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Looking for a healthier way to enjoy homemade chicken nuggets? This Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets recipe is seasoned to perfection and cooked in the air fryer until perfectly golden and crispy. Serve with dipping sauces for a satisfying and kid-friendly dinner in under 30 minutes.
If you like making fast and easy dinners that everybody loves, this Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets recipe is perfect for you. An air fryer recipe that you will love. It is a simple and healthy chicken nugget recipe that can be made in about 25 minutes and makes the best crispy nuggets. Plus making homemade chicken nuggets in the air fryer is more nutritious than store-bought, is dairy-free, and can easily be made gluten-free. Adults can enjoy these chicken nuggets just as kids and they can be added to your meal prep bowls and tossed in over your salad.
Why You’ll Love this recipe
- Super easy. This healthy chicken nuggets recipe only uses 8 ingredients that you probably already have around the house. Then you just need ten minutes to prep and 15 minutes to cook before dinner is ready to serve!
- Kids and adults love them. Chicken nuggets are a childhood classic that no kid will turn down. But adults like them equally well, so you can serve them to the whole family.
- Healthier version. Making chicken nuggets in the air fryer cuts down on fat and calories compared to store-bought, deep-fried, or fast-food versions. Plus they are dairy-free and can easily be adapted to be gluten-free.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken breasts: We used boneless and skinless chicken breasts for the healthiest option, but you may use boneless and skinless chicken thighs.
- Eggs: Used to soak chicken chunks to act as a binder with the breadcrumbs
- Seasonings: Smoked paprika, Garlic powder, Onion powder, Black pepper, and salt
- Panko breadcrumbs: use store-bought or you can make your own at home. Check out our post on how to make breadcrumbs.
- Cooking oil spray
How to Air Fry Chicken Nuggets
- Preheat. First, preheat the air fryer at 400°F for about 10 minutes.
- Prep the chicken. Next, trim any fat from the chicken breast and cut into 1-inch chunks; set aside.
- Make dipping stations. In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. Then in a second shallow dish place the breadcrumbs.
- Bread the chicken. Now dip each chicken piece into the egg and then into the breadcrumbs, pressing lightly to help the coating adhere.
- Cook. Place chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket, in a single layer; you may need to bake in two batches or more, depending on the size of your fryer. Then spray the nuggets with some cooking oil and air fry for 12-15 minutes or until crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Shaking the basket halfway through.
- Serve! Once done remove the nuggets from the basket with a tong. Serve with your favorite dip and enjoy!
How to make chicken nuggets in the oven
- Preheat oven: First, preheat the oven to 400F
- Prepare the nuggets: Follow the same steps as you would if you were air-frying (please refer above or scroll down to the recipe card steps 2-5)
- Line the nuggets on a greased sheet pan. Or you may add a wire metal rack on a sheet pan, spray with some cooking spray to prevent nuggets from sticking, transfer the nuggets to the wire rack. Spray the top of the nuggets with more cooking spray.
- Next, Bake: Place them in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until they are crispy golden brown or the internal temperature reaches 165 F.
- Finally, serve with your favorite dip like honey mustard.
Sides to Serve with Chicken Nuggets
- French fries, Garlic Parmesan Baked Potato Wedges, or Crispy Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries.
- A classic mac and cheese recipe.
- Fresh fruit, like this simple Mixed Berry Fruit Salad.
- Cooked vegetables, like our Roasted Garlic Cauliflower or our Garlic Charred Brussels Sprouts.
- Serve them with mashed potatoes or try a low carb version like this Cauliflower Mash recipe
- Toss over your favorite salads.
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tip
- Chicken breasts: To help each chicken nugget cook evenly in the air fryer, make sure to cut them into equal-sized chunks.
- Smoked paprika: Regular paprika can also be used, but the smoked paprika definitely adds more flavor.
- Cooking oil spray: An olive oil spray will add a little extra flavor, but any other neutral oil will work just as well.
- Cook the chicken in a single layer, with no pieces overlapping or touching significantly. Also, if needed, cook in two batches. This will help them get really crispy!
- To make gluten-free, use gluten-free panko bread crumbs.
Frequently asked questions
Any of your favorite sauces will do the trick! Try barbecue sauce, ketchup, honey mustard, or our homemade ranch dressing.
Save your leftovers because these reheat beautifully! You can return their golden, crispy exterior in just a few minutes. Turn on the air fryer to 400°F and reheat the chicken nuggets for 4-8 minutes, or until heated through. If using an oven, just reheat them in a 400F preheated oven for 5-6 minutes until they are crispy and warm.
Store your homemade chicken nuggets in an air-tight container or sealed zipper bag after they are completely cooled. They will last in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Yes! Allow the nuggets to cool fully, then freeze in an air-tight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Let them thaw on the counter or overnight in the fridge, then reheat them in the air fryer or oven for 4-8 minutes, or until heated through.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Fish and Chips
- Air Fryer Chicken Bites
- Honey Garlic Air Fryer Tofu
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Airy Fryer BBQ Cauliflower Wings
- Air Fryer Homemade Onion Rings
- Airy Fryer Broccoli
Recipes You May Like
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Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts, skinless, boneless, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 3 ounces panko breadcrumbs, or gluten-free panko breadcrumbs
- Cooking oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 400°F for about 10 minutes.
- Trim any fat from the chicken breast and cut into 1-inch chunks; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt.
- In a shallow dish place the breadcrumbs.
- Now dip each chicken piece into the egg and then into the breadcrumbs, pressing lightly to help the coating adhere.
- Place chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket, in a single layer; you may need to bake in two batches or more, depending on the size of your fryer.
- Spray the nuggets with some cooking oil and air fry for 12-15 minutes or until crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Once done remove the nuggets from the basket with a tong. Serve with your favorite dip and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Chicken breasts: To help each chicken nugget cook evenly in the air fryer, make sure to cut them into equal-sized chunks.
- Smoked paprika: Regular paprika can also be used, but the smoked paprika adds more flavor.
- Cooking oil spray: An olive oil spray will add a little extra flavor, but any other neutral oil will work just as well.
- Cook the chicken in a single layer, with no pieces overlapping or touching significantly. If needed, cook in two batches. This will help them get crispy!
- To make gluten-free, use gluten-free panko bread crumbs.
- Storage: Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- Freezing: Cook and cool fully. Then freeze in an air-tight container for up to 3 months. Thaw before reheating.
- Reheating: Turn on the air fryer to 400°F. Reheat nuggets for 4-8 minutes, or until heated through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My name is Liza I would like to make the chicken nuggets but I do not have an air fry, can be done in the oven?
Hi there. Yes, you can bake them instead. Follow same instructions on how to make, and bake them instead at 400F for 10-12 minutes. flip the nuggets and bake again for 4-5 minutes until its golden and reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
It’s looks yummy my kids will love it
I NEVER write reviews for recipes and this was the only recipe to date I liked in the air fryer!! SO good and SO easy. I highly recommend!!!
Thanks for the review. Appreciate it.
Super easy and delicious! Guilt free nuggets 🙂
Thanks! They sure are.
Chicken nuggets cannot get better than this! These are looking so awesome and absolutely tempting!
Thank you
Hi. Can I replace panko with lightly blended jumbo oats? I only have jumbo oats now. How will the temp n cooking time differ if using oat? Thanks
I haven’t tried it with oats. I am not sure