Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

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Am I the only one late to the Air Fryer club? I assumed it was just another kitchen appliance that I probably didn’t need taking up space on my countertop. Well I finally received an air fryer as a gift recently, and boy was I wrong! I’m loving the air fryer now, especially when it comes to making simple recipes like these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets! They’re super easy to make, I can control the ingredients, and I can get about 2 dozen homemade chicken nuggets for half the cost compared to a fast food restaurant, #winning!

What You’ll Need for Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

When I say these nuggets are super easy to make, I mean you really only need a few ingredients:

1. Chicken – I’m a chicken breast girl so I’m using a boneless, skinless chicken breast for my nuggets. You can certainly use boneless, skinless chicken thighs, however I haven’t tested it with chicken thighs, so the cook time may vary.
2. All Purpose Flour – A light coating of flour helps the buttermilk to ad to the chicken. 
3. Buttermilk – Thick buttermilk keeps the chicken tender & moist, and also helps the breadcrumbs ad to the chicken nuggets. 
4. Breadcrumbs – Of course it wouldn’t be a chicken nugget without that iconic golden brown breading. We’re using regular plain breadcrumbs so we can season them to our liking.
5. Oil and Spices – A little bit of cooking oil to help the breadcrumbs crisp up and brown evenly. And a simple spice mix flavors the chicken.

How to Reheat Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

If you have any leftover chicken nuggets the best way to reheat them to maintain their texture and flavor would be in the air fryer. Simply preheat the air fryer to 375°F, place the nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until heated through, making sure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

What To Serve With Chicken Nuggets

What’s a chicken nugget without a great dipping sauce? Here are some of our favorites:

1. Honey Mustard sauce
2. Homemade BBQ sauce
3. Mayo Ketchup
4. Sweet and Sour sauce
5. Comeback sauce

And if you’re looking for more side dish ideas to go with these chicken nuggets, try our Oven Baked Steak Fries, Homemade Mac and Cheese, a side of Simple Sautéed Vegetables, or a quick Pasta Salad!

Recipe by Cook Good Recipes

These Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are tender, juicy, easy to make, and perfect with your favorite dipping sauce!

Servings: 4 5-6 nuggets each

Prep time: 15 minutes mins

Cook time: 8 minutes mins

Total time: 23 minutes mins

Ingredients

1. 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 2/3 lb.)($4.50)
2. 3/4 tsp salt, divided($0.05)
3. 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour($0.02)
4. 1 cup  plain breadcrumbs($0.60)
5. 1 tsp garlic powder($0.10)
6. 1/2 tsp  smoked paprika($0.05)
7. 2 Tbsp cooking oil($0.08)

Instructions 

1. On a cutting board, cut the chicken breast into 3/4 inch pieces. You should get approximately 20-24 chicken nuggets depending on the size of your chicken breast.
2. Sprinkle ¼ tsp of salt evenly over the chicken pieces. Next sprinkle the flour over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
3. In a small bowl add the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and ½ tsp salt. Mix seasoning into the breadcrumbs. Next add the cooking oil to the breadcrumbs and stir until the oil is evenly coating the breadcrumbs. It should look like damp sand.
4. In another small bowl add ½ cup buttermilk.
5. Now line up the chicken, buttermilk, and breadcrumbs. Using tongs or your hands, begin to coat the chicken nugget pieces by first dipping them in the buttermilk, then transfer them to the breadcrumbs and coat them evenly with the breadcrumbs. Set the coated chicken pieces to the side.
6. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Once preheated, place the chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Try not to overcrowd the basket. You can cook the chicken nuggets in 2 batches if needed. Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping the nuggets halfway through.
7. Remove chicken nuggets from the air fryer and let cool for 3-5 minutes, then serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving Calories: 211kcal Carbohydrates: 22g Protein: 10g Fat: 9g Sodium: 667mg Fiber: 1g

Read our full nutrition disclaimer .

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken NUggets – Step by Step Photos

On a clean cutting board, cut the chicken breast into 3/4 inch pieces. You should get approximately 20-24 chicken nuggets depending on the size of your chicken breast.

Season the chicken by adding ¼ tsp of salt evenly over the chicken pieces. Next sprinkle 1 Tbsp all purpose flour over the chicken pieces. Toss the chicken to coat evenly.

In a small bowl add 1 cup of plain breadcrumbs, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp smoked paprika, and ½ tsp salt. Mix seasoning into breadcrumbs. Next add 2 Tbsp of cooking oil to the breadcrumbs and stir until the oil is evenly coating the breadcrumbs. It should look like damp sand.

In another small bowl add ½ cup buttermilk. Line up the chicken, buttermilk, and breadcrumbs. Using tongs or your hands, begin to coat the chicken nugget pieces by first dipping them in the buttermilk, then transfer them to the breadcrumbs and coat them evenly with the breadcrumbs.

Set the coated chicken pieces to the side.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Once preheated, place the chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Try not to overcrowd the basket. You can cook the chicken nuggets in 2 batches if needed.

Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping the nuggets halfway through.

Remove the chicken nuggets from the air fryer and let cool for 3-5 minutes, then serve with your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Recipe by Cook Good Recipes