Notes: We are currently in the development and testing stage for this air fryer buffalo chicken nuggets recipe. Stay tuned for more updates. If you have any tips on making this dish even better, please leave us a comment below. We appreciate your input!
Happy frying!
Table of Contents
Ingredients
Here are all you need to make spicy air fried buffalo chicken nuggets
- Chicken breasts
- Avocado oil
- Buffalo sauce
Breading:
- Buttermilk
- All-purpose flour
- Cornstarch
- Paprika
- Salt and pepper
Buffalo Sauce From Scratch:
- Frank’s Original RedHot Sauce
- Unsalted butter
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt
✦ You can find the exact measurements of the recipe ingredients and customize the serving size in the recipe card after the detailed step-by-step instructions section.
You can use store-bought buffalo sauce for a shortcut. It’ll save you about 10 minutes of active cooking time.
However, making your own is simple, and it’ll be cheaper, so why not? (I always go the cheaper route.)
Recipe Video
Here’s a video of a similar recipe that we’re going for.
Note: The video features our mouthwatering Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings, similar to this recipe, except we didn’t bread the wings. The natural crispiness comes from the skin alone, making them irresistibly delicious!
How to Cook Buffalo Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer?
Step 1: Prepare the ingredients.
Start by cubing the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
Then, set up the breading station:
- In a shallow container, pour your buttermilk.
- Then, combine flour, cornstarch, paprika, salt, and pepper in another shallow container. Whisk together until homogenous.
For an extra dose of flavor and juiciness, marinate the chicken in buttermilk for 30 minutes or overnight before breading and air frying. The buttermilk not only tenderizes the meat but also infuses it with mouthwatering flavor, taking your Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets to a new level of deliciousness!
Step 2: Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF (204ºC).
If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheating option, set your desired temperature then let it cook for 5 minutes without food.
🚨 Important: Reduce the cooking temperature to 380°F (193°C) if you’re using a 4-quart air fryer or smaller. They are hotter due to the heating element being closer to the food.
Step 3: Bread the chicken nuggets.
Dredge the chicken nuggets into the seasoned flour mixture.
Second, dip the dredged chicken into the buttermilk, coating them thoroughly to ensure the breading sticks well. Make sure to let the excess drip off.
Next, toss the buttermilk-coated chicken into the seasoned flour mixture again, ensuring to coat each piece with the delicious blend of spices.
💡 Pro Tip: Use a food container with a lid for the flour mixture. Then, you can simply shake the container to bread the chicken thoroughly.
Step 4: Air fry the buffalo chicken nuggets at 400ºF (204ºC) for 10 – 12 minutes.
Now, place the coated chicken nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t overlap.
Lightly spray the nuggets with avocado oil to promote that golden, crispy exterior.
Air fry the nuggets at 400ºF (204ºC) for 10 – 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even browning and crunchiness.
Step 5: Make Buffalo Sauce (Optional).
If you’re making the sauce from scratch, combine the hot pepper sauce, cold cubed unsalted butter, Worcestershire sauce, and salt in a small pot.
Cook the sauce over low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently until the butter melts and all the flavors meld together into an irresistible sauce.
💡 Pro Tip: Do NOT use high heat, nor let it stay in the heat for too long. Doing so will separate the fat from the sauce.
Step 6: Toss in Buffalo sauce.
Once your chicken are perfectly cooked and delightfully crispy, transfer them to a mixing bowl. Toss the air fried chicken nuggets in the Buffalo sauce until each piece is coated with that spicy goodness.
Step 7: Serve & enjoy!
Serve your delicious Air Fried Buffalo Chicken Nuggets with celery sticks, carrot sticks, and your favorite dipping sauce on the side. This tantalizing combination of textures and flavors will have you reaching for seconds!
💡 Pro Tip: Buffalo Chicken Nuggets are best enjoyed immediately after tossing them in the sauce. This ensures they retain their crispness while the sauce adds an explosion of flavor.
What to Serve with Buffalo Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer?
- Pair your Buffalo Chicken Nuggets with classic ranch dressing or blue cheese dip for the ultimate flavor combo.
- Serve them alongside a refreshing coleslaw salad to balance out the heat.
- Make some loaded potato wedges or sweet potato fries for a heartier meal as the perfect side.
Freezing & Storage
Freezing: Unfortunately, Buffalo Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer are best enjoyed fresh. They shouldn’t be frozen for later use as they might lose their crispiness.
However! If you want to freeze the chicken nuggets, do so before adding the Buffalo sauce. Let them cook thoroughly, cool to room temperature, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheat frozen nuggets in the air fryer at 400ºF (204ºC) for 8 – 10 minutes until cooked through. After cooking, toss in the Buffalo sauce and enjoy the irresistible flavor!
Fridge: You can store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply pop them back into the air fryer for 5 – 7 minutes at 400ºF (204ºC) until they regain their crunchiness. By the way, the air fryer should be preheated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can air fry Frank’s Buffalo Bites to perfection! Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF (204ºC) and cook the bites for 8 – 10 minutes until they’re hot and crispy.
This ingredients checklist is interactive; you can use it as your grocery list.
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breasts cubed (454 g)
- Avocado oil
- 1/4 cup Buffalo sauce
Breading:
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ¾ teaspoon paprika
- 1½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Buffalo Sauce From Scratch (Optional)
- â…” cup Frank's Original RedHot Sauce
- ½ cup Unsalted butter cold and cubed
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Create a breading station: In one shallow dish, pour the buttermilk. Mix the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, paprika, salt, and black pepper in another container until well combined.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF (204ºC).
- Bread the chicken nuggets. Dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour. Dip the dredged nuggets into buttermilk, allowing the excess to drip off. Coat the chicken nuggets again in the flour mixture.
- Place the coated chicken nuggets in a single layer in your air fryer basket, ensuring they don't touch. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to do this in batches.
- Lightly spray the nuggets with avocado oil.
- Air fry the nuggets at 400ºF (204ºC) for 10 – 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time for even crispiness.
- Prepare Buffalo Sauce (Optional). Combine the hot pepper sauce, cold butter, Worcestershire sauce, and salt to taste in a small pot. Cook over low heat until thoroughly mixed, for about 5 minutes.
- Toss the nuggets in Buffalo sauce. In a mixing bowl, toss the air-fried chicken nuggets in the Buffalo sauce until they're evenly coated.
- Serve and Enjoy! Plate up your delicious Air Fried Buffalo Chicken Nuggets and serve them with your favorite dipping sauce, celery sticks, and carrot sticks for a classic Buffalo experience.
Notes
- Remember that cooking durations may differ depending on the chicken’s thickness and your air fryer’s size and model. Before serving, ensure it has been cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165ºF (74ºC).
- When making buffalo sauce from scratch, begin at a low temperature and gradually increase to medium. Cooking at high temperatures can cause the butter to separate.
- It’s ideal to add the buffalo sauce after air frying. It can get burnt at high heat and may even produce smoke.
- If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheating option, you can set the temperature to 380°F (193°C) and then let it cook for 4-5 minutes without food.Â
- You can skip preheating by adding 2-4 minutes to your cooking time. Increment gradually to prevent burning the buffalo chicken nuggets.
- I used a 6-quart (air fryer) to test the buffalo chicken nuggets. Cooking time and temperature may vary depending on your air fryer and the number of servings you are making. For optimal results, begin with the lower end of the suggested cooking time.
Nutrition
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