These air fryer chicken nuggets are crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside, and can be seasoned any way you like! With just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes to cook, you’ll save time and money by making these air fryer chicken nuggets at home. The entire family will want these again and again!
About these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
There’s nothing like a delicious dinner of juicy chicken nuggets dipped in your favorite sauce. And maybe some french fries too. But we are all about fakeout takeout here, so skip the drive-thru and make your own.
Yes, really! You can make your own chicken nuggets, and you can know exactly what is in each bite of fried goodness. Well, air-fried goodness — because these are made in the air fryer!
With just a few ingredients, a little time and less money, you’ll love making these air fryer chicken nuggets at home. They’re great for an easy lunch, but we serve them as easy dinners on weeknights more often than not!
Finish off your easy meal with some peanut butter oatmeal cookies and you’re sure to put a smile on everyone’s face!
Why you’ll love them
These air fryer chicken nuggets are one of our family’s favorite recipes, and I just know they’ll be yours too.
- These air fryer chicken nuggets are crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside — just how chicken nuggets should be!
- Making your own chicken nuggets is a great healthier option to fast food.
- Homemade chicken nuggets can be seasoned any way you like. Make ’em spicy if you want! Dip them in your favorite dipping sauces, too.
- They are great for a snack, for dinner or an appetizer for the big game. You can even put them on a salad!
Chicken in the air fryer is so good! Try making your own chicken wings or drumsticks next.
Ingredients
Okay, so… YES you could buy frozen nuggets and cook them up in your air fryer. But if you’re air frying, don’t you want ALL the benefits of using this healthier kitchen appliance? Making your own chicken nuggets allows you to hand-pick every single ingredient, so you can feel better about what your family is eating.
Here’s what you need:
- boneless skinless chicken breast
- all purpose flour
- kosher salt
- large eggs
- whole milk
- seasoned breadcrumbs
- panko breadcrumbs
- cooking spray (I use olive oil spray)
This recipe makes about 2 big servings, so you may want to double the recipe for a bigger group. You will probably need to cook them in a second batch, though.
Substitutions & variations
One great thing about making these easy homemade chicken nuggets is that the recipe is very versatile and you can customize it how you like. Here are some of the ways you can mix things up!
Chicken: I’m using chicken breast but chicken thighs would also be delicious! You could also try this with turkey breast. You can also cut the breasts or thighs into chicken strips or chicken tenders (with chicken tenderloins), but keep in mind that bigger pieces will take longer to cook, so account for that extra time.
Flour: Flour helps the egg stick to the chicken. (It would probably work with a gluten-free flour blend, but I haven’t tried it so if you do let me know! Chickpea flour would also be good.)
Eggs: Eggs help the breadcrumbs stick to the chicken nuggets. For an egg-free option, you can whisk up a little water and cornstarch.
Seasonings: Salt seasons the chicken nuggets so they taste delicious. Feel free to add any seasonings you like to the chicken. Try it with poultry seasoning, garlic and herb seasoning or BBQ seasoning. You could even throw a pinch of cayenne pepper in there for some heat.
Milk: Milk helps thin the eggs so the dredge isn’t too thick. Any milk will work so feel free to use what you have on hand.
Breadcrumbs: These are what creates the crisp coating on our chicken nuggets. Regular breadcrumbs provide an even coating, but feel free to use panko breadcrumbs if you want a bit of extra crunch. I like to use a mix of both. No breadcrumbs? Try crushing up some crackers like Saltines or Cheez-its — but you should not add extra salt if you go this route.
Instructions
Okay, ready to make your own air fryer chicken nuggets?! Me too! Here’s what to do:
Start by preheating your air fryer to 400°F (20°C) for 5 minutes.
While it warms up, chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces, about 1 inches cubed. Add the chopped chicken, flour, and salt to a medium bowl and toss until the chicken is evenly coated with flour.
In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and whole milk. And in another small bowl, stir together the seasoned breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs.
Working one at a time, dip each chicken nugget into the egg mixture, making sure the egg coats the chicken on all sides.
Next dip the chicken nugget in the seasoned breadcrumbs, making sure the chicken nugget is completely covered in breadcrumbs.
Lightly grease your preheated air fryer basket with olive oil spray and carefully place as many chicken nuggets as will fit– make sure not to overcrowd the pan!
Spray the chicken pieces with olive oil spray and cook them at 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes. Next, turn the air fryer to 400°F (20°C) and cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) on an instant read thermometer.
Keep in mind that the cooking time may vary a little depending on the size and brand of your air fryer and the thickness of the chicken nuggets. It’s best to cut them to about equal sizes for even cooking.
Serve the chicken nuggets immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Storage Tips
Store any leftover nuggets in a food-safe, airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 3-5 days.
Microwaving can make them soggy. The best way to reheat is to either cook in the air fryer at 350°F (20°C) for 2-3 minutes or heat them in the toaster oven at 350°F (177°C) for 3-5 minutes. This will keep the breading nice and crispy!
Dipping Sauces for Chicken Nuggets
Homemade chicken nuggets call for homemade sauces. You can re-create a lot of your favorite fast food restaurant sauces with stuff from your own kitchen. Here are a few of my favorite sauce recipes to try:
- Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce
- Ranch Dressing
- Barbecue Sauce
- Avocado Aioli
- Horseradish Aioli
- Honey Mustard
- Buffalo Sauce
- Special Sauce
- Garlic Aioli
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
Make a few and use them for everything on your plate, from air fryer sweet potato fries to brussels sprouts.
FAQ
Breadcrumbs are what creates the crisp coating on our chicken nuggets. If you want an even coating, use regular breadcrumbs. If you want crunchier bites, use panko breadcrumbs. You can also use a mix of the two.
You need a few things to create a great breading: flour, milk, egg and breadcrumbs. Whisk an egg and some milk together in a shallow bowl until it is an even color. Then, add some flour to another shallow bowl, and breadcrumbs in a third bowl.
The first step is flour — this will help the egg stick. Dip the chicken in the flour and coat it thoroughly. Shake off any excess. Then dip it in the egg mixture. Shake off any excess. Finally, dip them in the bread crumbs. I find it is helpful to use a different fork for each step to flip the chicken and transfer it to the next step.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Filet Mignon
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Air Fryer Kielbasa (Polish Sausages)
- Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans
Like my Blueberry Chia Pudding recipe? Drop a star rating below!
I’d love to hear about your experience making it, and I’d love to see it, too — Snap a photo and tag me on Instagram. I’d be thrilled to re-post to my stories!
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1” pieces
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- ¾ cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- olive oil spray to coat the pan
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (20°C) for 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken, flour, and salt to a medium bowl and toss until the chicken is evenly coated with flour.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and whole milk.
- In another small bowl, stir together the seasoned breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs.
- Working one at a time, dip each chicken nugget into the egg mixture, making sure the egg coats the chicken on all sides.
- Next dip the chicken nugget in the seasoned breadcrumbs, making sure the chicken nugget is completely covered in breadcrumbs.
- Lightly grease your preheated air fryer basket with olive oil spray and carefully place as many chicken nuggets as will fit. Be sure not to overcrowd the basket!
- Spray the chicken nuggets with olive oil spray and cook them at 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes. Then turn the air fryer to 400°F (20°C) and cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) on an instant read thermometer.
- Serve the chicken nuggets immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Flour helps the egg stick to the chicken.
- Milk helps thin the eggs so the dredge isn’t too thick. Any milk will work so feel free to use what you have on hand.
- Breadcrumbs are what creates the crisp coating on our chicken nuggets. Regular breadcrumbs will give an even coating, but feel free to use panko breadcrumbs if you want a bit of extra crunch. Or use a mix of both — my favorite.
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