Our Cheesy Chicken Bites appetizer recipe combines cooked chicken, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, fresh garlic and parsley into bite-sized little morsels that are coated in crispy panko crumbs and baked until golden.

This easy, cheesy chicken bites appetizer recipe is a great way to turn leftover or a store-bought rotisserie chicken into tasty party fare.

Made with chicken, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, a bit of garlic and a crispy coating of panko crumbs, these little one-bite gems can be served plain or dipped in marinara sauce for a little Italian flair.

Make-Ahead Tip:

This appetizer recipe can be made ahead and frozen until ready to use. There’s no need to defrost either. Just place the frozen bites on a baking sheet and heat in a 375°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

Crispy Cheesy Chicken Bites Appetizer Recipe
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Crispy Cheesy Chicken Bites Appetizer Recipe
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Crispy Cheesy Chicken Bites

Our Cheesy Chicken Bites appetizer recipe combines cooked chicken, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, fresh garlic and parsley into bite-sized little morsels that are coated in crispy panko crumbs and baked until golden.
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 18 minutes
Total: 38 minutes
Servings: 30 to 36 pieces

Ingredients

  • 2-1/2 cups cooked chicken, minced (see tip below)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup shredded Italian blend or mozzarella cheese, fine shred
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
  • 3/4 cup panko crumbs, divided
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Olive oil cooking spray
  • Marinara sauce for dipping, store-bought or homemade
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Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Set a grid-style baking rack (see notes) on a baking sheet and coat it with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Place the chicken, cream cheese, shredded cheese, 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese, and 3 tablespoons of the panko crumbs in a mixing bowl. Add the garlic, parsley and a few grinds of black pepper and combine thoroughly.
  • Combine the remaining panko crumbs with the remaining 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese on a dinner plate.
  • Form the chicken-cheese mixture into 1-inch balls then roll them in the panko crumbs, set them on the prepared baking rack and coat them with the olive oil spray.
  • Bake until lightly browned, 15 to 18 minutes.
  • Serve with warm marinara for dipping.

Notes

About the chicken:

We’ve found that the easiest way to mince the chicken is in a food processor. Measure 2-3/4 to 3 cups of diced, cooked chicken and place it into the work bowl of your food processor. Pulse until finely minced.

About the baking rack:

If you don’t have a grid-style baking rack, you can bake the chicken bites directly on the baking pan, but be sure to turn them over mid-way through the baking time so they don’t get overly browned on the bottom.
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Lynne Webb and Erika Pitera, creators of MyGourmetConnection in the kitchen, working on a soup recipe for the website.

About Us

We’re Lynne and Erika, a mother-daughter duo passionate about creating recipes that bring flavor and variety to your kitchen in a simple, approachable way.

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