Description
Easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets deliver crispy, golden bites in under 30 minutes using simple ingredients and less oil than traditional frying. Perfect for a quick snack or meal, this recipe yields juicy, flavorful nuggets with a crunchy coating that both kids and adults will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
Coating
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko or seasoned)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Other
- Olive oil or cooking spray for misting
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into uniform bite-sized nuggets to ensure even cooking inside the air fryer.
- Set up the breading stations: Place the flour in one bowl, beaten eggs in a second bowl, and a mixture of breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a third bowl to facilitate quick and mess-free coating.
- Coat the chicken nuggets: Dip each chicken piece first into the flour, then into the eggs, and finally coat thoroughly with the breadcrumb mixture, making sure every side is covered for maximum crunch.
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes to help achieve a crispy texture faster.
- Arrange and air fry: Place the nuggets in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, ensuring they aren’t overcrowded to allow hot air circulation.
- Cook until golden: Air fry the nuggets for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they turn golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Notes
- Cut nuggets into similar sizes for uniform cooking and perfect doneness.
- Preheating the air fryer is key to achieving better crispiness right from the start.
- A light mist of olive oil or cooking spray on the coated nuggets helps them brown beautifully.
- Flipping nuggets halfway through cooking ensures both sides crisp evenly.
- Let nuggets rest a minute after cooking to allow juices to settle for better texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 4 nuggets)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: air fryer chicken nuggets, crispy chicken nuggets, easy chicken nuggets, healthy chicken nuggets, kid-friendly snacks