Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

5 from 2 votes

These Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are juicy on the inside and perfectly crispy on the outside! A healthier, easier, and tastier version of a drive-through or frozen classic!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time8 mins

Total Time18 mins

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer, chicken breast, panko

Servings: people

Calories: 200kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1/2 - 1 inch chunks
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup pickle juice or omit and use more buttermilk
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Honey mustard, ranch, ketchup for dipping

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine chicken with buttermilk, pickle juice, and salt.
Marinate 30 mins at room temperature. You can also marinate, covered, in the fridge for a couple/few hours.
Drain marinade and set chicken aside.
In a gallon sized ziplock baggie, combine panko, flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.*
Place drained chicken into baggie with panko mixture, seal, and gently shake until chicken pieces are fully coated. Set aside.
Hit “ON” on the air fryer.  Then hit “PRE-HEAT”. Set the temperature to 400 degrees F and set the timer to 8 minutes.  Hit “START”.  The air fryer will beep at you when it’s finished preheating. 
Open up the air fryer and spray the basket with cooking spray.  Place in the chicken nuggets, work with about 12 at a time, so you don’t over crowd them.  Close the air fryer. It will beep at you when it’s finished cooking. Repeat with remaining chicken nuggets.
Taste and re-season, if necessary and serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
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Video

Notes

*You could also do this is another bowl as shown in the video, if you like.

Nutrition