Tender bite-sized pieces of chicken are coated in savory, crispy, crunchy breadcrumbs and air-fried to perfection. Simple and easy to make, these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are perfectly tender with the most delicious crispy coating!
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!
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.
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