Creamy pumpkin soup recipe with red lentils (Vegan)
    • Light & creamy butternut squash risotto with mushroom chips featured
      Light & creamy butternut squash risotto with mushroom chips
    • Balsamic roasted vegetables featured image.
      Easy honey-balsamic roasted vegetables recipe
    • turkey chili thumbnail
      Turkey Chili (Mediterranean style recipe)
    • Creamy mushroom risotto without wine, featured image.
      Best creamy mushroom risotto recipe without wine
    • arugula-goat-cheese-green-apple-salad-1
      Arugula, goat cheese and green apple salad
    • homemade cinnamon rolls recipe with the best icing feat
      Homemade cinnamon rolls recipe with the best icing
    • whole wheat, olive oil & grated apple pancakes
      Best whole wheat, olive oil & grated apple pancakes

    Popular Recipes

    • Pastitsio recipe featured image
      Authentic Pastitsio recipe (traditional Greek lasagna)
    • Oven baked swordfish featured image.
      Oven baked swordfish recipe with lemon vinaigrette
    • israeli couscous salad with feta, featured image.
      Best Israeli couscous salad recipe (with feta)
    • Featured image for creamy Greek pasta salad.
      Creamy Greek pasta salad (with healthy yogurt dressing)
    • Easy spanakopita recipe featured image.
      Easy Spanakopita recipe (homemade Greek spinach pie)
    • Cooked Pearl couscous in a bowl - featured image.
      3 ways to cook Israeli couscous (pearl couscous recipe)
    • Italian almond cookies featured image.
      Easy Italian almond cookies recipe - soft amaretti
    • Featured image for Aperol Spritz cocktail.
      Aperol Spritz recipe (classic + 2 easy variations)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    As Seen In

    GREATIST, Buzzfeed, Saveur, wellandgood, verywellfit, popsugar, everydayhealth, brit.co, Health.com, Livestrong, Thefeedfeed, Marie Claire, Thepappaspost.

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • YouTube

    Copyright © 2016-2023 The Hungry Bites