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Kid-Approved Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets from Scratch

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These homemade air fryer chicken nuggets are perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, made with simple pantry ingredients. A family-friendly, budget-friendly weeknight dinner that comes together in just 25 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3 medium breasts), cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
  • Olive oil spray

Instructions

  1. Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes. Pat dry with paper towels. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  2. Set up three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning mixed together.
  3. Working in batches, coat each piece of chicken in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into beaten eggs, letting excess drip off. Press into panko mixture until fully coated. Place on a plate or baking sheet.
  4. Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
  5. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil. Arrange nuggets in a single layer without touching. Cook in batches if needed.
  6. Spray the tops of the nuggets with oil. Cook at 400°F for 8 minutes. Flip, spray the other side, and cook for another 4-5 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F and crust is deep golden brown.
  7. Let nuggets rest in the air fryer basket for 2 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate and serve immediately with dipping sauces.

Notes

For gluten-free: use 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and gluten-free panko. For dairy-free: omit Parmesan or use vegan alternative. For extra crunch, spray nuggets with oil before and after flipping. Let nuggets rest 2 minutes after cooking to set the crust.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken nuggets, homemade chicken nuggets, crispy chicken nuggets, kid-friendly dinner, easy chicken recipe

Find it online: https://tablemira.com/kid-approved-crispy-air-fryer-chicken-nuggets-from-scratch/