Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets are boneless chicken breast bites dunked in hot sauce and panko bread crumbs and air fried until crispy. This easy recipe makes an easy appetizer or quick dinner! Air fryer Buffalo chicken bites are the perfect snack for football season!
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Buffalo chicken nuggets are one of the first air fryer recipes I made. I used to make homemade chicken nuggets and Buffalo chicken bites in the oven, but they're super quick and easy in the air fryer!
At first, I was skeptical about cooking chicken in the air fryer, but it really does a great job. The chicken gets super crispy but stays juicy inside.
Plus, you don't have to heat up the house when you make these air fryer chicken nuggets! The best part is air frying is a healthier alternative to deep frying with oil.
These Buffalo chicken bites are perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, and they would be amazing as a game day appetizer. Try my air fryer Buffalo wings, air fryer BBQ chicken wings or air fryer chicken wings for something different!
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients for Buffalo chicken nuggets. You can find them in your grocery store or online.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins
- Butter -- flavors the sauce
- Buffalo sauce or hot wing sauce -- I used Frank's Red Hot Sauce
- Panko bread crumbs -- makes the breading extra crispy
- Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika for extra flavor
- Olive oil spray, avocado oil spray or cooking spray -- helps crisp up the bread crumbs
These boneless Buffalo chicken bites are made without flour, eggs or lots of oil, so they're lighter than fried Buffalo chicken wings or boneless wings, but they're just as delicious!
The thick Buffalo sauce helps the bread crumbs adhere to the chicken pieces.
How to Make Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bites in the Air Fryer
First, cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, roughly 2 inches long. Next, melt the butter and mix with the Buffalo sauce in a bowl or shallow baking dish.
You can use your microwave or melt the butter on the stove. Then, add the breadcrumbs to a large zip top bag, and season with salt, pepper, garlic and paprika.
Dip the chicken pieces into the Buffalo sauce. Use kitchen tongs for less mess!
Shake off extra sauce. Then, add the chicken in the zip top bag. Shake well to coat the chicken pieces with seasoned panko breadcrumbs.
I use a zip-top bag for this step. If you prefer, you can use a shallow dish or pie pan.
Remove the chicken to a tray or plate. Spritz the chicken with olive oil spray, and place into the air fryer basket in a single layer for best results.
If you are cooking a lot of chicken, you will have to do this in batches so that the chicken browns evenly.
Cooking Time
Cook the chicken for 8 to 10 minutes at 390 degrees f. Turn the nuggets over about halfway through the cooking time to make sure they brown on both sides.
Cook time may vary with different air fryer brands and the amount of chicken you are cooking.
Just make sure the chicken reaches 165 degrees internally. Use a meat thermometer to take the internal temperature.
My family inhaled these crispy chicken bites! They're spicy but not super spicy, so even my kiddoes liked them.
If you want to add extra spice, you can add extra Buffalo sauce at the end.
Serve with ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing, carrot sticks and celery sticks. Or use your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
If you don't have panko crumbs, you can use regular breadcrumbs -- they won't be as crispy, though.
For extra spice, dip the nuggets in Buffalo sauce when they are just about done. Return to the air fryer and cook for another minute or two to crisp them back up.
You can also add cayenne pepper and onion powder to the bread crumbs for extra flavor.
For an air fryer Buffalo chicken bites no breading recipe, just omit the bread crumbs! Dunk the cooked chicken bites into Buffalo sauce after air frying.
Instead of chicken nuggets, make air fryer Buffalo chicken tenders.
To cook chicken nuggets or chicken tenders in the oven, place on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees f for 18 to 20 minutes. Check out my Buffalo Chicken Poppers recipe for details.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover chicken bites in an airtight container in your refrigerator. Consume within 4 days for food safety.
Freeze in a freezer safe bag for longer storage or meal prep!
Reheat leftover nuggets in your air fryer or in the oven.
Expert Tips
Pro tips for air frying!
- Set ingredients out in an assembly line
- Use a zip-top bag for easy breading
- Have a platter or baking sheet ready to place the breaded nuggets on before air frying
- Spritz with olive oil or cooking spray for extra crispy breading before air frying
- Cook in single layer. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Have a clean plate or platter ready for the cooked nuggets
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Recipe
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts boneless skinless cut into 2 inch pieces
- 1 cup hot pepper sauce or Buffalo sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Melt the butter and the hot sauce in a shallow bowl in microwave
- Place the panko breadcrumbs, sea salt, garlic powder, paprika and pepper in a shallow bowl or zip top bag and mix together
- Dip the chicken into the Buffalo Sauce, shake off excess, and dip chicken into breadcrumbs, pressing to make sure crumbs stick. You may have to do this in batches
- Place chicken on a baking sheet or plate, and spray with olive oil spray
- Preheat air fryer, and set temperature to 390 degrees
- Add chicken to air fryer basket in single layer, and cook for 8 minutes, pausing and turning over halfway through the cooking process
- Remove chicken from air fryer, and serve or keep warm to finish cooking all of the chicken. Chicken should be at least 165 degrees when done, according to meat thermometer
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy these easy crispy Buffalo Chicken bites as much as we do! It's a simple recipe but so good!
Be sure to leave a star rating and/or comment!
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Recipe published in 2019 and updated in 2022
Trish says
These were a hit! Easy to make and my kids loved them. Next time I will make sure to use unsalted butter since it calls for salt in the recipe or vice versa.
Dee says
Thanks, Trish! I'm so glad you enjoyed them!
Maci says
Had two leftover chicken breast, found this on Pinterest. Made in my Faberware air fryer, awesome and pretty quick!
Dee says
That's wonderful! Thank you so much!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
These are on my must-make list!
James says
A hit all the way around. Light and tasty for the adults and just chicken nuggets for the kids!
Dee says
So glad they were a hit at your house! Thanks!
Kimberly says
These look so good and I've totally got to try the air fryer!
Dee says
It's definitely a game changer!
Shannon Graham says
Why don't I have an air fryer yet??!?! I see delicious recipes like this and scold myself for not having one!
Dee says
I really like mine. You gave to go get one! 🙂
Sara Welch says
This was such a quick and easy recipe! Made these for dinner last night and my kids loved every bite!
Dee says
Yay! So glad everyone liked them. 🙂
Kim Seghers says
These air fryer chicken nuggets look delicious. I need to start using my air fryer. Thanks for the recipe.
Dee says
So glad I finally got one!
Katerina @ diethood .com says
Oh wow, these sound fantastic!! Can't wait to try them!
Dee says
They are so good! Thanks, Katerina.