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Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, you are going to fall in love with this easy recipe for homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets! It’s addictively delicious and the air fryer cooks the nuggets to tender golden brown perfection in just 20 minutes!
Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe
You may have tried my traditional style fried Chicken Nuggets in the past and thought that there has got to be a healthy version!?! Well, these air fryer nuggets are just that! This recipe is both healthy and super easy to make. It’s a fantastic way to indulge in one of everyone’s favorite comfort foods without all the added calories and fat.
And as an added plus, the nuggets store really well in the freezer for make-ahead meals, snacks, or even parties! Just reheat and these yummy chicken nuggets are ready to go with your favorite homemade dipping sauce like my finger-licking good Fry Sauce, Ranch or BBQ Sauce. No need to ever serve frozen chicken nuggets ever again!
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe Highlights
- Quick And Easy. All you need is a handful of easy to find simple ingredients and an air fryer for this recipe that only takes 20 minutes to make from start to finish!
- Party Pleaser. Hello! Perfect make-ahead dish for your next party! Not to mention, oh so tasty and affordable too! Your guests will happily gobble them up!
- Kid Friendly. Kids and adults will love these delicious juicy air fryer chicken nuggets. They are the perfect healthy choice for the whole family.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken: I am using boneless skinless chicken breasts, but chicken thighs will also work well if you prefer.
- Eggs: Two large eggs are needed to help the breadcrumbs stick to the nuggets.
- Breadcrumbs: I love to use panko-style breadcrumbs for this recipe. They add the perfect outer layer of amazing crunch. Yet, any type of breadcrumbs will work perfectly.
- Salt: A bit of salt helps to develop the flavor of the nuggets.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper is the best choice if you have it on hand.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a little more flavor to the breadcrumbs mixture. So if you are a garlic lover feel free to add as much as you like.
- Paprika: A dash of paprika adds another layer of flavor with its sweet peppery taste.
- Nonstick Cooking Spray: Cooking spray helps to both crisp up the nuggets more and keep them from sticking to the air fryer basket as they cook.
- Cut up the chicken. Prep the raw boneless skinless chicken breasts by cutting them into 1½ inch nugget size pieces.
- Preheat the air fryer. Get your air fryer ready by preheating it to 400°F.
- Prepare the chicken for coating. Pat dry the cut-up chicken pieces with paper towels. This helps to adhere both the egg and breadcrumbs to the nuggets.
- Season the breadcrumbs. Pour the breadcrumbs onto a shallow plate. Then add the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika and mix together until fully combined.
- Whisk the eggs. In another shallow bowl, whisk the eggs together with a bit more salt and pepper for additional seasoning.
- Coat the chicken in the eggs and breadcrumbs. First, dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture followed by the seasoned breadcrumbs. To fully coat the pieces of chicken, you may need to press the chicken into the breadcrumbs. You will want to do each piece separately for the best results.
- Air Fry. Place the breaded chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer and spray them with nonstick cooking. Then put the basket into the air fryer and cook for 7 to 10 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken needs to reach 165°F to ensure that it’s cooked. If not all nuggets fit in your air fryer basket, you will need to do this in batches.
- To serve. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Can I Make This Recipe Gluten-Free?
Yes! These air fryer chicken nuggets can easily be made gluten-free by simply using your favorite gluten-free breadcrumbs in place of traditional breadcrumbs or panko.
Can I Bake The Nuggets In The Oven?
Yes, simply prepare the nuggets according to the recipe instructions until it comes time to cook. Then lay the uncooked breaded chicken nuggets on a nonstick sheet pan, spray them with cooking spray, and put them in the oven to cook for 15 to 20 minutes at 400°F. Again, it’s important to note that your nuggets need to reach an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure that they are fully cooked through.
Can I Bread The Nuggets The Day Before Cooking?
Yes, you can bread the nuggets up to one day in advance. Once dredged with breadcrumbs, put them on a tray or plate, cover with plastic wrap, and keep in the fridge until ready to cook.
Expert Tips
- You can easily substitute the boneless skinless chicken breast with boneless skinless chicken thighs. Just cut the same size pieces.
- To ensure the chicken is fully cooked through you will want to use an instant read digital meat thermometer, which should read 165℉ when inserted into the center of the chicken pieces.
- For the crispiest chicken nuggets use panko breadcrumbs. Any breadcrumb will work, but panko has an added crunch and nice seasoned finish that only adds to the other spices.
- Add your favorite herbs and spices to the breadcrumbs to customize your nuggets. A Cajun spice mix would be a nice touch of heat, curry powder super yummy, or even a simple dash of Italian seasoning for an added herby flavor.
How To Store Air Fried Chicken Nuggets
Fridge
Leftover air fryer chicken nuggets will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container. When you are ready to reheat simply pop them in the toaster oven at 350℉ for about 7 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave for about 3 minutes on medium power. Yet, the oven or toaster oven will help the nuggets to stay crispy.
Freezer
The nuggets can be stored in the freezer in an airtight container or sealed freezer bag for up to 3 months! Then to reheat, you can allow them to thaw out overnight in the fridge and then reheat the next day. Or, if you are short on time, just lay the nuggets out on a sheet pan and put them in the oven at 350℉ for about 20 minutes to warm.
Other Delicious Chicken Recipes To Try
- Crispy Chicken Cutlets
- Baked Chicken Breast
- Braised Balsamic Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs
- Creamy Herb Chicken
- Chicken Parmesan
- Creamy Parmesan Chicken With Mushrooms
- Roast Chicken Recipe
- Air Fryer Chicken Katsu With Tonkatsu Sauce
- Pizza Stuffed Chicken Breast {Air Fryer}
- 25 Chicken Breast Recipes to Revolutionize Your Home-Cooked Meals
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast boneless and skinless, cut into 1½ inch pieces
- 2 cups breadcrumbs such as Panko
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer. Get your air fryer ready by preheating it to 400°F.
- Prepare the chicken for coating. Pat dry the cut-up chicken pieces with paper towels. This helps to adhere both the egg and breadcrumbs to the nuggets.
- Season the breadcrumbs. Pour the breadcrumbs onto a shallow plate. Then add the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika and mix together until fully combined.
- Whisk the eggs. In another shallow bowl, whisk the eggs together with a bit more salt and pepper for additional seasoning.
- Coat the chicken in the eggs and breadcrumbs. First, dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture followed by the seasoned breadcrumbs. To fully coat the pieces of chicken, you may need to press the chicken into the breadcrumbs. You will want to do each piece separately for the best results.
- Air Fry. Place the breaded chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer and spray them with nonstick cooking. Then put the basket into the air fryer and cook for 7 to 10 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken needs to reach 165°F to ensure that it's cooked. If not all nuggets fit in your air fryer basket, you will need to do this in batches.
- To serve. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Tips & Notes:
- You can easily substitute the boneless skinless chicken breast with boneless skinless chicken thighs. Just cut the same size pieces.
- To ensure the chicken is fully cooked through you will want to use an instant read digital meat thermometer, which should read 165℉ when inserted into the center of the chicken pieces.
- For the crispiest chicken nuggets use panko breadcrumbs. Any breadcrumb will work, but panko has an added crunch and nice seasoned finish that only adds to the other spices.
- Add your favorite herbs and spices to the breadcrumbs to customize your nuggets. A Cajun spice mix would be a nice touch of heat, curry powder super yummy, or even a simple dash of Italian seasoning for an added herby flavor.
