If you’re a fan of chicken then you might just want to know how to cook Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets. Whether cooking homemade chicken nuggets or air frying ready made frozen chicken nuggets, we have the recipe and instructions for you!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Healthier Option: Enjoy the crispiness of fried nuggets without the extra oil and calories.
- Kid-Friendly: A sure hit with kids, these nuggets are perfect for meal or snack time.
- Quick and Easy: With minimal ingredients and the air fryer, you'll have nuggets in no time. Don't forget the Chicken Nugget Sauce!
📋 Ingredients
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast: Provides a lean and healthy source of protein that becomes irresistibly juicy and tender in the air fryer.
- Salt: Brings out the natural flavors of the chicken and enhances the overall taste of the nuggets.
- Black Pepper: Adds a subtle heat to the nuggets, giving them a slight kick and depth of flavor.
- Butter Melted: Adds a rich, savory taste and helps achieve a golden, crispy exterior.
- Breadcrumbs: Are key for creating that classic crunchy coating on the outside of the nuggets, making each bite a delight.
- Parmesan Cheese (grated): Melts during cooking to give the nuggets an extra layer of umami and a mouthwateringly cheesy crust.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Best Dipping Sauces for Chicken Nuggets
- Best Dipping Sauces for Air Fryer Nuggets
- So which dipping sauce will go best with air-fried chicken nuggets? I guess that depends on your personal preference, however, these tend to be the most popular.
- Sweet And Sour Sauce – A sweet and sour sauce is the perfect choice for chicken nuggets.
- Ketchup – Ketchup with chicken nuggets is always a good option, particularly if you’re making homemade chicken nuggets.
- BBQ Sauce – Perfect for any time of year, barbecue sauce is great with nuggets, even when it’s a little too cold to barbecue.
- Hot Sauce – A spicy sauce will work perfectly with chicken nuggets, especially if you’re cooking a spicier homemade recipe.
- Sweet Chili Sauce – Sweet chilli sauce goes perfectly with any chicken recipe!
- Aioli – A small dollop of garlic aioli will work perfectly with your nuggets.
- Honey Mustard Sauce – This classic taste is perfect for homemade chicken nuggets.
🔪How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
This is a guide to making chicken nuggets in an air fryer. Whether you are cooking homemade or frozen chicken nuggets, this will work for both. I’ll share the instructions for both methods.
Step One: Preheat for your air fryer at 400°F/205°C for 3 minutes. Slice your chicken breast into nugget size slices.
Step Two: Season your chicken nuggets with seasoned salt and pepper and set aside.
Step Three: Combine melted butter with ½ cup of bread crumbs. (Add the parmesan cheese if you opt to use this).
Step Four: Dip your chicken strips into the breadcrumbs. Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Step Five: Set the timer for 9 minutes. Once cooked, place chicken nuggets on a plate to cool.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Ensure Even Coating: For the crispiest results, make sure each nugget is evenly coated with your breading mixture. This can be breadcrumbs, panko, or even a mixture of flour and spices. Shake off any excess to prevent clumping and ensure a uniform texture.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Just like an oven, preheating your air fryer before adding the chicken nuggets can make a significant difference. A preheated air fryer ensures the nuggets start cooking immediately, sealing in juices and enhancing the crispiness.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Place chicken nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket with space between each piece. This allows the hot air to circulate freely around each nugget, cooking them evenly and achieving a crisp exterior. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook in batches.
💭 FAQs
There are many reasons why you should consider cooking air fryer chicken nuggets instead of deep frying;
The obvious one is that they will taste the same, but the oil is in the air fryer basket and not all over your stove or kitchen floor.
You can cook frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer.
It is healthier. You can cook a huge amount of chicken fingers all at once – no more cooking in batches. There’s no need for oven-baked chicken nuggets which heat up the home on a hot summer’s day.
You air fry chicken nuggets that can be cooked directly from frozen, so there is no need to defrost them in advance. This means you can whip a bag of nuggets out of the freezer and have a tasty treat on the table in no time! Perfect on a busy weeknight and something the kids will surely love!
The answer is no. Frozen chicken nuggets have already been prepped so you don’t need to use cooking spray.
No! You don’t need to preheat your air fryer when cooking air fryer chicken nuggets from frozen. I do recommend preheating for homemade chicken nuggets.
Frozen nuggets take 11-13 minutes. Homemade chicken nuggets baked in the air fryer takes around 9 minutes so you can air fry the nuggets in no time.
When making chicken nuggets, you’ll want to use an air fryer which can cook at a temperature of at least 400°F/200°C.
There are plenty of air fryers to choose from, however, as an Instant Pot enthusiast, I like the Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air fryer.
We also enjoy using the Air Fryer Lid on our Instant Pot Duo Crisp. This is a machine we love and we get delicious crispy chicken nuggets every time!
So what are you waiting for? Get that crispy coating on your chicken breast and make the most delicious snack cuisine in the comfort of your own home!
To ensure the freshness of leftover Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, place them in an airtight container and promptly refrigerate for uop to 2 days. Place the cooked chicken nuggets in a single layer on a sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours. Afterward, transfer them to a labeled freezer bag. Frozen nuggets can be stored for up to 2-3 months.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Chicken Nuggets:
- French Fries: Who doesn’t love the combination of chicken nuggets with fries? It’s certainly a favorite in my household.
- Side Salad: A fresh and healthy side salad is always a great option.
- Coleslaw: A quick and easy coleslaw will work perfectly as a side for your nuggets.
- Baked Beans: If you’re looking for something a little bit different then baked beans will go perfectly with your chicken nuggets.
- Mashed Potatoes:Delicious air-fried chicken nuggets go great with mashed potatoes
- Milkshakes – Make the ultimate indulgent dessert with some delicious ice cream milkshake recipes.
If you're looking for a great dessert to pair with chicken nuggets why not try some Snickerdoodles Cupcakes or a delicious Buckeye Pie.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 tablespoon Butter (melted)
- ½ Breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese (grated)
Instructions
- Preheat for your air fryer at 400°F/205°C for 3 minutes. Slice your chicken breast into nugget size slices
- Season your chicken nuggets with seasoned salt and pepper and set aside.
- Combine melted butter with ½ cup of bread crumbs. (Add the parmesan cheese if you opt to use this).
- Dip your chicken strips into the breadcrumbs. Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Set the timer for 9 minutes. Once cooked, place chicken nuggets on a plate to cool.
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