Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are a healthier option than cooking with other methods, and it’s way easier to prepare them this way. They cook perfectly crispy and have tender, juicy chicken inside. I will show you two versions, one with store-bought frozen chicken nuggets and how to make air fryer chicken nuggets from scratch.
You can also try my Air Fryer Pork Chops, Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin, Air Fryer Frozen French Fries, Air Fryer Corn Dogs, and Air Fryer Hamburgers.
My husband is just as excited about these Air fryer chicken nuggets as my children are. They are quick to prepare and take only a few minutes to fry.
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets from Scratch
Of course, Air Fryer chicken nuggets from scratch will always be a better and healthier option. The most important thing is you should use fresh, high-quality chicken breasts. I understand that if you are in a hurry and want to make something quick and tasty, that is great to use store-bought frozen chicken nuggets.
If you want to proceed with the frozen chicken nuggets recipe, scroll to this post’s end. But also, you could prepare your chicken nuggets ahead and freeze them for a later date.
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Place the cut pieces of chicken in 1.5-inch pieces. Marinate for 30 minutes in a bowl with the pickle juice or a ziplock bag.
- In a ziplock bag, combine the following breading ingredients: flour, baking powder, sugar, paprika, and black pepper.
- Mix together milk, egg, and butter in a separate bowl. Pre-heat the air fryer to 360°
- Place the chicken pieces in a ziplock bag and let the egg mixture drip off. To evenly coat the chicken, seal and shake the bag.
- Spray the bottom with nonstick cooking oil and place half the chicken pieces in a single layer. Space them apart, so they don’t stick together. Spray each piece of chicken’s top with cooking spray.
- Fry for 6 minutes at 360 degrees. Flip the chicken pieces and place them in an air fryer. Spray the tops with cooking spray. Turn the oven to 400°F and continue cooking for 2 minutes or until crispy and cooked through. The exact cooking time will depend on the size of your nuggets and your air fryer.
Instructions for Freezing the Chicken Nuggets:
After 6 minutes of cooking at 360°F, let the nuggets cool. Then, place them in a container or bag that is freezer-safe and freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then heat at 380° until golden and crispy.
Variations:
- Healthy Chicken Nuggets are made with wheat flour and panko instead of all-purpose flour.
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs.
- Spicy Chicken Nuggets: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of cayenne peppers to the flour mixture.
- Oven-baked chicken nuggets: Prepare the same recipe and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and continue cooking for 5-10 minutes or until it is cooked through. You can also try my Popcorn Chicken recipe. ).
Pin the image below if you like these crispy chicken nuggets!
Ingredients
- 2 lb of chicken breasts (boneless), cut into 1 1/2-inch cube
- 1/2 cup of pickle juice
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 1 large egg
For the Breading:
- 1 cup of flour, all-purpose
- 3 TBSP of powdered Sugar
- 1/2 tsp of paprika
- 1/2 tsp of Chili powder
- 1 tsp of freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 – 2 tsp of Cayenne Pepper *optional, to make chicken nuggets spicier
Recipe
- Marinate: Cut the chicken into 1.5-inch pieces. Place the pickle juice in a bowl or ziplock bag and let marinate for 30 min.
- Make the bread: Combine flour, baking powder, chili powder, and black pepper in a ziplock bag.
- Mix together milk, egg, and butter in a separate bowl. Pre-heat the air fryer to 360°
- Place the chicken pieces in a ziplock bag and let the egg mixture drip off. To evenly coat the chicken, seal and shake the bag.
- Spray the bottom and sides of the frying pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place half the pieces of chicken in a single layer. Space them apart, so they don’t stick together. Spray each piece of chicken’s top with cooking spray.
- Fry for 6 minutes at 360 degrees. Flip the chicken pieces and place them in an air fryer. Spray the tops with cooking spray. Turn the fryer to 400°F and continue cooking for 2 minutes or until crispy and cooked through. The exact cooking time will depend on the size of your nuggets and your air fryer.
Yield: About 30 nuggets
Variations:
- Healthy Chicken Nuggets are made with wheat flour and panko instead of all-purpose flour.
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs.
- Spicy Chicken Nuggets: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of cayenne peppers to the flour mixture.
- Oven-baked chicken nuggets: Prepare the same recipe and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and continue cooking for 5-10 minutes or until it is cooked through. You can also try my Popcorn Chicken recipe. ).
Frozen Chicken Nuggets – Which Brand is Best?
Many brands offer different sizes and thicknesses for chicken nuggets. For a few nuggets, try a small batch. Once you have cooked a few batches, you can determine your brand’s best temp and cooking time. You will also notice a decrease in crispy time the more you cook it. You should be flexible and ensure the nuggets have been cooked to your satisfaction.
Frozen chicken nuggets made from organic brands are great for use in the fryer. Organic brands are great for consuming more chicken nuggets; you can eat them without worrying about what you eat!
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets
Many factors influence the outcome of frozen chicken nuggets cooking. You will need to adjust the timing because they all have different sizes, thicknesses, and coatings. Don’t fill the basket with too many chicken nuggets. This will make it difficult to cook evenly. Only fill a single layer with chicken nuggets. Air fryers cook at different temperatures. After you have cooked your first batch, you will be able to determine what size and type of food work best for you. These recipes were tested with basket-style air fryers.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (170 g) Frozen Chicken Nuggets
Recipe
- The frozen chicken nuggets should be placed in an air fryer basket. Spread them out evenly. You don’t need to spray oil.
- Air fry at 360 F/205 C for 6-8 minutes
- Flip the nuggets and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes at 360degF/205degC or until crispy.
Calories: 453 kcal Carbohydrates: 25g Protein: 43g Fat: 19g Saturated Fat: 4g Cholesterol: 147mg Sodium: 712mg Potassium: 501mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 5g Vitamin A: 390 IU Calcium: 71mg Iron: 3mg
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