Air Fryer Crispy Popcorn Chicken Bites

Begin by placing the chicken into a medium-sized bowl.

Next, mix together salt, paprika, black pepper, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, basil, oregano, and sage in a small bowl. Set aside 1 teaspoon of the seasoning blend for later use. Sprinkle the remaining seasoning mixture over the chicken and gently toss to coat it evenly.

Now, combine cornstarch with the reserved 1 teaspoon of seasoning mixture in a large resealable plastic bag. Shake the bag to ensure everything is well combined. Add the chicken to the bag and seal it, shaking again to coat it evenly with cornstarch. Transfer the chicken to a fine mesh strainer and shake vigorously to remove any excess cornstarch, allowing it to absorb into the chicken over time - approximately 5-10 minutes.

Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Arrange the chicken in a single layer within the prepared air fryer basket, making sure not to overlap any pieces. Depending on your air fryer's size, you may need to cook the chicken in batches. Mist the chicken with cooking spray again to ensure even browning.

Cook the chicken in the preheated air fryer for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, shake the basket and mist the chicken once more to prevent any dry or powdery areas. Continue cooking until the chicken is no longer pink on the inside and the juices run clear, taking an additional 4-5 minutes. To check if it's cooked properly, insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of the chicken and verify that it reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).