Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets is a guiltfree kids-friendly snack or dinner. It gets ready in 30 with a crispy golden crust and served with any dipping sauce.
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What is Chicken Nuggets
Chicken Nuggets are a very popular fast food. It has a small boneless piece of chicken that is breaded and fried or baked until golden and crisp.
Why you will love this recipe ?
- It is much healthier than the store bought deep fried nuggets or the frozen ones.
- We are not deep frying here. The air fryer version much them guiltfree.
- An easy kid friendly snack under 30 mins.
- It is perfect for any pop-up lunch or gathering.
- You can also prep them during the weekends and freeze them.
- It's economical and made with easily available pantry staples.
Ingredients
Chicken - Use chickenless and boneless chicken breast pieces. Cut them into equal sized 1 inch pieces and use.
Egg - Helps in coating the breaded layer with chicken.
Panko bread crumbs - For the extra crispy outer layer of the chicken. You can also use regular bread crumbs.
Spice Powder - We use Paprika or chili powder, Garlic powder, Salt and pepper powder for flavoring. You may also add any additional spice powders as you prefer.
Herbs - I also added some mixed herbs for flavor. You can skip it if you do not prefer.
Oil - Use them for spraying over the chicken as we cook. Use any cooking oil you prefer.
FAQ's
How do I reheat chicken Nuggets?
Airfryer chicken Nuggets may lose their crispness if they are not hot or served immediately. You can still reheat them in the air fryer and serve them hot and crisp any time. Heat them in the air fryer at 200 C / 400 F for 4-5 mins. They are back crisp and hot.
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Break open eggs in a mixing bowl.
To the eggs add salt and pepper.
Beat well until the egg mixes well with the salt and pepper.
Open the air fryer basket and spread parchment paper. Spread the panko bread crumbs and air fry for 2 mins at 180 C / 356 F . This helps in giving a beautiful texture to the nuggets. Or you can also dry roast on the stovetop but make sure the bread crumbs don't brown.
Spread the panko bread crumbs in a wide bowl. To this add chili powder or paprika powder, Garlic powder, and mixed herbs ( This is optional )
combine everything until mixed.
Trim any excess fat from the chicken and cut them into even sized chicken cubes. Use boneless breast pieces. Now dip all the chicken pieces into the beaten egg mixture.
Remove the chicken from the egg mixture and then roll them into the bread crumbs. Press gently and make sure the bread coats all over the chicken. do this for all the chicken pieces place them in a tray and put them in the freezer for 10 mins. This helps the bread crumbs adhere to the chicken pieces and they won't fall.
Preheat the air fryer to 200 C / 392 F for 5 mins. Spray or brush oil over the air fryer baskets and arrange the chicken nuggets. Leaves space between each nugget. Spray or Brush oil over the chicken Nuggets. Make them into two batches if your air fryer basket is small.
Airfry at 356 F / 180 C for 12 mins or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. After 6 mins open and shake the basket once and spray in some oil.
Crispy air fryer Chicken Nuggets is now ready
How to make crispy Chicken Nuggets in the Oven
If you do not have an air fryer, you can still make this crispy deliciousness in the oven.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F / 200 C for 10 mins.
- Prep the chicken as mentioned above and prep them.
- Line the chicken Nuggets in the baking tray and spray or brush oil over the nuggets.
- Bake them at 400 F / 200 C for 18-10 mins or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 F.
Tips & Variations
- Always use skinless and boneless chicken pieces for the nuggets. Chicken breast pieces are the perfect ones. Cut them into equal sized cubes for perfect store bought look alike nuggets.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer baskets. This might reduce the crispiness of the nuggets. Instead leave space and air fry in 2 or 3 batches.
- Make sure the breading coats the chicken pieces everywhere. This helps in a beautiful texture. also, Freeze the nuggets for 10-30 mins. This helps the outer layer intact with the chicken.
- Always use panko breadcrumbs for beautifully textured nuggets. However regular breadcrumbs also go well.
- You can also use smoked paprika powder for extra flavor and pepper flakes for extra spiciness.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
- You can also prep them ahead on the weekends and air fry them over the weekdays. Comes handy.
Serving Suggestions
You can make these nuggets as a whole meal by serving them as below.
- Serve them with some french fries and smoothies.
- You can also make some Chicken Nuggets wrap and serve.
- Serve with some fresh fruits and nuggets.
- Or you can also serve with your favorite salads or pasta.
Storing Suggestions :
You can store them in the fridge once they cool down completely. Put them in zip-lock bags or any air tight container for up to 3 days.
If you are freezing I recommend freezing them uncooked. Prep the chicken and coat them with the bread crumbs. Line them in a baking tray and freeze for 30 mins. And then put them in zip lock bags. They keep well for 2 months.While cooking thaw them for 1 min and follow the same process.
Similar Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Standard 1 cup measures 240 ml
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 3 Chicken Breast skinless and boneless
- 2 Eggs
- Salt
- ½ tsp Black Pepper Powder
- 1 tsp Red Chilli or Paprika Powder
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Mixed herbs optional
- cooking oil as needed
Instructions
- Break open eggs in a mixing bowl
- To the eggs add salt and pepper.
- Beat well until the egg mixes well with the salt and pepper.
- Open the air fryer basket and spread parchment paper. Spread the panko bread crumbs and air fry for 2 mins at 180 C / 356 F for 2 mins. This helps in giving a beautiful texture to the nuggets. Or you can also dry roast on the stovetop but make sure the bread crumbs don't brown.
- Spread the panko bread crumbs in a wide bowl. To this add chili powder or paprika powder, Garlic powder, and mixed herbs ( This is optional )
- combine everything until mixed.
- Trim any excess fat from the chicken and cut them into even sized chicken cubes. Use boneless breast pieces. Now dip all the chicken pieces into the beaten egg mixture.
- Remove the chicken from the egg mixture and then roll them into the bread crumbs. Press gently and make sure the bread coats all over the chicken. do this for all the chicken pieces place them in a tray and put them in the freezer for 10 mins. This helps the bread crumbs adhere to the chicken pieces and they won't fall apart.
- Preheat the air fryer to 200 C / 392 F for 5 mins. Spray or brush oil over the air fryer baskets and arrange the chicken nuggets. Leaves space between each nugget. Spray or Brush oil over the chicken Nuggets. Make them into two batches if your air fryer basket is small.
- Airfry at 356 F / 180 C for 12 mins or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. After 6 mins open and shake the basket once and spray in some oil.
- Crispy airfryer Chicken Nuggets is now ready
Video
Nutrition
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist , the nutrition value provided here is an estimate.It will vary based on the quantity and brands of the products used.
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