Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Chicken breast pieces coated in seasoned breadcrumbs and air fried for 12 minutes until crisp and golden, with a dip alongside.
Photograph credit: Crispy Chicken Nuggets with Dip on Rustic Plate by Jahra Tasfia Reza · Pexels License · Pexels
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
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Heat the air fryer to 200°C / 390°F. Pat the chicken pieces dry and season with half of the salt.
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Mix the panko, parmesan, paprika, garlic powder and the remaining salt in a shallow bowl. Stir in the olive oil until the crumbs look damp.
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Put the flour in a second bowl and the beaten eggs in a third. Coat each piece in flour, then egg, then press firmly into the crumbs.
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Lay the nuggets in a single layer in the basket, working in batches if needed. Air fry for 12 minutes, turning them after 6 minutes.
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Check that the chicken is white all the way through with no pink. Serve hot with the ketchup.
Notes for Getting It Right
- Cook in batches rather than stacking nuggets in the basket.
- If the crumbs look dry in places, spray with a little oil before cooking.
- Freeze the uncooked coated nuggets on a tray, then bag them for later.
Ingredient Swaps
- Panko gives the crunchiest crust here, but ordinary dried breadcrumbs will still fry crisp if that's what's in the cupboard.
What Goes With Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Ketchup
- Honey mustard
- Sweet potato fries
- Green peas
Leftovers and Storage
Keeps for 2 days in the fridge. Reheat in the air fryer for 4 minutes at 180°C / 355°F.
Nutrition per Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list with USDA FoodData Central figures (SR Legacy). A calculation, not a laboratory analysis: brands, cuts and how you measure change the real numbers. How the figures are worked out.
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Compiled by Turab
Checked by script for timings, diet labels and nutrition arithmetic. How the recipes are checked.
First published ; last changed .