Swap out your frozen store bought chicken nuggets and make these super easy Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets instead!
Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
I will admit that I have a chicken nugget addiction. My friend Brendon and I joked about having a giant chicken nugget mountain for our funerals and whenever there’s a chicken nugget related engagement, someone will send it to me.
So yeah, you could say that I love chicken nuggets. However, ever since H hasn’t been around to drive me out for 2AM MD chicken nugget runs, I’ve started making my own!
When I’m making chicken nuggets, I like using my air fryer because it doesn’t require pre-heating and cooks the nuggets faster – and I’m pretty impatient when it comes to getting my nuggets! If you do not have an air fryer, I’ll have a post on making these in an oven coming up.
These homemade chicken nuggets are perfect as a meal or as a snack! It’s perfect for both adults and little ones – I mean, who doesn’t love a crispy chicken nugget right?
What You’ll Need to Make Chicken Nuggets in an Air Fryer
- chicken breasts, cut into 1″ to 1.5″ cubes
- olive oil
- panko
- parmesan
- sweet paprika
- cooking spray/oil spray for the air fryer
And of course, you’ll need an air fryer, I have the Philips TurboStar XXL.
How To Make Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Cut up your chicken breasts into 1″ to 1.5″ cubes and set them aside.
- Set up your station with one bowl holding your olive oil, and the other holding your panko, parmesan, and paprika mix.
- Spritz the inside of your air fryer lightly with some oil.
- Dip your chicken cube into the olive oil, then place it into your coating. Make sure your nugget is well coated and place it into the air fryer. Repeat until your air fryer is full.
- Set your air fryer to 400F and cook your homemade chicken nuggets for 8 minutes.
- Serve with your choice of dip.
Meal Prep These Homemade Airfryer Chicken Nuggets
This healthier homemade air fryer chicken nuggets can easily become a make ahead freezer meal.
- After air frying them, let them cool and freezer flat on a sheet pan.
- Then use as you would with store-bought nuggets by reheating them in your air fryer or oven for a couple of minutes.
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Fun Ways To Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets in a Full Meal
So if you prefer to make these air fryer chicken nuggets as part of a meal and not just eat it as is, here are some fun ideas!
- chicken nugget tacos
- chicken nuggets and waffles
- add it to a salad
- add it to a chicken wrap
Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cut up your chicken breasts into 1″ to 1.5″ cubes and set them aside.
- Set up your station with one bowl holding your olive oil, and the other holding your panko, parmesan, and paprika mix.
- Spritz the inside of your air fryer lightly with some oil.
- Dip your chicken cube into the olive oil, then place it into your coating. Make sure your nugget is well coated and place it into the air fryer. Repeat until your air fryer is full. Do not over crowd the air fryer, air fry in batches if needed.
- Set your air fryer to 400F and cook your homemade chicken nuggets for 8 minutes.
- Serve with your choice of dip.
Nutrition Per Serving
WANT TO TRY ANOTHER AIRFRYER RECIPE?
- Korean Fried Cauliflower made with an Airfryer
- Party Snacks: Wontons 3 Ways with an Airfryer
- AirFryer Shrimp Tempura Sushi Burrito
- Simple Airfryer Turkey Dinner
- Air fryer Baked Potato
- How To Cook Chicken Breasts in the Air Fryer
- Boneless Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Tofu Cubes
Other places to connect with me
Instagram: @carmyshungry
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Email: [email protected]
Debbie
I’m an Airfryer novice this was super easy and my husband who has decided he no longer likes chicken, loves it! Thank you for posting.
Carmy
So glad you and your husband enjoyed it Debbie!
John Devero
If reheating from frozen do you need to thaw first and what time and temp yo reheat?
Carmy
Hi John, to reheat from frozen, I do not thaw them first. I place them frozen into my air fryer. I usually reheat between 350F-400F. I check after 3-5 minutes to see if they’ve heated through.
TC
This is a great recipe for a novice air fryer! Only comments I’d make is that this created far more breading mix than needed, and could probably be cut down by 1/3. Also, on my subsequent batches I added 1 tsp salt and 1/2 cayenne pepper and those really jazzed it up.
Carmy
thank you for your feedback! The cayenne pepper sounds like a great touch!