Ingredient Meat & Poultry Chicken Chicken Thighs Crispy Parmesan Chicken Bites 4.8 (6) 2 Reviews Crispy, cheesy and oh-so-delicious—what else could you ask for in this easy chicken appetizer? Serve these chicken bites with a dipping sauce like marinara or chipotle aioli, or switch it up and use them as a salad topper. Chicken breast works as a substitute, although it won’t be as tender and moist as thighs. By Carolyn Malcoun Carolyn Malcoun See More As EatingWell's Editorial Director, Carolyn Malcoun searches for cool farmers, chefs and other food stories to tell. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin and a culinary arts degree from New England Culinary Institute. She started at EatingWell as an intern in the Test Kitchen in 2005 and joined the editorial team soon after. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 18, 2025 Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Jump to recipe Active Time: 10 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 6 Nutrition Profile: Sesame-Free Diabetes-Friendly Nut-Free Soy-Free High-Protein Gluten-Free Jump to Nutrition Facts These easy chicken bites are crispy, cheesy and versatile.Parmesan cheese is a good source of calcium, supporting strong bones.Fresh parsley and Italian seasoning add flavor. Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1/2x 1x 2x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. This recipe was developed and tested at its original yield and has not been tested at other yields. Note that only the ingredient list is scaled, so you may need to make adjustments to ingredient amounts, cooking times and equipment sizes in the recipe steps. Scaling could also impact the nutrition analysis. Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings 1 large egg 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided 1/4 cup rice flour 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided 12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola or avocado, divided 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley Marinara sauce, warmed, for serving (optional) Directions Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly beat egg in a medium bowl. Combine 2/3 cup Parmesan, rice flour, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, pepper and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a separate medium bowl. Pat chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Add half the chicken to the egg and toss to coat; let excess egg drip off. Transfer the chicken to the Parmesan mixture; toss to fully coat and pat to lightly adhere. Arrange the chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Discard any remaining egg and Parmesan mixture. Drizzle the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon oil and turn to coat. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Bake, flipping the pieces once, until golden brown, crispy and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest portion registers 165°F, 16 to 18 minutes. Remove and immediately sprinkle with the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and parsley. Serve with marinara sauce, if desired. Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Equipment Parchment paper Recipe developed by Marianne Williams EatingWell.com, May 2024 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 185 Calories 11g Fat 4g Carbs 17g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 6 Serving Size 5 pieces Calories 185 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 4g 2% Dietary Fiber 0g 1% Total Sugars 0g Added Sugars 0g 0% Protein 17g 33% Total Fat 11g 15% Saturated Fat 3g 14% Cholesterol 105mg 35% Vitamin A 39µg Vitamin C 0mg 0% Vitamin D 0µg Vitamin E 1mg 8% Folate 8µg Vitamin K 8µg Sodium 300mg 13% Calcium 64mg 5% Iron 1mg 5% Magnesium 20mg 5% Potassium 196mg 4% Zinc 1mg 14% Vitamin B12 0µg Omega 3 0g Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.