Crispy Buffalo Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer
https://fryit.co/buffalo-chicken-nuggets-air-fryer/Get ready for a finger-licking treat with these crispy and spicy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets. Tender chunks of chicken, coated in a flavorful breading, are air-fried to perfection and then tossed in delicious Buffalo sauce. Whether you use a store-bought sauce or make it from scratch, these nuggets are an easy and tasty delight!
Makes 4
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)
- ⅔ 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.
- 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
Calories: 698kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 2827mg | Potassium: 672mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1129IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 164mg | Iron: 4mg
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