What’s in air fryer chicken nuggets?
Made with simple pantry staple ingredients, I likely don’t need to plan an extra trip to the store to make this chicken nugget recipe. That makes it a recipe I make time and time again.
Chicken Breast: Make sure to slice them into the correct nugget shapes before breading. Breadcrumbs: You can use panko if you’d like! Just note that the texture will be different. Olive Oil: This is used just to make sure the nuggets don’t stick to the air fryer. You can swap it with something else, like vegetable oil.
Can you make these without an air fryer?
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can still make these chicken nuggets. You can deep fry them in an oil such as canola or vegetable or you can oven bake them. To oven bake, preheat the oven to 400°F and place the coated chicken on to a baking sheet. Bake for around 20 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
How to Store and Reheat
Store chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, just pop the nuggets back in the air fryer at 400°F for 4-5 minutes.
How to Freeze
Let the cooked chicken nuggets totally cool to room temperature. Then, toss them into an airtight freezer safe container. Date, label and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow the nuggets to defrost in the fridge for a few hours prior to reheating.
Notes from the Test Kitchen
I also tried panko crumbs, and they worked too! They have a different texture, and I liked the breadcrumb texture better. You can add hot sauce or chili powder to the milk and seasonings mixture if you want a spicier chicken nugget. If in a hurry, and you aren’t concerned with how “pretty” the nuggets look, you can pour the flour over the chicken pieces in a larger bowl and toss until they are covered. It saves a step, but I wanted to make sure all of my pieces were evenly covered.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Step by Step
Whisk the batter: Whisk together 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup milk, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper and 1/2 tsp paprika. Dip in flour: Place remaining flour into a bowl. Dip each piece of chicken in the flour. Dip in batter: Dip the flour coated chicken in the batter. Coat in breadcrumbs: Add breadcrumbs to a third bowl. Coat each piece of chicken in breadcrumbs. Cook the chicken: Brush 2 tbsp oil in the air fryer basket. Place the chicken in the basket and cook at 380°F for 14 minutes, flipping halfway through cook time. Feel free to cook for an extra minute to make the nuggets even crispier!
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes We Love
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Wings Air Fryer Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs Air Fryer Chili Lime Chicken Air Fryer Firecracker Chicken Meatballs
title: “Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe” ShowToc: true date: “2024-11-24” author: “Amber Griest”
What’s in Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets?
Crispy and tender, these air fryer chicken nuggets are quite simply the best! Coated in seasoned breadcrumbs and so quick and easy to make, they are the perfect appetizer!
Chicken: We love to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, but thighs will also work. Flour: Helps create a batter so that the seasonings stick to the chicken nuggets. Milk: Helps create a batter so that the seasonings stick to the chicken nuggets. We like to use whole milk or buttermilk for a bit of tang, but you could use any milk you have on hand, including plant-based milk! Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and paprika season the nuggets. You could use smoked paprika for a smokier taste or hot paprika for spicier nuggets. Breadcrumbs: We used traditional plain breadcrumbs for my nuggets. We also tried Panko breadcrumbs, and they worked too! They have a different texture, and we liked the plain breadcrumb texture better. Oil: We like to use olive oil to help our nuggets crisp up in the air fryer, but you could use vegetable oil instead. Cooking oil spray also works well here.
Notes from the Test Kitchen
If in a hurry, and you aren’t concerned with how “Pretty” the nuggets look, you can pour the flour over the chicken pieces in a larger bowl and toss until they are covered. It saves a step, but we wanted to make sure all of my pieces were evenly covered.
Variations on Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer
These nuggets are so delicious just as they are. If you’ve got adventurous eaters, you can try making spicy nuggets. Add a few dashes of hot sauce or chili powder to the milk and seasonings mixture. To go the extra mile, toss the cooked nuggets in Buffalo sauce for my take on boneless wings!
Serving Suggestions
These air fryer chicken nuggets are great to serve as an appetizer with your favorite dips (don’t forget the chick-fil-a-sauce), or as a main with your favorite veggie and potato sides. Try them dipped in fry sauce, homemade ranch, Buffalo sauce, or sweet and sour sauce. Serve them with a side of baked sweet potato fries, shoestring fries, or my personal favorite, bacon cheese fries. Whip up some air fryer broccoli for a complete meal!
How to Make Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer Step by Step
Prep the Air Fryer: Using a pastry brush, brush 1 tablespoon of olive oil onto the basket of your air fryer. This will keep the batter from sticking to the basket as it cooks. Set the basket aside. Make a Dredging Station: Set out 3 small bowls. Add ½ cup of flour to one bowl. In a second bowl, whisk together the remaining ½ cup of flour, ½ cup of milk, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper, and ½ teaspoon of ground paprika. Fill the third bowl with 1 cup of breadcrumbs. Place the bowls next to each other for easy dipping. Dip the Chicken: Dip 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 2×2-inch pieces into the flour. Toss the Chicken: From the flour mixture, move the nugget to the milk/seasonings mixture and toss to coat. Bread the Chicken: Finally, coat each piece with breadcrumbs and place it into the oiled air fryer basket without stacking. Air Fry the Nuggets: Repeat coating for each piece, until all are covered and in the basket (note: don’t crowd the basket. You may need to air fry in batches). Brush the nuggets with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Select chicken, make sure the temperature is 380°F, and cook on each side for 7 minutes. If you prefer extra crispy, you can cook an additional minute on each side. Serve immediately.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover air fryer chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 minutes, until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze air fryer chicken nuggets in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store for up to 3 months. Reheat directly from frozen at 250°F for 5-6 minutes, until warmed through.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes To Try
Air Fryer Chicken Breast Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos Air Fryer Chicken Thigs
