These crispy chicken bites are lightly fired and skewered with mini mozzarella balls, fresh tomato, and basil! The perfect appetizer that combines fresh flavors and crispy fried chicken nuggets!
Ingredients
¾poundschicken breasts, cubed into about 1-inch pieces
1cupall-purpose flour
1tablespoonkosher salt
1tablespoonpaprika
2eggs
1cupmilk
1 ½cupsbreadcrumbs
2teaspoonskosher salt
2teaspoonsblack pepper
2cupscanola oil, for frying
1quartcherry tomatoes
½poundmozzarella balls
Fresh basil leaves
Toothpicks or small skewers
Quick Balsamic Syrup
½cupbalsamic vinegar
¼cupsugar
Instructions
For the optional balsamic syrup: Add the vinegar to a small pot with the sugar and stir over low heat until it’s simmering. Keep an eye on it and stir it for about 5 minutes until it’s bubbling up and the hot syrup will coat a spoon in a thin layer. Then remove it from the heat and allow it to cool. It’ll thicken a lot as it cools. Be careful not to overcook the syrup or it can burn quickly.
For the chicken, cube chicken into about 1-inch pieces. You should get about two dozen pieces. Stir together flour with salt and paprika and toss in the chicken pieces. Stir to coat with flour.
In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and milk and then in a third bowl stir together bread crumbs with salt and pepper. Add chicken to the egg mixture and then the breadcrumbs. Coat well and then remove and let sit on a clean plate.
Preheat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the oil is 350 degrees F. You can test it by dropping in some breadcrumbs which should sizzle immediately. Add chicken pieces and fry for about 4 minutes per side. Flip and finish frying. It’s okay if the chicken bites aren’t completely covered.
Remove chicken from the fry and let drain on a few paper towels.
To assemble the bites, add a chicken nugget to a small skewer or toothpick and top with a basil leaf. Then add a grape tomato and half of a mozzarella ball. Finish all the bites and then drizzle them with balsamic syrup.