Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets {Crispy & Juicy!}
https://fryit.co/air-fryer-chicken-nuggets/Crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside, these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike! 🤩 Fry it to believe it!
Makes 6
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons Avocado oil spray
Breading
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon cayenne
- 1½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Dice your chicken breast: Pat the boneless, skinless chicken breasts dry with a kitchen towel, and then slice them into 1-inch cubes. If the chicken breasts are frozen, thaw them overnight.
- Prepare the breading station: In a large container, combine the flour, corn starch, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Next, take ½ cup of the dry batter and add it to the buttermilk. Finally, place a cup of dry batter into a covered container.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF (204ºC). If your air fryer has a capacity of 4 quarts or smaller, please see the note for more info.
- Bread the raw chicken nuggets: First, transfer 10-15 pieces of uncooked chicken nuggets into the dredging container. Shake until lightly coated. Next, dip each nugget into the buttermilk mixture. Then, transfer them to the breading station and cover them with the dry batter mixture, pressing gently to help the breading adhere.Transfer to a separate container, then repeat the process until all the chicken breast chunks have been breaded.
- Air fry chicken nuggets for 10-12 minutes. To begin, add a single layer of breaded chicken nuggets into the preheated air fryer, then spray them with cooking oil. Flip halfway through, spray any remaining dry section with cooking oil and air fry them until the crust is crispy and golden brown. Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) or higher.
- Prepare your favorite dipping sauce. The classic sauces for chicken nuggets are barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or traditional fry sauce.
- Allow the air fried chicken nuggets to rest on a cooling rack for 3-5 minutes. This will help maintain the crispiness of the crust and make your chicken nuggets more tender..
- Now all that’s left for you is to enjoy your air fryer chicken nuggets with your favorite dipping sauce or maybe a side of fries.
Video
Notes
- For smaller air fryers (4-quart and below), reduce the cooking temperature to 380°F (193°C). They generate more heat because of the heating element's proximity to the food.
- If your air fryer doesn't have a preheating option, you can set the temperature to 400ºF (204ºC)) and then let it cook for 4-5 minutes without food.
- I used a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex Plus to test this homemade air fryer chicken nuggets recipe. 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.
- Any poultry products such as chicken breast should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) or higher.
- For a crispy and juicy nuggets, allow them to rest on a cooling rack for at least 3-5 minutes after air frying.
Nutrition
Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 669mg | Potassium: 183mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 361IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 2mg
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