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Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are great for kids and adults alike – they’re juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, with very little oil and no need to deep fry! I love how simple and easy this recipe is, with only a handful of ingredients!
Watch the Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe Video Below!
Table of Contents
My #1 Tip For This Recipe
If you want to make the best Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets at home, my #1 key tip is to allot at least 30-45 minutes for the chicken nuggets to firm up in the freezer before air frying them. Do not skip this step! This recipe is so simple and has very few ingredients (no preservatives or chemical fillers like the store bought versions). Freezing the chicken nuggets will help them maintain their shape and not fall apart while you are dredging them in egg wash/dry batter or in the air fryer.
The goal is to freeze until they are firm but not fully frozen (this may even take up to an hour, depending on how cold your freezer is).
Ingredient Tips
Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!
- kosher salt
- white pepper
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- smoked paprika
- ground chicken – You can use store bought ground chicken or use a food processor to grind chicken breast. This is up to you and your preference!
- egg
- cornstarch
- flour
- water
- baking powder – this will give the flour and cornstarch mixture a nice airy, crispy texture
Air Fryer chicken recipes are some of my most popular recipes on my website – try my Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Chicken Skewers, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, or Air Fryer Chicken Breasts!
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets: Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
1. Season Ground Chicken
In a small bowl, mix together salt, white pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. This will be your seasoning mix.
If you are grinding your own ground chicken, do that now – I would use a food processor to grind chicken breast.
Place ground chicken in a bowl and season with half of the seasoning mix. Add in one egg and cornstarch, then mix well until combined.
2. Shape the Chicken Nuggets
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Wet your hands, then scoop ground chicken and shape into nuggets. For 1lb of ground chicken, I was able to make approximtely 20 chicken nuggets. You can make these as small or as large as you prefer. (It would even be fun to use cookie cutters to make shapes – dino nuggets, anyone?)
Once the chicken nuggets have been shaped and placed on the tray, place the tray in the freezer for 30-45 minutes until the chicken nuggets are firmed up. Do not skip this step!
3. Dredge the Chicken Nuggets
In a medium sized bowl, add the egg, flour, and 1 tablespoon of water. Whisk together until combined. This will be the egg wash and first step of dredging.
In a large bowl or plate, add the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and the remaining half of the seasoning mix. Whisk together until combined. This will be the dry batter and the second step of dredging.
Once the nuggets have firmed up in the freezer for 30-45 minutes, pull them out of the freezer and begin the dredging. Dip each chicken nugget in the egg wash, let any excess drip off, and then dredge in the dry batter. Press each chicken nugget firmly into the dry batter and shake off any excess. We want to avoid any bald spots!
Repeat until all of the chicken nuggets have been dredged.
4. Air Fry the Chicken Nuggets
Spray the air fryer basket with neutral oil spray (I always use avocado oil spray) and place the nuggets inside, spacing them out evenly. If possible, avoid having the chicken nuggets touch each other. You want airflow around each chicken nugget so it can crisp up in the air fryer.
Spray the top of the nuggets and air fry at 400F for 7 minutes. Flip and air fry for another 4-5 minutes until the chicken nuggets are light golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165F.
Serve the Chicken Nuggets with your favorite sauce and enjoy!
Homemade Sauces for Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets!
I love making as many Sauces and Condiments at home as possible! It allows me to:
- control the quality of my ingredients
- avoid unnecessary additives or preservatives
- I can customize it to my taste (I usually prefer sauces on the less sweet and more spicy side)
Here are some homemade sauces that would go great with homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets:
PRO TIPS
Expert Tips
- My #1 key tip is to allot at least 30-45 minutes for the chicken nuggets to firm up in the freezer before air frying them. Do not skip this step! This recipe is so simple and has very few ingredients (no preservatives or chemical fillers like the store bought versions). Freezing the chicken nuggets will help them maintain their shape and not fall apart while you are dredging them in egg wash/dry batter or in the air fryer. The goal is to freeze until they are firm but not fully frozen (this may even take up to an hour, depending on how cold your freezer is).
- You can use store bought ground chicken or grind your own chicken (use chicken breast) in the food processor.
- For 1lb of ground chicken, I was able to make approximtely 20 chicken nuggets. You can make the chicken nuggets as small or as large as you prefer. (It would even be fun to use cookie cutters to make shapes – dino nuggets, anyone?)
- Avoid any bald spots when dredging the chicken nuggets in the dry batter.
- If possible, avoid having the chicken nuggets touch each other in the air fyrer. You want airflow around each chicken nugget so it can crisp up on all sides.
- Make homemade sauces to control the quality of the ingredients, avoid unnecessary additives or preservatives, and customize it to your preferences.
Storage, Reheating, and Make Ahead Tips
Store any leftover Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can reheat them in the microwave (if you don’t mind them being on the softer side) or in the air fryer at 350F for 5-6 mintues until warmed through.
If you want to make these ahead of time, you can shape them into chicken nuggets, then lay them flat in a single layer on a parchment paper lined tray. Freeze them for one hour, then transfer into a freezer safe bag. When ready to cook, spray with neutral oil and air fry for 14-15 minutes at 400F until crispy.
If you tried this Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets (VIDEO)
Equipment
Ingredients
Seasoning Mix For Chicken and Dredge
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Chicken Nuggets
- 1 lb ground chicken, or chicken breast ground in a food processor
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Dredge
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix salt, white pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
- Place the ground chicken in a bowl and season with half of the seasoning mix. Add in one egg and cornstarch, then mix until combined.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Wet your hands, then shape the chicken into 20 nuggets and place them on the sheet. Place in the freezer for 30-45 minutes until very firm.
- In another bowl, add the egg, flour, and 1 tablespoon of water. Whisk together until combined
- In a large bowl or plate, add the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and the remaining half of the seasoning mix. Whisk together until combined.
- Once the nuggets are firm, dip them in egg wash, letting any excess drip off, then dredge in the dry batter. Press them firmly into the batter and shake off any excess. Repeat until all the nuggets are coated.
- Spray the air fryer with neutral oil spray and add the nuggets. Spray the top of the nuggets and air fry at 400F for 7 minutes. Flip and air fry for another 4-5 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Serve with your favorite sauce
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
