Easy Fried Chicken Bites
The Perfect Fried Chicken Bites "Frango a Passarinho Frito". Let me introduce you to our version of Brazil’s ultimate bar food appetizer'' Frango a Passarinho''. This recipe is of our own invention, but these Frango a Passarinho are very much inspired by Brazil and Paraguay, where I spent much of my childhood before I moved to live in the U.S.
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken , skinless or skin on, cut into bite-size pieces, about 2 ½ inches
- 5 Garlic cloves , minced* (for the marinade)
- 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
- 4 tablespoons green onion , finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Homemade Tempero Baiano or store-bought
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt , to taste
- 1 Tablespoon ground cayenne pepper or Ground Black Pepper to taste
- Zest and juice from 3 large limes or lemons
- 350 ml golden beer or any beer of your preference
- 1-½ cup peanut oil , canola oil, or vegetable oil enough to deep-fry the chicken pieces
For the Coating Mix:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour , sifted or cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
For the Fried Garlic: This is optional
- 10 Garlic cloves , thinly sliced
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
For Garnish:
- 1 bunch of cilantro , parsley, or green onion, finely chopped
For the dipping sauce: This is optional
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Nestle , Table Cream, Plain Greek yogurt, plain yogurt, or sour cream
- 1 to 2 tablespoons Texas Pete hot sauce , to taste
- 2 tablespoons green onion , finely chopped
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all dipping sauce ingredients. Store in the refrigerator until needed. If you're using a whole chicken, start by washing the chicken and removing any excess skin near the bottom cavity. Cut the thighs from the front, then crack the bones of the joint on the back.
- Flip the chicken on its back, remove the legs, and set them aside. Cut through the carcass vertically to separate the back from the breasts and wings.
- Remove the wings and set them aside. Split the breasts *bone-in. Start to cut everything into chunks. Split thigh and drumstick and keep on chunking. In a large bowl, add all the chicken pieces and rinse with water and a splash of vinegar to remove any loose broken bones.
- In another large bowl, combine lime juice, salt, beer, green onion, onion flakes, granulated garlic, Tempero Baiano, and cayenne pepper. Add the chicken pieces. Mix thoroughly with the lime mixture. Let it marinate for a least 1 hour or overnight. Remove chicken pieces from the bowl and transfer to a colander to drain off excess marinade, and let sit on the colander for 15 minutes.
- Then place the chicken pieces onto a baking sheet lined with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and cover with another kitchen towel (To absorb all the moisture).
- In a medium bowl, combine all the coating mix ingredients, then transfer to a large ziplock bag. Add the chicken pieces into the bag, seal, and shake until they are completely coated with the flour mix.
- Heat the oil to 350 ºF, remove the chicken pieces from the bag and shake off the excess flour and deep-fry the chicken in batches. Avoid overcrowding the pan. It will take about 8 minutes or until golden brown (wings and other small pieces) to 12 minutes (drumsticks and other alike pieces).
- Place fried chicken bites onto a large sheet pan lined with a double paper towel to absorb excess oil.
- Heat extra virgin olive oil in a medium skillet, add the sliced garlic, and fry until lightly golden brown. Remove the pan from the heat and drizzle the infused garlic oil along with the fried garlic on top of the fried chicken bites.
- Sprinkle chopped parsley on top and serve as an appetizer along with the dipping sauce and a cold beer or other drink of your choice.
- Enjoy!😋🍻
Notes
How to Store & Re-Heat
To store: Let them cool to room temperature, then transfer them to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Place them in the refrigerator and consume them within 3-4 days. Do not leave fried chicken bites at room temperature for more than 2 hours, as they can become a breeding ground for bacteria.
To reheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place the chicken bites on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10-12 minutes or until heated and crispy. You can also reheat the chicken bites in a toaster oven or air fryer for 5-7 minutes. Do not use a microwave to reheat fried chicken bites; it can make them soggy and less crispy.
Make-Ahead
To make fried chicken bites, prepare and marinate the chicken pieces in advance, then coat and fry them just before serving. After marinating the chicken, pat it dry and store it in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Prepare the coating mix and store it in a ziplock bag or airtight container at room temperature. When you're ready to fry the chicken, coat the chicken pieces in the flour mixture and fry them as directed. This way, you can save time and have the chicken bites ready to serve for a party or gathering.
How to Freeze
To freeze fried chicken bites, let them cool to room temperature, and then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or resealable plastic bag. Label the container or bag with the date and the contents. Place the container or bag in the freezer and consume within 1-2 months for best quality. Let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight to reheat frozen fried chicken bites.
Then, reheat them using the oven or air fryer method described above. Freezing and thawing fried chicken bites can affect their texture, so they may not be as crispy as when fresh.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Fried Chicken Bites
Amount per Serving
Calories
143
% Daily Value*
Fat
11
g
17
%
Saturated Fat
2
g
13
%
Trans Fat
0.02
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
5
g
Cholesterol
16
mg
5
%
Sodium
443
mg
19
%
Potassium
74
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
6
g
2
%
Fiber
0.4
g
2
%
Sugar
0.2
g
0
%
Protein
5
g
10
%
Vitamin A
147
IU
3
%
Vitamin C
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
24
mg
2
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
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