These crispy, oven-baked Parmesan chicken bites pack all the flavor of classic chicken Parm in fun, family-friendly nuggets — perfect with marinara for dipping!
If you love chicken nuggets, don’t miss these homemade fried chicken nuggets, Chick-Fil-A nuggets, and Goldfish baked chicken nuggets, too!
Chicken Parm Bites are a Kid-Friendly Weeknight Dinner
These Italian-inspired chicken parmesan bites are really just homemade chicken nuggets jazzed up with Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese. They’re crispy, flavorful, and perfect with a side of marinara for dipping! In fact, they include all of the same ingredients that you’ll find in an easy chicken parmesan recipe — but they’re even easier! There’s no need to pound the chicken into cutlets, and you don’t have to spend time pan-frying the meat in batches.
While I sometimes fry chicken tenders or chicken nuggets at home for a special treat, these Parmesan chicken bites are definitely much healthier and easier for weeknight meals (and they’re actually kid-approved)!
…These were so good. Crispy, flavorful, savory…everything I love about Parmesan chicken in small bites. My kids (3 and 6) don’t pull punches when it comes to critiquing new recipes but they both devoured these and then asked for seconds and thirds.
-Brigitta
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- You can use 1 lb. of boneless skinless chicken breasts or 1 lb. of chicken tenderloins. Dice the meat into bite-size 1-inch pieces with a sharp knife or kitchen shears. Chicken thighs will also work if you prefer the dark meat.
- If available, use freshly-grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and texture. In a pinch, a can of pre-grated Parmesan will work fine!
- Italian-style seasoned breadcrumbs coat the chicken and create a flavorful, crispy exterior.
- The oil in the breading is a key ingredient for extra crispy oven fried chicken bites. The fat helps the breading turn brown and crunchy in the oven. Don’t skip the oil, or the end result won’t be nearly as good.
How to Make Parmesan Chicken Bites
Baked instead of fried, these Parmesan chicken bites are crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and so incredibly flavorful! They have all of the texture and taste that you crave from classic fried chicken nuggets — but without an oily mess on the stovetop and without too much prep. You’ll find detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
- In a shallow bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and seasoning. Drizzle with olive oil and use a fork to incorporate the oil into the breading. Place the flour in a separate dish, and the beaten egg in a third shallow dish.
- Dredge the chicken pieces in flour, then egg, then in the bread crumb mixture. Shake off excess flour, egg, and breading to prevent the chicken from getting soggy instead of crispy. Arrange the breaded chicken bites on an ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake in a 375°F oven until they’re crispy on the outside and cooked through on the inside, about 15 minutes. The meat is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Season the warm chicken nuggets with additional salt and pepper, if desired, as soon as they come out of the oven. Serve the chicken bites with a side of warm marinara sauce for dipping.
Serving Suggestions
Chicken Parmesan bites go well with spaghetti with marinara sauce, 3-ingredient sour cream muffins, garlic bread, seasoned roasted potatoes, sauteed zucchini, Southern-style green beans, roasted yellow squash, oven roasted asparagus, salad with Dijon vinaigrette or red wine vinegar salad dressing, or a house salad with candied pecans. Add a glass of grape juice to wash it all down, too!
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make Ahead: You can bread the chicken and keep the bites wrapped tightly in the fridge for up to 1 day. I do not recommend freezing the breaded chicken before baking.
- How to Store: These parmesan chicken bites are best when served warm, immediately from the oven. Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, but the chicken will get soggy as it sits. You can also freeze the baked chicken in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- How to Reheat: Bake the leftover chicken bites on a baking sheet in a 375°F oven until warm, about 8 minutes, flipping halfway through. You can also reheat them in an air fryer at 350°F for about 4-6 minutes, or in the microwave for about 1 minute.
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Parmesan Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup Italian-style seasoned breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 lb. chicken breast or chicken tenderloins, cut into 1-inch pieces
- Warm marinara sauce, for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a shallow dish, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, onion powder, and pepper. Add the olive oil and use a fork to work the olive oil into the breadcrumb mixture until it’s completely incorporated. Pour the flour into a separate shallow dish. Place the eggs in a third shallow dish.
- Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour and turn to coat. Shake off any excess flour. Then dip the chicken in the egg, shaking off any excess egg before finally rolling and coating the chicken bites in the breadcrumb mixture. Arrange the breaded chicken bites in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake until the chicken is crisp and golden brown on the outside, and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, about 15 minutes. Serve chicken bites with warm marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Air fryer: instead of baking these bites in the oven, you can cook them in the air fryer. To do so, preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Add the chicken (working in batches, if necessary, so that you don’t overcrowd the basket). Cook the chicken bites at 400°F for about 7-8 minutes, or until crispy and the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- This recipe yields about 16 bites and serves 3-4 people.
- The nutrition information provided is merely an estimate, and includes all of the breading and egg. If you don’t use all of the ingredients to coat your chicken, the nutrition facts will vary.
Nutrition
Recipe Variations
- I use these Italian-style seasoned breadcrumbs, but you can substitute with plain breadcrumbs or panko bread crumbs. If using plain breadcrumbs, I recommend seasoning with some herbs, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and extra onion powder (or just use Italian seasoning) to add some flavor to the coating.
- Cooking just for two? Cut all of the ingredients in half and prepare about ½ lb. of chicken.
- For a larger family, double all of the ingredients and bake the chicken on two separate trays.
- Season the chicken by adding herbs to the breading, such as parsley, basil, thyme, or oregano.
- Air fryer: instead of baking these bites in the oven, you can cook them in the air fryer. To do so, preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Add the chicken (working in batches, if necessary, so that you don’t overcrowd the basket). Cook the chicken bites at 400°F for about 7-8 minutes, or until crispy and the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
More Chicken Parm Recipes to Try
Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe
38 minutes mins
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
1 hour hr
Dump-and-Bake Chicken Parmesan Casserole
50 minutes mins
Originally published in May, 2022, this post was updated in June, 2025.
Do you turn the nuggets half way? Thx.
Hi, Renee! You don’t have to, but you certainly can. I’ve tried it both ways, and I don’t notice a big difference when flipping them. In fact, I usually don’t flip, because I like how the bottom gets extra crisp, while the top stays nice and dry. That way nothing’s soggy! Totally up to you, though.
I followed everything exactly just swapped out for GF panko and added Italian seasoning (1tsp plus a generous dusting) then dipped in pizza sauce since it’s all we had. These were so good. Crispy, flavorful, savory…everything I love about Parmesan chicken in small bites. My kids (3 and 6) don’t pull punches when it comes to critiquing new recipes but they both devoured these and then asked for seconds and thirds.
We’re so happy to hear this! Thank you for trying this recipe.
These were super easy and yummy! So much healthier than store bought chicken nuggets. Thank you!!
Thank you, Faith! We’re so glad you enjoyed them.