Air Fryer Chicken Pineapple Bites (Printable Version)

Tender chicken paired with juicy pineapple, air-fried to a caramelized finish for a savory-sweet delight.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into 1 inch cubes
02 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
03 - 1 tablespoon honey
04 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
05 - 1 clove garlic, minced
06 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
07 - ½ teaspoon black pepper

→ Pineapple

08 - 9 oz fresh pineapple, cut into 1 inch cubes

→ Garnish

09 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
10 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and black pepper. Add chicken cubes and toss to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 10 minutes, or up to 1 hour in the refrigerator for enhanced flavor.
02 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
03 - Thread chicken and pineapple cubes alternately onto small skewers or toothpicks. If using wooden skewers, soak in water for 10 minutes prior to assembly to prevent burning.
04 - Arrange skewers in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
05 - Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, turning skewers halfway through cooking, until chicken is cooked through and lightly caramelized.
06 - Transfer to serving platter. Garnish with sesame seeds and spring onions if desired. Serve immediately.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The sweet and savory balance hits different when the honey caramelizes in the air fryer, creating this addictive glaze you'll want to lick off your fingers.
  • Prep to table in under 30 minutes, so it's genuinely useful on a busy weeknight when you're tired of the same rotation.
  • These little bites vanish at parties because people can't believe something this elegant took minimal effort.
02 -
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket is the enemy—even when it seems like everything won't fit, cramming them in guarantees they'll steam instead of crisp and caramelize.
  • The midway flip is not optional if you want even browning; I learned this the hard way when one side of my skewers stayed pale and soft while the other side charred.
03 -
  • Cut your chicken and pineapple chunks to the exact same size so they cook at the same rate—mismatched pieces mean something always finishes before something else.
  • Pat the marinated chicken dry with a paper towel before threading the skewers; surface moisture is the enemy of caramelization and will make everything steam instead of crisp.
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