
Who doesn’t like chicken nuggets? Crunchy, delicious and a perfect vehicle for dips–there’s a reason chicken nuggets are an American household favorite! For the longest time I kept frozen nuggets on hand until I realized that I could make them from scratch in the SAME AMOUNT OF TIME. Seriously! These air fryer chicken nuggets are healthy, yummy and are ready in less than 20 minutes. You’ll never go back to mystery meat nuggets again.

Why Bother to Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets?
- You control the ingredients! Meat chickens are notoriously kept in horrible conditions, fed a cheap diet and over treated with antibiotics. Making your own nuggets allows you to choose better quality chicken, if that is important to you. Unlike many nuggets, there is no filler, preservatives, or seed oils in homemade nuggets.
- You get the crunch of fried chicken, without the deep frying.
- While they require more effort, these nuggets are ready in the same amount of time it takes to cook frozen nuggets.
- Versatile! Knowing how to make your own nuggets allows you to play with different seasonings and breading to create your own unique nug!
- Meal prep! If you like the ease of frozen nuggets, simply bake a large batch and freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months. Now you have the simplicity of frozen nuggets without the preservatives or extra cost!
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- 1-1.5 lb chicken, chopped into nuggets
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 eggs, whisked
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup bread crumbs. I like to use 1/2 cup of panko bread crumbs mixed with 1/2 cup of crushed croutons or pita chips. If you use 1 cup of plain breadcrumbs, I recommend adding 1 tbsp grated parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp onion powder and 1/2 tsp pepper to season.
- 1 tsp olive oil

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
Dry the raw chicken with a paper towel. Chop the meat into nugget pieces and place in a bowl with the apple cider vinegar. Toss to coat.
Place the flour in one dish, the whisked eggs in a second, and the breadcrumbs mixed with the olive oil in a third. Grease the air fryer basket.


Dip each nugget into the flour, then the egg was and finally into the bread crumbs. Roll the piece in each dish to fully coat and shake off any excess before moving to the next dish. Place the nuggets on the air fryer basket, spaced at least 1/2 inch apart.
Air fry for 10-12 minutes. Flip the nuggets halfway through cooking. The smaller the nuggets, the shorter the cook time. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees F.

Tips & Tricks
- Pre-Heat Your Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to about 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes before cooking to ensure immediate crisping of the nuggets.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Lay the nuggets in a single layer with space between each piece to prevent steaming. Cook in batches if necessary for the best results.
- Breadcrumb Magic: Enhance texture and flavor by mixing breadcrumbs with seasonings like garlic powder or paprika. Lightly spray nuggets with oil for extra crispiness, and consider using panko for a lighter, crisper coating.
- Midway Flip: Flip the nuggets halfway through cooking to ensure even crispiness on both sides. Aim for 8-12 minutes total at 400°F, checking for a golden brown color and an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato
- Crispy Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
- Onion Crusted Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer
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We are happy to share our collection of “Old Fashioned Cravings” with you! This is our collection of family recipes that we have to collected, modified and created over the years. Our favorite meals are comfort foods tweaked to be a little bit healthier! We hope you enjoy the content and we would love to hear your favorites and suggestions!