These Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are a healthier option for a kid-friendly dinner! Easy homemade chicken nuggets, breaded and baked in an air fryer.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
If your plan for the new year is to eat healthier or find ways to make your favorite dishes lighter, I have a recipe just for you. Chicken nuggets baked to perfection in the air fryer are my new favorite way to make them! Fresh chicken breast, cut into nuggets, seasoned, dipped in melted butter, and then in breadcrumbs and baked for 9 minutes in the air fryer without any oil is bound to be a hit with kids and adults!
This healthier Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets option is great to make ahead too! Simply make a double batch and freeze half once completely cooled. Then use as you would with store-bought nuggets. So easy!
I serve these nuggets with Sweet Potato Fries and Instant Pot Mac and Cheese for a kid-friendly dinner.
Ingredients:
- chicken: boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces;
- butter: keeps the nuggets juicy and helps the breading stick to the meat;
- bread crumbs: plain or Italian, use panko if you want the nuggets to be extra crispy;
- seasoning: keep it simple with salt and pepper, but you can also add paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, etc;
- Parmesan: adds great toasted cheese flavor to the chicken.
How to bake chicken nuggets in the air fryer?
Making chicken nuggets at home is very easy.
- Trim any fat from chicken breast. Slice into ½ inch thick slices, then each slice into 2 to 3 nuggets.
- Melt butter in a small bowl and place breadcrumbs in another small bowl. Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F for 4 minutes.
- Season chicken pieces, then dip each one in butter and then in breadcrumbs.
- Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Bake for 7 minutes.
Serve with a side of steamed or roasted vegetables and dipping sauce or fruit salad and yogurt.
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Expert Tips!
- Try adding various spices to the breading: cayenne pepper for a spicy version, taco or fajita seasoning for a Mexican twist;
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer - allow space between the chicken nuggets so the air can circulate properly;
- Add panko for extra crispy nuggets!
- Keep the nuggets roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
Recipe FAQs:
Two chicken breast makes about 42 nuggets which are comparable to the amount you get in a bag in the store.
Absolutely! You can cook the nuggets, then cool them completely and freeze them for up to 3 months. Use a freezer-friendly container or a bag.
Any leftovers should be stored in the fridge, for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply pop the nuggets into the air fryer set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and the timer set to 3 minutes.
The chicken nuggets bake for 8 minutes in the air fryer.
More air fryer recipes:
If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 boneless skinless chicken breast
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan optional
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390° Fahrenheit for 4 minutes.
- Trim any fat from chicken breast, Slice into ½ inch thick slices, then each slice into 2 to 3 nuggets. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- Place melted butter in a small bowl and breadcrumbs ( with Parmesan, if using ) in another small bowl.
- Dip each piece of chicken in butter, then breadcrumbs.
- Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to bake in two batches or more.
- Set timer to 8 minutes.
- When done, check if the internal temperature of chicken nuggets is at least 165° F. Remove nuggets from basket with tongs and set onto a plate to cool.
Notes
- Serve with steamed or roasted vegetables or fruit salad and yogurt.
- This recipe makes about 21 chicken nuggets from one chicken breast. You can double and use two chicken breast and make 42 nuggets, which is comparable to the amount you get in a bag in a grocery store.
- You can use plain breadcrumbs, however I prefer Italian style.
- The amount of calories does not include Parmesan cheese, which is optional.
Pamela Crane says
These were so good and so easy. Kids and grandpa loved them. I am trying to teach my grandson how to cook some things and these are simple enough for him to make. I used chicken thighs and experimented with both bread crumbs and cracker crumbs. We ended up combining the two because both were good. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Jen says
This is so underrated (because there's only a few reviews)!!! I found this recipe because I wanted to make air fryer nuggets with items I already had in the house and WOW. Super Easy. I have an Ninja Air Fryer Oven and I just added 2 more minutes to the 8 minutes. Super easy and great if you're counting calories. I will definitely be making this again! Also, I agree. Use Italian breadcrumbs for sure.
Anna says
Thank you so much, Jen! I am so glad the chicken nuggets were a success!
David Hearst says
Awesome Recipe!! Although I would cook it for 9 or 10 minutes instead of 8.
Lisa P LaGrou says
Can you make these in the oven on the Air Fryer setting? If so, how long would I cook them for? And, is it ok if I don't have a wire basket...and just use a cookie sheet?
Elise says
my dad recently got an oven with an air fryer setting as well.... He tried a few things with it (without a basket) and said they didnt seem to come out right so he bought a basket on Amazon and tried the same recipes I over again and said they came out great. A basket may be worth looking into at least
Lynda Wells says
We are making these right now
Anna says
I hope you love them, Lynda!
Angelica says
This was the most delicious, easy recipe ever! The key is dipping the chicken nuggets in butter! This will be a recipe I share forever!
Vonda says
Can you use pork rinds instead of panko breading I’m low carb Italian flavor pork rinds
Nikki says
Best and easiest air fryer chicken nugget recipe hands down!
Anna says
Yay! Thank you so much, Nikki!
Diana says
This recipe is so good and easy. There is no way to go wrong. They good good with buffalo sauce and canes sauce. The nuggets are everything you want in a chicken nugget. So good! Highly recommend.
Mary says
My husband and I loved these! Added a dash of Cajun seasoning to the bread crumbs. DEFINITELY will make again!
Anna says
Thank you so much, Mary! I am so glad the nuggets were a hit!
Sabrina says
Do I have to use butter?
Anna says
Hi Sabrina! The butter helps the breading stick to the nuggets and baked them nice, crispy and browned. Hope this helps!
calla r stevens says
you can use an egg or egg whites.
Lauren says
Is the whole recipe 364 cals in total or per serving? Either way, so yummy, my friends loved them too. I cannot wait to make them again? Thanks for the awesome recipe Anna!
Neil B says
Thank you much for sharing this recipe! By far the best (and super easy) air fryer chicken recipe I’ve tried. My wife still talks about them. I can’t wait to make them again 🙂
Esmeralda says
Recipe was so good. The chicken nuggets came out so tasty. I tweaked it a little bit by adding garlic powder, and I used Ritz crackers instead of ordinary breadcrumbs. Delicious!!!
Susan says
I love the idea of Ritz. Thanks for sharing that. trying next time.
Elise says
Crushed up pretzels (smash with rolling pin or processor)are great for air fryer nuggets as well. I like to use the Snyder's honey mustard pretzels ---so good!!
Diana says
You can also soak the nuggets in pickle juice for 30 minutes.
teresa simmons says
Interesting I love pickle juice
Karen says
I made these for my husband and grandson. They were a hit. I substituted gluten free bread crumbs, since I am gluten intolerant and they came out crispy and delicious.
Anna says
Thank you so much, Karen! I am so glad the nuggets were a hit!
Manuela Pearson says
... can these chicken nuggets be frozen and for how long? If frozen how long should one bake them if they are already baked through?
Anna says
Hi Manuela! If you want to freeze already cooked nuggets, cool them completely and place on a sheet pan to freeze. Then place in a ziploc bag. That way they won't stick together. They should be good in the freezer for up to 1 month. Do not thaw, but place them in Air Fryer and bake for 8 to 9 minutes or for 19 to 20 minutes in the oven. Check one to make sure they are heated through. I hope this helps!