With every bite delivering juicy chicken and serious crunch, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser whether you’re feeding kids, hosting game night, or just treating yourself to a homemade comfort food classic. No deep frying, no mess—just bold flavor and crispy perfection in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized nuggets
• 1 cup creamy ranch dressing
• 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

Homemade Ranch Dressing Ingredients:

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup buttermilk or regular milk
• 1 Tbsp fresh dill weed
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon dried chives
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ⅛ teaspoon finely cracked pepper
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste (approximately 1-3 teaspoons, adjust to taste)

Instructions:

Make the Ranch Dressing:

1. Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, and milk together in a bowl until smooth.
2. Add dill weed, parsley, chives, onion powder, garlic powder, sea salt, and pepper. Whisk until well combined.
3. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste and whisk again.
4. Pour the dressing into a jar and chill in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Prepare the Chicken Nuggets:

1. Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
2. Coat the Chicken: In a medium bowl, toss chicken nuggets with 1 cup of the prepared ranch dressing until generously coated.
3. Bread the Nuggets: Place Italian seasoned bread crumbs in a separate shallow dish. Coat ranch-covered nuggets with breadcrumbs, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
4. Cook the Nuggets: Arrange nuggets in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, avoiding overcrowding. Air fry at 400°F for 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway through for even crispiness.
5. Serve: Allow nuggets to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy immediately with additional ranch dressing, ketchup, or your favorite dip!

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Video Recipe

Tips & Variations

• Get that perfect crunch: Always preheat your air fryer and avoid overcrowding the basket. Nuggets need space for hot air to circulate—this is what gives them that golden, crispy finish.

• Upgrade your breadcrumbs: Want even more texture? Swap Italian breadcrumbs for panko or crushed cornflakes. For extra flavor, mix in a tablespoon of grated Parmesan or a pinch of smoked paprika.

• Let it rest before air frying: After coating the chicken, let the nuggets sit for 5–10 minutes. This helps the coating stick better and prevents it from falling off during cooking.

• Make it spicy: Stir a little hot sauce into the ranch dressing or add cayenne to the breadcrumb mix for a subtle heat that doesn’t overpower.

• Dark meat fans: Try boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a juicier bite. They stay tender and flavorful even after a few extra minutes in the air fryer.

• Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free breadcrumbs and be sure your ranch dressing is free from hidden gluten—many store-bought brands offer gluten-free versions.

• Meal prep friendly: These nuggets reheat beautifully. Just pop them back in the air fryer for 3–4 minutes to restore their crispiness—perfect for next-day lunches or quick snacks.

• Dipping game: Ranch is a classic, but these nuggets also pair well with honey mustard, chipotle mayo, or even buffalo sauce for an extra kick.

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.

Ingredients

Chicken & Quick Brine

• 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1½-in nuggets (about 3–4 cm)

• ½ cup dill pickle juice (120 ml)

Wet Dip

• ½ cup whole milk (120 ml)

• 1 large egg

Breading

• 1 cup all-purpose flour (120 g)

• 2 Tbsp cornstarch (optional, extra crunch)

• 3 Tbsp powdered sugar (confectioners’)

• 1 tsp kosher salt (or ½ tsp table salt)

• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

• ½ tsp paprika

• ½ tsp chili powder

• ½ tsp baking powder

• ½–1 tsp cayenne (optional, heat to taste)

To Cook

• Neutral oil spray (canola/avocado)

Instructions (Air Fryer)

1. Brine (20–60 min). Toss the chicken with the pickle juice in a bowl or zipper bag. Chill 20–60 minutes. Drain well and pat very dry.

2. Set up. In one bowl, whisk milk + egg. In a large bag or bowl, mix all breading ingredients.

3. Double-coat.

   • Add chicken to the breading, toss to coat; shake off excess.

   • Dip into the milk-egg, letting excess drip.

   • Return to the breading and coat again. Press lightly so it adheres. Rest breaded pieces on a rack 5 minutes so the coating sets.

4. Air fry. Preheat air fryer to 380°F (193°C). Lightly spray basket. Arrange nuggets in a single layer with space. Spray tops generously.

   • Cook 7 minutes. Flip, spray again, increase to 400°F (205°C), and cook 5–7 minutes more, until crispy and 165°F (74°C) in the thickest piece. Work in batches; don’t overcrowd.

5. Season & serve. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt while hot. Serve with your favorite dips.

Oven Option

• Heat to 425°F (220°C). Set a rack on a sheet pan and spray lightly. Arrange nuggets, spray tops, and bake 12–14 min. Flip, spray again, and bake 8–10 min more, until crisp and 165°F.

Tips

• Crispier finish: Don’t skip the rest after breading and the oil spray on both sides.

• Flavor twist: Add ½ tsp garlic powder to the breading or a dash of hot sauce to the milk-egg.

• Make-ahead: Brined (undipped) chicken keeps up to 24 hours in the fridge. Bread just before cooking.

• Reheat: Air fry 375°F (190°C) for 4–6 min to re-crisp.

Pin the image below if you like these crispy chicken nuggets!

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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