Chicken nuggets in air fryer are a great way to keep picky eater kids eating their favorite foods, but without the preservatives and nitrates processed chicken nuggets have. What these chicken nuggets are made of is NOT that disgusting pink slime. These chicken nuggets are dairy free and have no bread crumbs. Since these chicken nuggets are without bread crumbs, they taste similar to chicken nuggets like chick fil a or McDonalds.
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Ingredients:
- Chopped chicken breast - the main chicken part
- Flour - for the crispy coating
- Eggs - helps breading stick
- Spices chili powder, celery salt, thyme, basil, oregano, garlic powder - for extra flavor
How to make homemade chicken nuggets:
Making chicken tenders in air fryer is not a complicated process.
- Pour ingredients into respective bowls - there will be 2 ingredient bowls used
- Coat chicken in flour mixture - let chicken set aside 5 minutes to set from mixture. This will help the flour soak up moisture from the chicken.
- Coat chicken in egg mixture - this will help the flour stick
- Roll chicken in flour mixture again - let chicken set an additional 5 minutes to allow flour mixture to set
- Air fry chicken - the chicken tender internal temp after air frying should be above 165 degrees. How long to air fry chicken nuggets? I like to air fry for about 4 minutes per side until golden brown.
How to tell when chicken nuggets are done in air fryer:
I know my homemade chicken nuggets are done in the air fryer when they are golden brown on both sides. To be 100% sure they are done, I also like to cut one open within the batch and see if there is any pink in the center. If there is, then I put the chicken tenders in the air fryer for another 2 minutes. If you have a meat thermometer, you can also just temperature check the chicken nuggets. When they are done, they will temp above 165 degrees. The good part about chicken nuggets compared to other parts of the chicken is that they do cook a lot faster being in smaller pieces.
Can I make these in the oven?
Yes, follow same directions except place nuggets on a sprayed baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes each side.
Variations of homemade chicken nuggets
- Gluten free - you can make gluten free chicken nuggets by slightly modifying this recipe by using a 1:1 gluten free flour
- Using the oven - not everyone has an air fryer, but chicken nuggets baked is a good alternative if you are one of those people still without an air fryer.
- Cornflakes - you can still make chicken nuggets without bread crumbs by adding crushed cornflakes instead if you want your nuggets more crunchy. Chicken nuggets with cornflakes do not taste as sweet as you would think.
- Grilled - grilled chicken nuggets can also be an option. I would recommend cutting your chicken in strips if you are wanting to use the grill instead. This will make it easier to pickup with grilling tools. Prepare like you would as if you were using the air fryer for chicken nuggets, but place on the grill instead. Cook until golden brown on both sides and cooked throughout.
- Pound the chicken - pounding the chicken before cutting it into smaller pieces would give you more of the traditional fast-food style chicken nugget look.
- Add extra flour - when your nuggets get one resting the 2nd time, you can sprinkle remaining flour on top of them for additional coating if you want to.
What to serve with air fryer chicken nuggets:
Homemade chicken nuggets and chips go hand in hand! Kids really like chicken nuggets and fries from McDonalds, so why not make fries and chicken nuggets for kids at home with less preservatives? You could build one of those KFC bowls with mashed potatoes, gravy, cheese, and nuggets. If you want to live more on the healthier side, corn or cooked carrots can also be side dishes to accompany.
Dipping sauces are also a good idea to serve with chicken nuggets. Common dipping sauces include: ketchup, mayo, sriracha, mustard, honey mustard, bbq sauce, sweet and sour sauce, etc.
How to store homemade chicken nuggets:
- Fridge - store homemade chicken nuggets in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Chicken nuggets can be reheated if you just pop them in the microwave after being in the fridge.
- Freezer - this nugget recipe can be a freezer meal! Allow fully cooked nuggets to cool. Once cool, place in a single layer on a 9 x 13 baking sheet and freeze until froze all the way through. Then, place in a freezer container or bag until ready to reheat and eat. You can air fry frozen chicken nuggets to reheat them.
Check out my other chicken breast recipes:
Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer Recipe
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Ingredients
- 3 cups chopped chicken breast
- 1 ½ cup flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon each of the following spices chili powder, celery salt, thyme, basil, oregano, garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees
- In one bowl beat egg. In another small bowl, stir together flour and seasonings. Roll chicken breast in the flour mixture and let set on a plate for about 5 minutes for the flour to soak up the moisture.
- After 5 minutes, roll chicken cubes in egg mixture and back into the flour mixture until fully coated. Let set another 5 minutes on the plate.
- After rest time is up, place chicken cubes into sprayed air fryer basket. Air fry chicken nuggets for about 4 minutes each side or until they temp at 165 degrees and are fully cooked throughout.
Nutrition
All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. Nutritional facts listed are a rough estimate and should only be followed as a general idea.
I’ve made chicken wings in the air fryer but not nuggets. These look amazing.
I just got an air fryer and I can't wait to try this!