Crispy Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer

5 from 8 votes
Jump to RecipeEmail Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

These air fryer chicken nuggets come out so crispy on the outside and moist on the inside and there is no frying in oil involved!

Air fryer chicken nuggets with BBQ sauce.
email me this recipe
Plus, enjoy weekly doses of recipe inspiration as a bonus!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Are you looking for a chicken nugget recipe that leaves you with crispy and delicious bites of heaven? Using an air fryer to cook chicken nuggets will seriously change your life (speaking from experience)!

Simply dredge your chicken pieces in an egg wash and then into a panko + seasoning mixture. Air fry at 400ºF for about 5 minutes. Serve your air fryer chicken nuggets with your favorite sauce or freeze them for later!

While you don’t need cups of oil to fry these nuggets, our secret is a nice olive oil drizzle before air frying to get them nice and crispy!

Ingredients You Need for Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

Chicken breastwhite meat is best when making homemade chicken nuggets. Make sure to buy boneless, skinless chicken breast.

Breadcrumbs: for this recipe, you can either use plain breadcrumbs, whole wheat, or gluten-free. Any of these options will work. Heck, you could even use Italian-flavored breadcrumbs!

Eggs: eggs are used as an egg wash to make sure the breadcrumb topping sticks.

Olive oil: olive oil helps crisp up the breadcrumbs. Don’t skip this part!

Spices: spices used in the topping include garlic powder, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper. Feel free to add whatever else you are craving.

All the ingredients for air fryer chicken nuggets on the counter.

Variations for Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer

Make them spicy

If you want to spice these air fryer chicken nuggets up add a 1/4 teaspoon of any of the spices below to the spice mixture and you’ll be left with a little kick.

  • cayenne pepper
  • red pepper flakes
  • dried adobo pepper

bread crumbs substitute

If you don’t have regular bread crumbs, no fret! You can use panko bread crumbs, gluten free bread crumbs, or even crushed up corn flakes.

go for the spice mixes

Another way to take the flavor profile of the air fryer chicken nuggets up a notch is to skip the spices in the recipe and add a couple of teaspoons of any of the spice mixes below to the bread crumbs.

Dipping chicken in bread crumbs.
Air Fryer

the best

Air Fryer

If you are looking for an air fryer for 2, the Ninja Air Fryer is one of the highest rated air fryer on the market!

FAQ

How do you cook chicken nuggets in an air fryer?

Cook chicken nuggets at 400ºF for around 5 minutes in the air fryer.

How do you make chicken nuggets crispy?

The best way to get crispy chicken nuggets is by air frying them. They will come out nice and crunchy.

What is the breading on chicken nuggets made of?

Chicken nugget breading is typically made from a mixture of breadcrumbs and spices.

Why are my chicken nuggets not crispy?

Your chicken nuggets are not crispy because you likely overcrowded your air fryer. Make sure that your chicken is not touching so that they can get nice and crispy.

How long should you fry chicken nuggets?

Air fry your chicken nuggets for around 5 minutes at 400ºF.

Are chicken nuggets healthy?

Homemade chicken nuggets are high in protein and a healthy dinner option.

Air fryer chicken nuggets after they've been cooked.

Why do I have to air fry the chicken nuggets in batches?

You want to cook your chicken nuggets in batches because you don’t want to overcrowd the air fryer basket when you are making chicken nuggets. You want the oil and the air to be able to circulate around the chicken nuggets so the WHOLE nugget gets crispy and delicious.

Can I cook these in the oven?

Yes, you can cook these in the oven. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and place the chicken nuggets on the rack. Bake them for 14-16 minutes at 400ºF, flipping them half way through.

A hand holding an air fryer chicken nugget.

Storage

Got leftovers? Simply let your baked chicken nuggets cool completely. Then, transfer them into an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

Can I freeze chicken nuggets?

  1. Let chicken nuggets cool completely and ten, transfer them to a baking sheet.
  2. Freeze for 1 hour.
  3. Transfer the partially frozen chicken nuggets into an airtight container or gallon-size plastic bag.
  4. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Air fryer chicken nuggets on a plate with BBQ sauce!

Serving Suggestions

These amazing chicken nuggets are so delicious served next to our air fryer sweet potato fries or baked potato wedges and your choice of sauce.

Dipping Sauce Options

If you are looking for a delicious dipping sauce for your chicken nuggets, we suggest any of the delicious dipping sauces below.

5 from 8 votes

Crispy Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer

Air fryer chicken nuggets come together with an egg wash and seasoned panko mixture. Then, they're air fried at 400ºF for 5 minutes.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 13 minutes
Total: 23 minutes
Servings: 4
email me this recipe
Plus, enjoy weekly doses of recipe inspiration!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients 

  • 1 – 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup plain breadcrumbs, gluten free or Italian breadcrumbs work too
  • 2 tablespoons white whole wheat flour, all-purpose works too
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions 

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF and spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray. 
  • Prepare the chicken breasts by cutting the chicken into 1-inch chicken nugget pieces. Set aside. 
  • Next, add the panko, flour, garlic powder, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper to a large bowl and stir everything together until combined. 
  • Crack eggs into a separate bowl and whisk the eggs until combined. 
  • Then, dip each chicken nugget into the egg wash, completely coating each piece of chicken. Then, dip the nuggets into the bread crumb mixture, coating each side. It’s easiest if you do this one at a time to make sure that the chicken gets fully coated.
    a person adding spices to a bowl of food.
  • Place the chicken nuggets into the air fryer basket being sure not to overcrowd the basket. You may have to do this in batches to make sure the chicken nuggets don’t touch.
    a black basket with brown food in it.
  • Drizzle the chicken nuggets with olive oil and cook the chicken nuggets for 4 minutes at 400ºF in the air fryer. Flip and cook for an additional 1 minute or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF. 
  • Remove the chicken nuggets from the basket and repeat steps 6 and 7 until all the chicken nuggets are cooked. 
  • Serve with honey mustard, bbq sauce, ketchup, or any other dip. 
    chicken nuggets in a bowl with ketchup.

Tips & Notes

  • Oven directions: place a wire rack on a baking sheet and place the chicken nuggets on the rack. Bake them for 14-16 minutes at 400ºF, flipping them half way through.
  • Make sure your nuggets are the same size: The key to getting perfectly cooked chicken nuggets in the air fryer is to be sure all the chicken nuggets are relatively cut the same size. You want them all to cook for the same amount of time.
  • Use enough oil: Yes, you don’t need to use a cup of oil to get these chicken nuggets crispy, but you still need to drizzle oil over the chicken nuggets in a bit in the bottom of the air fryer so the chicken nuggets “fry” up.
  • Don’t let the chicken nuggets touch: We said it once and we’ll say it again. Be sure not to let your chicken nuggets touch or else they will not fully cook.
     

Watch It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”9vfeQhxq” upload-date=”2021-08-07T09:00:00.000Z” name=”Crispy Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer” description=”Make Crispy Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer in no time! This recipe is hands-down the best air fryer chicken nuggets recipe on the internet.”]

Nutrition

Calories: 234 kcal, Carbohydrates: 14 g, Protein: 31 g, Fat: 6 g, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 1 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

love this? leave a comment below!

Don’t forget to tag your posts on social media with the hashtag #fitfoodiefinds, we’d love to see what you’re up to!

Similar Recipes:

About Linley Hanson

Linley has played an important role in the success of Fit Foodie Finds over the last 10 years. She is an incredible home cook and has an amazing palate. She is the brain behind our recipes and has spent thousands of hours developing, testing, and perfecting the delicious meals you see here at Fit Foodie Finds.

5 2 votes
Recipe Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
Recipe Rating




Recipe Rating

10 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Felix
January 24, 2024 3:47 am

5 stars
Wow, I love your easy chicken nuggets air fryer recipe! Thanks ๐Ÿ™‚

IKORE
November 27, 2023 11:57 pm

5 stars
I am in really love this crispy chicken nuggets.

Gadget Store PK
November 18, 2023 10:38 am

5 stars
What a great content nice I appreciate you.

Filmplus
September 14, 2023 7:23 am

5 stars
Absolutely loved this recipe! I tried it with boneless breast too, and the juiciness from the air fryer was incredible. Thanks for the tip!
Filmplus Official

Guider Man
July 25, 2023 1:39 pm

5 stars
Thanks for sharing great content. Also read: Best Microfiber Cloth

Guider Man
July 25, 2023 12:39 pm

Thanks for sharing valuable content. Also check:
Commercial Cleaning Services

Sonic exe
March 14, 2023 10:44 pm

5 stars
So delicious!!

Ashley Freese
Ashley Freese
February 1, 2022 5:55 pm
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
These air fryer chicken nuggets were AMAZING ๐Ÿ˜ the prep was honestly so easy, and I love the flavor with all of the seasonings used! They came out to crispy perfection! I air fried mine closer to 7 minutes total (I have the Ninja Foodie Air Fry Oven) and they were perfectly cooked! Will definitely be making these again!

7D54D0D3-A3EC-4127-A0A6-704C6A0B381F.jpeg
Lee Funke
February 5, 2022 7:19 am
Reply to  Ashley Freese

Yours look amazing!

Chantal
Chantal
August 15, 2021 11:02 pm
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
Super tasty and very quick perfect snacks for a group