Air-Fryer Chicken Nuggets: Perfect Timing For Golden Treats

Chicken nuggets are a universally loved food, perfect for kids and adults alike. They can be made in an air fryer in a matter of minutes and are a healthier alternative to deep-fried nuggets. The air fryer also makes clean-up easier as there is no messy deep fryer to deal with. When making chicken nuggets in an air fryer, it is important to ensure that the nuggets are not overcrowded in the basket and are in a single layer so that the hot air can circulate and create that perfect crispy exterior. The cooking time will depend on the size of the nuggets, but on average, they will take around 8-15 minutes to cook at a temperature of around 400°F.

Air fryer chicken nuggets from frozen

Air fryer chicken nuggets are a quick, easy, and convenient meal to make from frozen. They are a healthier alternative to deep-fried or fast-food chicken nuggets as they require no oil and can be made in a matter of minutes.

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients:

• Chicken – boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs.
• All-purpose flour – for coating the chicken.
• Buttermilk – to keep the chicken tender and moist, and help the breadcrumbs adhere.
• Breadcrumbs – for the iconic golden brown breading.
• Oil and spices – for flavour and to help the breadcrumbs crisp up and brown evenly.

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to between 375-400°F (190-200°C). Whether you need to preheat your air fryer will depend on the model, but it is generally recommended to ensure even cooking.
• Place the frozen chicken nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on the wire rack, ensuring they do not overlap or touch. This allows the hot air to circulate and crisp up all sides of the nuggets.
• Air fry for 5-12 minutes, or until the nuggets are golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 160-165°F (71-74°C). The exact cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your nuggets, as well as your air fryer model.
• Remove the cooked chicken nuggets from the basket using tongs and serve with your favourite dipping sauce, such as ketchup, honey mustard, barbecue sauce, or sweet and sour sauce.

Tips

• There is no need to line or grease the air fryer basket as the frozen nuggets are unlikely to stick.
• Flipping the chicken nuggets halfway through cooking is optional and depends on your air fryer model. If using a basket with holes or a wire rack, the hot air will circulate and crisp both sides without flipping. If using a solid tray or pan, flip them to ensure even cooking.
• To reheat chicken nuggets, place them in a single layer in the air fryer and cook at 350-400°F (180-200°C) for 2-5 minutes, or until heated through.

Enjoy your crispy, golden, and perfectly cooked air fryer chicken nuggets!

Air fryer chicken nuggets with no oil

Chicken nuggets are a great, easy meal to make in an air fryer, and they can be made with almost no oil. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make delicious, tender, and juicy chicken nuggets with very little oil.

Ingredients

You will need the following:

• Chicken breasts or thighs (boneless and skinless)
• All-purpose flour
• Buttermilk (or a substitute such as milk and vinegar/lemon juice, or Greek yogurt)
• Breadcrumbs (plain or Panko)
• Oil (a small amount of cooking oil or olive oil)
• Spices (such as garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper)
• Parmesan cheese (optional)

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Start by cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces, around 3/4 inch to 1 inch in size. You can use either chicken breasts or thighs, but the cook time may vary slightly.

Step 2: Bread the Chicken

Set up a breading station with three bowls. In the first bowl, place the flour. In the second bowl, place the buttermilk. And in the third bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with your desired spices and parmesan cheese (if using).

First, dip the chicken pieces in the flour, then coat them in the buttermilk, and finally, dredge them in the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure each piece is evenly coated.

Step 3: Air Fry the Chicken Nuggets

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overcrowded. You may need to cook them in batches.

Lightly spray the chicken with oil, or use an oil spray, to help them get crispy. Air fry the nuggets for around 8-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The exact time will depend on the size of your nuggets and your air fryer, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

Once the chicken nuggets are golden brown and cooked through, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces, such as sweet and sour sauce, ketchup, ranch, or honey mustard.

Enjoy your delicious, crispy, and tender air fryer chicken nuggets!

Air fryer chicken nuggets with buttermilk

Ingredients

• 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 2/3 lb.)
• 3/4 tsp salt, divided
• 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 Tbsp cooking oil

Method

• 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.
• Sprinkle 1/4 tsp of salt evenly over the chicken pieces. Next, sprinkle the flour over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
• In a small bowl, add the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and 1/2 tsp salt. Mix the seasoning into the breadcrumbs. Next, add the cooking oil to the breadcrumbs and stir until the oil is evenly coating them. It should look like damp sand.
• In another small bowl, add 1/2 cup of buttermilk.
• Line up the chicken, buttermilk, and breadcrumbs. Using tongs or your hands, coat the chicken pieces by first dipping them in the buttermilk, then transferring them to the breadcrumbs and coating them evenly. 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, without overcrowding the basket. You may need to cook the chicken nuggets in 2 batches.
• 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 before serving with your favorite dipping sauce.

Tips

• If you don't have buttermilk, you can use 1 Tbsp of vinegar or lemon juice mixed with 1 cup of milk. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes before using.
• Alternatively, you can use 1/3 cup of plain Greek yogurt, 1/8 tsp of salt, and 3 Tbsp of water. Stir until smooth but still thick enough to coat the chicken.
• Preheat your air fryer before cooking the nuggets.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the nuggets in batches if needed, ensuring they are in a single layer with space for the hot air to circulate.
• If you have any leftovers, the best way to reheat them is in the air fryer at 375°F for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

Air fryer chicken nuggets with breadcrumbs

Ingredients

• Boneless, skinless chicken breast
• All-purpose flour
• Buttermilk
• Plain breadcrumbs
• Cooking oil
• Salt
• Garlic powder
• Smoked paprika

Optional Ingredients

• Parmesan cheese
• Red pepper flakes
• Dried parsley
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Egg

Method

• Cut the chicken breast into 3/4-inch pieces. You should get around 20-24 nuggets, depending on the size of the chicken breast.
• Sprinkle salt over the chicken pieces, followed by the flour, and toss to coat evenly.
• In a small bowl, add the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Mix the seasonings into the breadcrumbs.
• Add the cooking oil to the breadcrumbs and stir until the oil evenly coats the breadcrumbs. It should look like damp sand.
• In another small bowl, add the buttermilk.
• Line up the chicken, buttermilk, and breadcrumbs. Using tongs or your hands, coat the chicken pieces by dipping them in the buttermilk, then transferring them to the breadcrumbs and coatingsection evenly.
• Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. You may need to cook the nuggets in batches.
• Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping the nuggets halfway through.
• Remove the chicken nuggets from the air fryer and let them cool for 3-5 minutes before serving with your favorite dipping sauce.

Tips

• For a thicker coating, press the breadcrumb mixture well on both sides of the chicken.
• Preheat the air fryer before cooking to ensure crispy and juicy nuggets.
• If using pre-shredded coarse parmesan, process it in a food processor for a few seconds before using for a more uniform coating.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the nuggets in batches if needed.
• For gluten-free nuggets, use gluten-free flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs.

Air fryer chicken nuggets with flour

Ingredients

• 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 3/4 tsp salt, divided
• 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 Tbsp cooking oil

Method

• Cut the chicken breast into 3/4-inch pieces. You should get around 20-24 chicken nuggets, depending on the size of your chicken breast.
• Sprinkle 1/4 tsp of salt evenly over the chicken pieces. Then, sprinkle the flour over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
• In a small bowl, add the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and 1/2 tsp salt. Mix the seasoning into the breadcrumbs. Next, add the cooking oil to the breadcrumbs and stir until the oil is evenly coating them. It should look like damp sand.
• In another small bowl, add 1/2 cup of buttermilk.
• Line up the chicken, buttermilk, and breadcrumbs. Using tongs or your hands, coat the chicken nugget pieces by first dipping them in the buttermilk, then transferring them to the breadcrumbs and coating them evenly. 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 them cool for 3-5 minutes before serving with your favorite dipping sauce.

Tips

• For even cooking, give the basket a little shake about halfway through the cooking time.
• If you are using frozen chicken nuggets, there is no need to line or grease the basket as there is no real risk of them sticking.
• If you are reheating chicken nuggets, preheat the air fryer to 375°F, place the nuggets in a single layer, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

Frequently asked questions