Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

These quick and easy air fryer chicken nuggets are perfectly golden brown, crispy, and moist. The secret here is drizzling the breading with melted butter to create the perfect texture. These chicken nuggets are freezer-friendly too!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken breast (boneless, skinless)
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
• 3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Cut chicken into nugget-size pieces. Try not to slice it too thick, about ⅓ inch thick should be good. Set aside.
2. 2Spray the air fryer basket with some cooking spray. This will prevent the bottom breading from sticking. Set aside.
3. 3In a medium bowl, beat the eggs.
4. 4Breading mixture: In another large bowl, combine the panko, Italian breadcrumbs, Kosher salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Then, drizzle in the melted butter and combine until the breading mixture is evenly moistened. Set aside.
5. 5Bread the chicken: Dip each chicken nugget into the egg mixture, and then immediately in the breading mixture. Arrange the breaded chicken on the air fryer basket, in one single layer. Spray the tops lightly with cooking oil. Tip: If your air fryer is not large enough, cook the chicken nuggets in multiple batches - don’t overcrowd the basket, as this could cause it to not get crispy.
6. 6Air fry at 390 degrees F for about 8 to 10 minutes (depending on how thick they are), flipping halfway through, until cooked through and golden brown. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.