Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Truly Crispy Juicy

Looking for more fun air fryer recipes? Try my air fryer potstickers, air fryer pickles, air fryer bagel bites, and air fryer coconut shrimp next. Chicken nuggets are a universal food that both adults and kids truly adore. While my family and I don’t really consume fast food nuggets regularly, my air fryer chicken nuggets recipe is a weekly staple. Compared to fast food, it’s far healthier and quicker, and clean-up is a breeze. Paired with my air fryer French fries or air fryer sweet potato fries, they make the ultimate takeout fakeout meal.

Why I love this recipe

Healthier. No deep frying is needed, so you already cut a ton of calories and fat compared to traditional nuggets. I also use breast meat instead of off-cuts too! Less clean up. You’ll only need a few bowls to coat the chicken in batter and your air fryer basket. No messy deep fryer is needed. Perfectly crisp and juicy. The air fryer creates a perfect balance of crispy coating without drying out the chicken. The texture is extra juicy in the middle, which is what we all want! Works with frozen chicken. Because I make these nuggets for my family almost every week, I often prep a triple batch and freeze the prepped chicken nuggets so when dinnertime rolls around, I just throw them in the air fryer.

Ingredients needed

Chicken. Boneless skinless chicken breasts are best. Cut them into nugget shapes. If you can’t find chicken breasts, use tenderloins or tenders. Panko breadcrumbs. For the crispy coating. I tested these with regular bread crumbs too, but found panko to be superior both in terms of crunch and flavor! Parmesan cheese. Freshly grated for added flavor and also enhances the crispiness. Salt. To taste. Oil. A small amount of oil is needed to mix into the breading to help it stick to the chicken pieces and crisp up beautifully. Any neutral oil, like olive oil or vegetable oil, works. Flour. For dredging the nuggets. The flour traps in the juices, keeping the middle of the chicken moist. Eggs. To bind the breading to the nuggets.

How to make air fryer chicken nuggets

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Arman’s recipe tips

Storage instructions

To store: Leftover chicken nuggets can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Yes! If you’d prefer to make baked chicken nuggets, you can do so with one simple swap. First, prepare the chicken nuggets as instructed, then transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Next, bake them in a preheated oven set to 200°C/400°F for 12-15 minutes, checking halfway through for doneness. Chicken nuggets are really just a vessel for dipping sauce. Here are some of my favorite homemade sauces to get you started:

Hot honey sauce Spicy mayo Big mac sauce Dipping sauce for sweet potato fries

To reheat: Either put them back in the air fryer at 180°C/350°F for 2-3 minutes or pop them in a preheated oven. Avoid the microwave, as the chicken will lose its crispiness. To freeze: Let the nuggets cool before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag, and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. Make ahead: Once the nuggets are breaded, place them in a ziplock bag and store in the freezer. When ready to cook, simply cook them from frozen. Just increase the air frying time by 2-3 minutes.