Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets (VIDEO) – Easy and Crispy!
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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!
Watch the Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe Video!
A Note from CJ
The key to the best Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets!
My #1 key tip is leave the chicken nuggets in the freezer for 30-45 minutes to firm up before air frying them. This is crucial so the nuggets can maintain their shape and not fall apart when dredging them! Freeze them until they are firm but not fully frozen. Serve them with homemade Ranch Dressing (Wingstop Ranch or Popeye’s Blackened Ranch) Raising Cane’s Sauce, Chick Fil-A Sauce, Homemade Honey Mustard, or Homemade BBQ Sauce!
Ingredient Tips
Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!
- seasoning – kosher salt, white pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika – customize this to your liking!
- ground chicken – use store bought ground chicken or use a food processor to grind chicken breast at home.
- flour + cornstarch + baking powder – this dredge combination is my go-to for crispy texture!
I love cooking chicken in the air fryer – recipes like my Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Chicken Skewers, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, or Air Fryer Chicken Breasts are some of my most popular!
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Make the Chicken Nugget Mix – 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.
Shape the Nuggets and Place in the Freezer to Firm- 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.
Dredge the Nuggets – 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.
Air Fry the Chicken Nuggets – 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
PRO TIPS
CJ’s Storage & Make Ahead Tips
Store any leftover Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. 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, 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
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Air Fryer Chicken Nugget recipe was originally published in February 2025, and updated in February 2026.
I’d love to make ahead a large batch so I can just pull out of the freezer, spray, and cook for a super easy weeknight dinner. Do you need to coat after freezing though or can I coat and then freeze? Thanks!
Hi Sara – I would coat them then freeze. Once ready to cook pull them out and spray with oil then add a few more minutes to the cook time. Hope you enjoy!
Can I refrigerate these overnight instead of freezing for a short time?
Hi Zoe – yes, that should be fine!
Best Recipe
Thank you Musa!