Are you looking for a quick, easy and kid-friendly (and adult) meal? These naked air fryer chicken nuggets are simple, flavorful, and healthy! And these naked nuggets take less than 20 minutes to make! Simply toss the chopped chicken with some vinegar and seasoning and air fry!

Ingredients for Naked Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp nutritional yeast (optional)
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp salt

How to Make Naked Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
Chop the chicken breast into nuggets (1-2 inch chunks) and place in a bowl.
Toss the chicken chunks with the apple cider vinegar, chili powder, salt and nutritional yeast until fully coated. This combination of seasonings is what I’ve been loving lately because I’ve been trying to add nutritional yeast to a variety of dishes!
However, you can easily leave it out or swap with your favorite seasoning mix. Nutritional yeast can even be used to produce a yummy coating, so if you like its flavor, increase the amount to 2-3 tbsp nutritional yeast!
Grease the air fryer basket (I use butter) and place the nuggets about 1/2 to 1 inch apart.


Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping the nuggets halfway through. The internal temperature should be at least 165 degrees F.


I like to serve these nuggets with my high-protein ranch dressing!
Tips & Tricks
- Pat Dry the Chicken: Before seasoning or breading, ensure your chicken pieces are thoroughly dried with paper towels. Removing excess moisture helps in achieving a crispy exterior in the air fryer without the need for any batter or breading.
- Seasoning is Key: Even without a breadcrumb coating, flavor can be maximized with a good seasoning blend. Use a mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and perhaps a dash of paprika or cayenne for heat. Rub the seasonings well into the chicken for the best flavor infusion.
- Air Fryer Basket Spacing: Don’t overcrowd your air fryer basket. Place the chicken pieces in a single layer with space around each nugget for air to circulate. This ensures each piece gets evenly crispy. You might need to cook in batches for this reason.
- Temperature and Time: Cook at a high temperature, around 400°F (200°C), to get that crispiness. Cooking time will vary, but start with 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Check for doneness; the internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). If they need more crisp, you can give them an extra couple of minutes, but watch closely to avoid overcooking.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets (Breaded)
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato
- Crispy Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
- Onion Crusted Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer
About Us


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!