Spicy Yogurt Chicken Bites (Printable)

Juicy marinated chicken bites baked until golden and crisp, seasoned with smoky spices and creamy yogurt.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Marinade

02 - 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
03 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
04 - 2 tbsp olive oil
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1 tsp ground cumin
08 - 1 tsp chili powder
09 - 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
10 - 1 tsp salt
11 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

→ Coating

12 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if needed)
13 - 2 tbsp sesame seeds (optional)
14 - Cooking spray or additional olive oil for baking

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, combine Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly.
02 - Add chicken pieces to the marinade, ensuring full coverage. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight to enhance flavor.
03 - Heat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease lightly.
04 - In a shallow dish, combine panko breadcrumbs and sesame seeds, if using.
05 - Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Dredge each piece in breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
06 - Place coated chicken pieces on prepared baking sheet. Lightly spray or drizzle with olive oil.
07 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden, crispy, and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
08 - Serve hot with preferred dipping sauce.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Tender chicken that stays juicy inside while the coating gets satisfyingly crispy, no dryness in sight.
  • The yogurt marinade does all the flavor work while you're doing something else, making this feel like less effort than it actually is.
  • Ready in under two hours start to finish, and you can prep everything ahead if you need to.
02 -
  • Flipping halfway is not optional—it's the difference between golden on one side and burnt on the other, trust me on this one.
  • Don't skip the marinating time; that's when the yogurt does its magic and the spices actually get into the chicken.
  • If your breadcrumbs are small and fine, they'll brown too fast; panko is worth hunting for because it actually stays crispy instead of turning into a crust.
03 -
  • Pat the chicken dry before cutting if it's sitting in any liquid; drier pieces bread better and cook more evenly.
  • The secret weapon is not overseasoning the breadcrumb mixture—all the flavor is in the marinade, so the coating just needs a light touch of salt and that's it.
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