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.
Judy russell says
Love the air fry recipes all recipes look easy and tasty!
Christopher says
I was looking for a recipe for chicken fillet. I really like your recipe. Light version without meat fried in fat
HTT says
This was quick, easy, healthy, and a recipe my family will be repeating! I made this with a mustard / soy sauce dip and added a garlic herb seasoning to the plain breadcrumbs/parmesan blend as I didn't have the Italian seasoning.
Holly says
I needed a recipe when I realized the chicken I'd been buying for my kids was full of sugar. So glad I found this recipe, and its so simple and easy my kids could help, and they loved it! We dipped it in homemade honey mustard!
Anna says
That's wonderful! I'm so glad it's helpful and your kids enjoy it! Thank you, Holly!
Dylan says
tasted great
Holly says
I have a question? Once these are cooked. Has anyone tried to freeze them?? How did they do?
LibbyMellies says
Thanks for sharing. They were a big hit, I added dry ranch dressing to a second batch and that was a hit too.
Anna says
That sounds delicious! Thank you, Libby!
Lauren says
These are the absolute best air fryer chicken nuggets I have had! Only change we made was seasoned salt instead of regular salt. My husband is a chicken nugget fanatic and he rated these the best homemade chicken nuggets ever!!! I’m sure it will be our new go to recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Anna says
Just made this recipe. Really good! I added some garlic powder, onion powder and parmesan cheese to the bread crumbs. Paired it with a copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese recipe. Everyone really like it.
Anna says
Fantastic! Thank you for making my recipe, Anna!
Jenna says
Have made multiple times.. love, love, LOVE. I have been using a little extra parm and have found imo you can’t possibly use too much lol I also usually flip and cook for 2-3 mins to make sure the bottom is crispy too
Overall - 100000/10 recommend 🤤🤤
Linda says
Do you know if they’re good the next day after cooking them?
Anna says
They sure are! You can reheat them right in the air fryer.
Brenda says
Great air fryer nugget recipe…So quick and easy! My husband is not a fan of chicken but really liked these.
Anna says
I am so glad the nuggets were a hit, Brenda! Thank you for making my recipe!
Beck says
Made this for lunch, absolutely delicious! Simple and easy to bake. My husband devoured 3 so I knew he enjoyed it!
Ken says
Most excellent meal. I will confess to being a bit dubious about the cook time, but they were crispy yet moist 2 thumbs up!!
William says
I made them for tonight's dinner but substituted with seasoned salt, whole wheat panko breadcrumbs and pecorino romano (it was I had on hand). Delicious! This recipe is a keeper!
Jacklin Hill says
Hi! I have had the worst luck making fresh nuggets in the air fryer.
I'm hoping this one works for me. Do you spray the nuggest with oil before air frying? Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!
Anna says
Hi Jacklin! I do not spray them with oil because they are dipped in butter. I hope you will get a chance to try this recipe! Let me know how it goes!
Michael says
Made this for my wife it was unbelievable very easy to make and The Taste was out of this world thank you so much
Anna says
That's wonderful! Thank you so much for making my recipe, Michael!