Description
Quick and crispy homemade chicken nuggets made in the air fryer, perfect for busy weeknights. Crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and ready in under 25 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450g) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 ½ cups (150g) panko breadcrumbs (Japanese-style or gluten-free)
- ¼ cup (25g) Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ½ cup (60g) flour
- Cooking spray (olive oil spray recommended)
- Optional: ½ cup grated zucchini or carrot
- Optional: ½ teaspoon hot sauce or cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Trim any fat off the chicken breasts and cut into 1 to 1 ½ inch bite-sized chunks. If using grated veggies, fold them into the chicken along with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Set up three bowls: one with flour seasoned with salt and pepper, one with beaten eggs, and one with a mixture of panko, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Dredge chicken pieces in the flour, shaking off excess. Dip in beaten eggs, letting excess drip off. Press into the panko mixture until well coated.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 minutes. Spray the basket with cooking spray.
- Arrange nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between pieces. Spray tops lightly with cooking spray.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F / 74°C). Add 1-2 minutes for extra crispiness if desired.
- Let nuggets rest for a minute or two after air frying to crisp up further.
- Serve immediately with favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
[‘Do not skip the flour step to help egg and breadcrumbs stick better for a thicker crust.’, ‘Use cooking spray generously before and halfway through cooking for golden crispiness.’, ‘Work in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket and soggy nuggets.’, ‘Freshly grated Parmesan cheese enhances flavor and melts into the crust.’, ‘Let nuggets rest after cooking to crisp up the coating.’, ‘Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) without overcooking.’, ‘Nuggets reheat well in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes; avoid microwaving to keep crispiness.’, ‘Nuggets can be frozen raw on a baking sheet then transferred to freezer bags; cook from frozen adding a few extra minutes.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 4-5 nuggets pe
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 480
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 28
Keywords: air fryer chicken nuggets, crispy chicken nuggets, homemade chicken nuggets, quick dinner, kid-friendly, back to school recipes, easy chicken nuggets