Description
These Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are a quick and easy recipe perfect for a healthy, crispy, and juicy snack or meal. Using simple ingredients like chicken breasts, olive oil, panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and paprika, these nuggets get perfectly cooked and crunchy in the air fryer in just 8 minutes. Ideal for a family-friendly dish, they pair wonderfully with your favorite dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts (cut into 1” to 1.5” cubes)
Coating
- ⅓ cup olive oil (more if needed)
- 1½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
Additional
- cooking/oil spray for air fryer basket
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Cut up your chicken breasts into 1” to 1.5” cubes and set them aside for easy coating.
- Set Up Coating Station: In one bowl, pour the olive oil. In another bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs, freshly grated parmesan, and sweet paprika thoroughly to create the coating mixture.
- Prep Air Fryer Basket: Lightly spritz the inside of the air fryer basket with oil spray to prevent sticking and promote even browning.
- Coat Chicken Nuggets: Dip each chicken cube into the olive oil, ensuring it is well coated. Then roll the chicken piece into the panko, parmesan, and paprika mixture until fully covered. Place the coated nuggets into the air fryer basket, ensuring they are arranged in a single layer without overcrowding. Repeat the process until all chicken pieces are coated. Air fry the nuggets in batches if necessary.
- Cook Nuggets: Set the air fryer temperature to 400°F (200°C) and cook the chicken nuggets for 8 minutes. Check for doneness; nuggets should be golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serve: Carefully remove the nuggets from the air fryer and serve hot with your choice of dipping sauces such as ketchup, honey mustard, or ranch dressing.
Notes
- Be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure crispy and even cooking.
- If cooking in batches, keep cooked nuggets warm in a low oven while finishing the rest.
- Adjust cooking time slightly if chicken pieces are larger or smaller than 1-1.5 inches.
- Parmesan cheese adds a delicious savory flavor, but can be omitted for a dairy-free version.
- Use a meat thermometer to guarantee that chicken reaches a safe internal temperature.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: homemade chicken nuggets, air fryer chicken nuggets, crispy chicken nuggets, healthy chicken nuggets, easy chicken nugget recipe
