Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

Serve these easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets as an entree or with toothpicks as an appetizer. They’re tender on the inside with a crispy exterior making them perfect for serving alongside a variety of your favorite sauces for dipping. They can be made in the oven, too!

Easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe

This recipe uses boneless skinless chicken breasts that are coated with a seasoned flour, simple egg wash than perfectly seasoned breadcrumbs. How to make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

• Prepare Air Fryer – Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
• Breading – In a shallow bowl whisk together flour, seasoned salt, granulated garlic, onion powder, paprika and black pepper.
• Egg Wash – In a separate bowl whisk together eggs with buttermilk.
• Bread Crumbs – In a third shallow bowl or container whisk together panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
• Dredge the Chicken – Coat chicken with the flour mixture, then into egg wash and into the panko breadcrumbs pressing the breadcrumbs firmly onto the chicken. Place onto a sheet pan.
• Spray the basket of the air fryer with cooking spray or use an oil mister. Spray chicken liberally with cooking spray and arrange in the basket in a single layer. Cook for 12 minutes, in two batches to prevent overcrowding.
• Check halfway through (around 6 minutes) and flip spraying any dry spots in the breading with additional cooking spray or oil.
• Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauces.

How to Make the Best Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe

• Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets: Boneless skinless chicken breasts, all purpose flour, panko breadcrumbs, seasoned salt, black pepper, paprika, granulated garlic, onion powder,grated Parmesan cheese and cooking spray or an oil mister.
• Kitchen tools you’ll need to make homemade Chicken Nuggets in an air fryer: Air fryer, measuring cups and spoons, three shallow bowls, whisk and oil mister or cooking spray.
• When working with breading in an air fryer it’s important to make sure the breading is entirely coated with oil or cooking spray. Stop halfway through cooking, turn and coat again targeting any dry spots.
• When it comes to Air Fryers, the market has been flooded with different brands and styles. I’ve owned both the basket air fryer and a multi function air fryer that bakes and performs other tasks. My experience is, the multi function oven style air fryers run a bit hotter than the basket style. You can make these chicken nuggets in either style, simply know your appliance and how it performs and adjust the temperature and cooking time as needed.
• You could adapt this recipe using boneless skinless chicken thighs. Please note, they may take slightly longer to cook. Make sure you cook them until the juices run clear. You can also check the center with a meat thermometer looking for an internal temperature of 165°F
• Sauces to serve with chicken nuggets: Japanese Steakhouse Yum Yum Sauce, Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce, Honey Mustard Sauce or Southern Comeback Sauce.
• Store these breaded Chicken Nuggets wrapped in foil or in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat homemade Chicken Nuggets in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes to crisp. Spray with cooking spray or an oil mister prior to reheating.

Oven Fried Chicken Nuggets

You can also make these chicken nuggets in the oven. Adjust the baking time according to the size of the chicken pieces. How to make Oven Fried Chicken Nuggets:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Liberally spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside.
• Follow the recipe for breading the chicken nuggets.
• Arrange on baking pan without touching. Spray the chicken liberally with cooking spray.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes drizzling with melted butter halfway through baking and turning.
• Serve immediately.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes to Make

• You can make loaded Air Fryer Baked Potatoes in no time flat.
• Air Fryer Jalapeno Popper Mushrooms are bound to be the hit of the party.
• Juicy and flavorful Air Fryer Meatloaf.
• Free up oven space with this Air Fryer Macaroni and Cheese.
• Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken Breasts are an easy weekday meal.
• Perfectly seasoned Air Fryer Shrimp.
• Air Fryer Potato Chips from Well Plated.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Air Fryer
• Tongs
• Breading Trays
• Oil Mister