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Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Homemade Chicken Nuggets

A pile of golden brown, super crispy homemade chicken nuggets served on a white square plate.
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Create incredibly crispy, juicy chicken nuggets at home using your air fryer. This recipe is quick, healthy, and perfect for a family-friendly weeknight dinner or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground chicken breast
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup finely crushed cornflakes (for extra crisp)
  • Cooking spray (olive oil or avocado oil)

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, mix the ground chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika until just combined. Do not overmix.
  2. Shape the chicken mixture into small, uniform nugget shapes, about 1 inch thick. Place them on a plate and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to help them hold their shape.
  3. Set up a standard breading station: Place the flour in one shallow dish. Whisk the egg in a second dish. Combine the panko breadcrumbs and crushed cornflakes in a third dish.
  4. Dredge each chilled nugget first in the flour, shaking off excess. Dip it into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Finally, press the nugget firmly into the breadcrumb mixture to coat completely.
  5. Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (195°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
  6. Arrange the breaded nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch. Spray the tops of the nuggets lightly with cooking spray.
  7. Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping the nuggets halfway through the cooking time. Continue spraying lightly with oil as needed to promote browning.
  8. Remove when golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

  • For a freezer-friendly batch, place the breaded, uncooked nuggets on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer them to a freezer bag. Cook directly from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to the air fry time.
  • If you prefer using chicken breast pieces instead of ground chicken, marinate the pieces in buttermilk for 30 minutes before breading for extra juicy chicken nuggets.
  • This recipe works well for meal prep; reheat leftovers in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes to restore crispiness.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.unfoldrecipes.com/homemade-chicken-nuggets-air-fryer-crispy/