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!
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Crispy Breaded Chicken Nuggets
There is never a bad time for chicken nuggets, and this air fryer recipe is the best!
Simple and easy to make, these nuggets are perfectly tender with the most delicious crispy coating.
Grab your air fryer and get to it!
Be sure to try my air fried hamburgers and crispy potatoes!
Why you’ll love this Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets recipe:
- QUICK: Simple to prep and cook, these nuggets are ready to serve in less than 30 minutes.
- HEALTHIER: Get that crispy deep fried texture and flavor without the need for all the oil.
- KID FRIENDLY: Kids love chicken nuggets! These are great to serve as an appetizer or as part of an easy weeknight meal.
How to make Air Fried Chicken Nuggets
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- Brush the air fryer basket with oil.
- Mix half the flour, milk and seasonings in one bowl, the rest of the flour in another bowl and the breadcrumbs in a third.
- Dip each piece of chicken in the flour, milk then breadcrumbs.
- Place in the air fryer basket and cook, flipping halfway.
- Serve!
What’s the best chicken to use?
Hands down, chicken breast is the best cut to use for these nuggets. They stay perfectly juicy and tender. Thighs will take longer to cook, so you run the risk of undercooked chicken or a burnt coating.
If you have them, chicken tenders will also work well for this recipe.
Can you make them ahead of time?
These chicken nuggets are best served as soon as they are made, but you can bread them a few hours ahead of time and keep them covered in the fridge.
Any leftovers will keep well for up to 4 days and can be reheated in the air fryer at 350F for 3 minutes until warmed through.
What do you serve them with?
These air fryer chicken nuggets are great to serve as an appetizer with your favorite dips (don’t forget the chick-fil-a-sauce), or as a main with your favorite veggie and potato sides. Try them with:
Tips!
- I also tried panko crumbs, and they worked too! They have a different texture, and I liked the breadcrumb texture better.
- You can also add hot sauce or chili powder to the milk and seasonings mixture if you want a spicier chicken nugget.
- 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 I wanted to make sure all of my pieces were evenly covered.
Chicken nuggets are always a hit and these air fryer ones are total perfection! So quick and easy to make and a total crowd pleaser!
More Air Fryer Recipes we Love
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. boneless chicken cut into strips or 2×2 size.
- 1 cup flour divided in half
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
Equipment
Instructions
For the Breadcrumbs
- Depending on the size of the bread, you can make your own bread crumbs from about four slices of bread. Place bread in the basket, and set time for about 5-7 minutes at 350 degrees, flipping over half way. The airfryer makes the bread very crisp! I put my bread into the food processor and in just about 30 seconds, I had perfect, fresh bread crumbs. (Four slices equalled one cup, almost exactly.)
For the Chicken Nuggets:
- To prepare the basket: Using a pastry brush, brush oil onto the basket. (I used olive oil, but I am sure vegetable oil works just as well. This will keep the batter from sticking to the basket as it cooks.) Set the basket aside.
- In a small to medium bowl, whisk together the other ½ cup flour, milk, and seasonings. Using two other bowls, one filled with the other ½ cup flour, and the other with the breadcrumbs, place the bowls next to each other for easy dipping. Dip each piece of chicken, starting with the flour, then once coated, dip into milk/seasonings mixture, then coat each piece with bread crumbs. Place each piece into the oiled basket, without stacking. Repeat coating for each piece, until all are covered and in basket.
- Select chicken, make sure the temperature is 380 degrees. Cook on each side for 7 minutes. If you prefer extra crispy, you can cook an additional minute on each side.
- Serve Immediately.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- I also tried panko crumbs, and they worked too! They have a different texture, and I liked the breadcrumb texture better. You can also add hot sauce or chili powder to the milk and seasonings mixture if you want a spicier chicken nugget.
- 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 I wanted to make sure all of my pieces were evenly covered.
Nutrition Information
