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    Popular » Recipes » Air Fryer

    Easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Jun 28, 2019 by Dee

    Easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets made with chicken breast and seasoned panko breadcrumbs are crispy, crunchy and kid approved! Perfect for a quick dinner!

    Jump to Recipe -

    air fryer chicken nuggets with panko breadcrumbs and strawberries on a white plate

    My kids are in love with these crispy air fryer chicken nuggets, and I am obsessed with how easy they are to make! I'm all about quick and easy recipes, especially chicken recipes, and these crunchy chicken bites take just 8 minutes to cook in the air fryer!

    Right now, these chicken nuggets are one of the family's favorite air fryer recipes. We've made fried zucchini and Buffalo chicken nuggets in the air fryer, but the kiddos like these plain old chicken nuggets best!

    Do Air Fryers Really Work?

    Yes, they do! Food gets cooked by hot air circulating around it -- kind of like a mini convection oven. I usually make chicken nuggets in the oven, but the air fryer doesn't heat up the house, which is definitely a huge plus in the summer!

    I was definitely skeptical about the whole air fryer craze, so it took me awhile to buy one. But, I felt the same way before getting my Instant Pot, which I absolutely love now, so there you go!

    How to Make Crispy Chicken in the Air Fryer

    The prep for making chicken nuggets is basically the same whether you're cooking them in the oven or in the air fryer. Just cut the chicken breasts into small pieces -- about 2 inches long. Then dip them in a mixture of buttermilk and Dijon mustard.

    I use buttermilk instead of egg whenever I make breaded chicken. The mustard isn't totally necessary, but it just adds flavor.

    After dipping the chicken in buttermilk, add a few pieces at a time to seasoned panko breadcrumbs. Then, place them on a baking sheet or plate, and spritz with olive oil spray.

    panko coated chicken nuggets on a baking sheet

    Place a few pieces of chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Then, cook the chicken for 8 minutes, turning them over about half way through the cooking time.

    breaded chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket

    And that's all there is to making crunchy, crispy chicken in the air fryer! My kids ate the chicken nuggets as fast as I could make them, and there were no leftovers!

    panko crusted chicken nuggets on a plate with strawberries

    Crispy chicken is even tastier when you dip the nuggets in homemade ranch dressing! Much better than fast food -- even my pickiest eater agrees!

    homemade chicken nuggets dipped into ranch dressing

    Pin this recipe to save it!

    breaded chicken nuggets on a plate with strawberries

    May contain affiliate links. See disclosure page for info.

    Recipe for Easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

    air fryer chicken nuggets with panko breadcrumbs and strawberries on a white plate

    Easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

    Published by Dee
    Easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets made with chicken breast and seasoned panko breadcrumbs are crispy, crunchy and kid approved! This easy chicken recipe takes just 8 minutes to cook and is perfect for a quick dinner!
    5 from 6 votes
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    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 8 mins
    Total Time 23 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 151 kcal

    Equipment

    • air fryer

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 chicken breasts boneless skinless cut into 2 inch pieces
    • 1 cup buttermilk
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence seasoning
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • olive oil spray

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees for 3 minutes (or follow your manufacturer's instructions)
    • Mix the buttermilk with the Dijon mustard in a small bowl or shallow pan
    • Add the breadcrumbs to a large zip-top bag or shallow bowl. Add the sea salt, garlic powder, paprika, herbes de Provence and pepper to the breadcrumbs and mix well
    • Dip the chicken into the buttermilk, then dip them into the seasoned panko breadcrumbs
    • Place chicken pieces on a baking sheet or dish, and spritz with olive oil spray
    • Add chicken in a single layer to the basket of your air fryer. You may have to do this in batches.
    • Cook chicken for 8 minutes, turning over about half way through the cooking time

    Notes

    Recipe was made in a Ninja Air Fryer but can be made in any make/model. Follow manufacturer's instructions for preheating. You may have to adjust times or temperatures depending on your make/model.
    You can substitute Italian seasoning mix for the Herbes de Provence or leave it out.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 151kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 12gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 630mgPotassium: 246mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 240IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 88mgIron: 1.4mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    I hope you enjoy this easy chicken dinner as much as we do!

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    More Air Fryer Recipes

    • Air Fryer Chicken and Potatoes
    • Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets
    • Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings
    • Juicy Air Fryer Hamburgers

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. James says

      July 02, 2019 at 6:40 am

      Finally unboxed our air fryer and this is the first thing the kids wanted to make. simple and light. wish they made the fryer bigger but we made the best of that too!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 02, 2019 at 12:43 pm

        Thank you so much, James! So happy you guys liked it!

    2. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

      June 30, 2019 at 6:39 am

      These would disappear in our house!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 30, 2019 at 10:16 pm

        They went so fast at my house!

    3. Katerina @ diethood .com says

      June 30, 2019 at 4:32 am

      I can't wait to make these for my kids!! They would love them!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 30, 2019 at 10:16 pm

        If your kids are like mine, they'll definitely love them!

    4. Catalina says

      June 30, 2019 at 12:17 am

      This will be a hit in our family! Looks heavenly!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 30, 2019 at 10:15 pm

        Thanks, Catalina. Hope you all like it!

    5. Sara Welch says

      June 29, 2019 at 9:55 am

      Another great recipe for my air fryer! My kids will love these for dinner! Yum!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 29, 2019 at 1:08 pm

        Thanks, Sara! My kids can't eat them fast enough!

    6. Dorothy at Shockinglydelish says

      June 28, 2019 at 4:42 pm

      I am loving my air fryer more and more! They will be a hit at my house!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 29, 2019 at 1:08 pm

        Same here! I hope you guys like them!

    Primary Sidebar

    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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