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Apart from French fries, my other favourite snack when I visit fast food joints is chicken nuggets. Aren’t they just such a fun and satisfying snack? What’s there not to love! Juicy on the inside and with a satisfying crunch on the outside. If I could, I would quite honestly go get some chicken nuggets every day! I grew up on McDonald’s chicken nuggets back in India. Even when I came to Canada, McDonald’s nuggets were my go-to choice. However, these days I’ve been hooked on the Burger King nuggets! Where do you get your favourite chicken nuggets from? Let me know in the comments!
If you’re a chicken nugget lover or perhaps you’re a parent of a kid who loves chicken nuggets but you don’t want them to eat them every day, then you’ve come to the right spot! The air fryer is here to save the day by helping you make chicken nuggets from scratch! We will be using real chicken here and all our ingredients will be fresh and nutritious with no preservatives! As you’ll soon see, you can make a large batch of chicken nuggets from scratch to freeze and cook on demand so that you and your family can skip the takeout and satisfy those cravings whenever you want! With that being said, if you want to put your heart on a plate for a chicken nugget lover, then you have to try this easy air-fried chicken nugget recipe as part of your Live to Cook one-month challenge! Sign up to my email newsletter to get started on your cooking journey for free today and to receive all of my latest recipes right to your inbox!
To follow along with the steps to make your new favourite snack in the air fryer, be sure to check out the video! Also, please make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel if you’re not already, and make sure to press the bell button to be notified when all my latest video recipes go live! Let’s get to it!
Why You’ll Love this Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe:
- Simple process: This recipe for air fryer chicken nuggets only requires you to make your chicken mixture, form the nuggets, bread and then air fry! You can have chicken nuggets any time with this straightforward process. It’s also not too messy!
- Fast food cravings satisfied: Do you love chicken nuggets as much as I do? Let’s be honest when we say that it will probably make a dent to your wallet and your health if you regularly have fast food nuggets. These chicken nuggets will give you all the flavour, crunch, and juiciness that you look out for in your favourite shops right from your own kitchen.
- All-natural ingredients: Have you ever seen the ingredients list of your favourite chicken nuggets? You may be in for a shock at how much actual chicken is in those! I don’t know about you, but I’ll keep eating chicken nuggets from fast food just because I love them so much, but if you really want the best for yourself and for your kiddos, then homemade is the way to go! These nuggets are made with pure chicken and no fake ingredients or processed oils!
- Great for crowds: Have a party coming up and want to serve up a snack that’ll fly off the table? These chicken nuggets in the air fryer will disappear from the table in a flash! Of course, children will absolutely love them!
- Fast to make: I actually made these chicken nuggets at the same time as I got some fast food nuggets. With traffic and all, I found that it takes the same amount of time to go out of your way to purchase nuggets and wait for them to be ready compared to making them yourself. If you prep your nuggets in advance, then cooking them really is a breeze!
- Make-ahead friendly: This recipe for chicken nuggets from scratch will show you how to prep them so all you need to do is air fry when a craving strikes. I strongly recommend you do this so that there are always chicken nuggets available to you, and this will help you eat healthier and save money!
Questions You May Have About Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets!
What is An Air Fryer?▼
An air fryer is a medium-sized countertop kitchen appliance that cooks food using a rapid circulation of hot air, similar to a convection oven. This method allows for achieving a crispy texture similar to deep frying but with significantly less oil, making it a healthier and more accessible cooking options for the every day home cook. Air fryers can prepare a variety of dishes with the help of different settings and timers, ranging from chicken wings to vegetables much easier and quicker than a regular oven. In addition, air fryers are all the rage because of their ability to produce crispy results in a shorter cooking time compared to traditional frying methods. This Cosori Air Fryer is the the second air fryer I’ve owned, with the Ninja Dual Basket 6-in-1 being the first. I had to get rid of my first air fryer because the second basket stopped working soon after I had purchased it, rendering it essentially worthless. For more information, check out this video. I’m quite happy with my Cosori air fryer, and if you’re considering purchasing it, then check out my full one month’s impressions in this video!
Why Do We Use Ground Chicken Instead of Chicken Breast?▼
I prefer to use ground chicken instead of chicken breast because it’s easier to mix with. It’s also a bit fattier to make the nuggets juicier. However, if you would like, you could grind chicken breast yourself to make this extra fresh!
How Come You’re Using Slices of Bread to Make Breadcrumbs?▼
I really like the flavour from a well baked good sourdough bread, and homemade breadcrumbs really make a difference! However, if you want, you can definitely use pre-ground breadcrumbs for the final coating.
What Temperature Do You Cook the Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer?▼
The chicken nuggets will be cooked using the “Air Fry” setting at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Do I Prevent The Breading From Falling Off the Nuggets?▼
Firstly, you need to make sure that the chicken nuggets have been freezing long enough so that they hold their shape. Secondly, when you are breading the chicken, make sure to press the breading firmly onto the nuggets so that they don’t fall off and you get an even coating all over. The cornstarch and all-purpose flour will help the breading stick onto the nuggets, and coating the nuggets with olive oil will help with a rich golden brown crust all over while preventing the crumbs from burning.
Do I Need to Spray The CHicken Nuggets With Olive OIl?▼
I’ll be spraying my chicken nuggets on both sides with olive oil. This is because it will allow the nuggets to get a perfectly golden brown colour and add some flavour to the breading. It will also help prevent the nuggets from sticking onto your air fryer liner or the tray if you’re choosing not to cook the chicken nuggets on an air fryer liner.
How Long Do Chicken Nuggets Cook In the Air Fryer?▼
The nuggets will cook for about 10-12 minutes, depending on the size of the nuggets, with 7 minutes on the first side and then an additional 4 to 5 minutes after flipping.
Why Do We Flip The Chicken Nuggets While Cooking?▼
We flip the chicken nuggets while they are cooking to ensure that the coating does not get too dark on one side and to ensure even cooking.
Can I Cook Chicken Nuggets from Frozen?▼
Yes, you definitely can cook nuggets that have been frozen directly in the air fryer. It’ll take about 3 to 4 extra minutes per side to ensure that the chicken is fully cooked.
How Come My Chicken Nuggets Look so Puffy When They’re Done Cooking?▼
I saw that my chicken nuggets initially looked more like dinosaur nuggets rather than chicken nuggets when they first came out since they were so puffy! This definitely gave me a shock when I took them out of the air fryer, and I was worried that I had totally messed up the recipe and made jumbo size nuggets instead. However, within a few minutes, the nuggets deflated. Since our breading is airy with egg whites and baking powder, they expanded with air in the air fryer. Once you let them sit for about 2 minutes, they will shrink down to normal human size nuggets, so do not worry! You did a good job with the coating to create a good seal.
I Don’t Have An Air Fryer! How Do I Bake the Chicken Nuggets in the Oven?▼
No problem at all if you don’t own an air fryer—you can absolutely bake these nuggets in a regular oven.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). If your oven has a convection (fan) setting, turn it on for extra crispiness.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or place a wire rack over the sheet for better airflow.
- Arrange the prepared nuggets in a single layer and lightly spray or brush them with oil.
- Bake for 18–22 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the coating is golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Tools Needed To Make Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- Salt crock
- Air fryer
- Plastic wrap
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Baking tray
- Mixing bowl
- Air fryer liners
- Olive oil dispenser
- Food processor
- Gloves
- Tongs
- Ramekin
Ingredients for Air Fried Crunchy Chicken Nuggets
Time to review the ingredients we’ll need to make the perfect chicken nuggets from scratch with the help of your air fryer! You can save the recipe for later and find all ingredients and their quantities by scrolling to the bottom of this post for the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD or by pressing the “Jump to Recipe” button. By default, this recipe will make 16 large chicken nuggets.
For the chicken mixture
- Ground chicken: I’m just using regular ground chicken that was available at my grocery store. Go organic, extra lean, or even grind it yourself if you would like!
- Egg: 1 whole egg here to help add moisture to the chicken mixture and to ensure the breading stays onto the nuggets and won’t fall off. If you really want to, you can use just egg whites to make these even lighter.
- Cornstarch: Essential to add crispiness to the chicken nuggets.
- Seasoning mix: See below. We’ll use half here and reserve the other half for the breading mixture.
For the Seasoning Mix
For The Dry Mix
- All-purpose flour: Part of the base coat of our chicken nugget breading.
- Cornstarch: To make sure the coating is crispy and the chicken stays juicy.
- Baking powder: Helps make the breading airy and assists in it to rise when the nuggets are cooking in the air fryer.
For the Wet Mix
- Egg white: You could use a whole egg if you would like, but using an egg white makes the breading lighter and airier than with a whole egg.
- Cornstarch: To help create a slurry with the water and egg whites that helps the breadcrumbs stick.
- Cold water: Mixed with the egg white.
For the Final Coating
- Sourdough bread: I’m using 3 slices of sourdough bread that will be blended into breadcrumbs. If you don’t have sourdough bread then don’t worry about it at all! As I mention in my free motivational guide to explore your potential in the kitchen, Making Cooking Fun!!, if there is a suitable substitute that you already have on hand, then be sure to use it! You absolutely can use Panko breadcrumbs if you would like or even just regular pre-ground breadcrumbs. However, if you want the freshest and tastiest nuggets, then I do recommend that you grind your own breadcrumbs!
- Olive oil: To spray on top of the nuggets when air frying.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Mix ground chicken, whole egg, cornstarch, and half the seasoning until smooth.
With lightly oiled hands or gloves, shape into 16–20 nuggets by rolling into balls and gently flattening.
Place on a baking tray and freeze for 30–45 minutes until firm.
Prepare three bowls for the breading. Put all the ingredients for the dry mix in one bowl, in addition to the remaining half of the Seasoning Mix.
In the second bowl, add the wet batter. In the third bowl, add the breadcrumbs. Blend the breadcrumbs in a food processor if you are using fresh bread.
Coat each nugget in the dry mix, then dip in wet batter, then press firmly into breadcrumbs.
Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Lightly spray nuggets with oil and cook for 7 minutes, flip, spray again, and air fry another 4–5 minutes until golden and internal temp reaches 165°F.
Serve with your favourite dip and enjoy!
Tips For Better Super Crunchy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets from Scratch
- Ensure that the shaped chicken nuggets have been freezing for long enough before breading them. The longer the better to ensure that they are firm enough and will hold their shape.
- Make sure to press the breading mixture firmly onto the nuggets so that it does not fall off.
- Do not overcrowd the basket of the air fryer as the nuggets will expand when they are cooking.
- Spraying both sides with olive oil will help get the perfect golden brown crisp we all love from chicken nuggets and to prevent the nuggets from sticking onto the air fryer tray or air fryer liner.
- Making a large batch to freeze is strongly recommended!
Variations of Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
We’ve got a simple chicken nugget recipe here to show the process and that provides a similar flavour to the iconic fast food chicken nuggets. If you want to switch things up, try seasoning the breading and the chicken mixture with the spice blends below and discover your favourite!
Serving Suggestions For Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Chicken nuggets are the perfect side dish! You can enjoy them as a snack or pair them with other sides & starters and/or main dishes for a complete lunch or dinner! Here are some ideas:
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Garlic-Butter Mashed Potatoes
- Scalloped Potatoes
- Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
- “Canadian” Poutine
- American Cheeseburger
- Classic Mac and Cheese
- Cast Iron Pan Pizza
In my opinion, chicken nuggets are best enjoyed with dips! Here are some tasty sauces to go along with your nuggets:
- Your favourite hot sauce (as I did here!)
- BBQ Sauce
- Dijon mustard
- Honey mustard
- Ketchup
- Hot Honey
- Homemade Mayo
- Homemade Yogurt Caesar Dressing
- Ranch Dip (or even Seemingly Ranch!)
- Garlic-Truffle Aioli
- Thai Curry Mayo
Storage and Reheating Instructions
How to Store Chicken Nuggets▼
All you need to do is transfer the cooked chicken nuggets in airtight container in the fridge. Because this is poultry, I would recommend you keep chicken nuggets in the fridge for no longer than 3 to 4 days. Don’t worry if you made a larger batch than you intended. Once the nuggets have been breaded, they can be frozen in a air tight container or freezer back. Then, once ready to enjoy nuggets, you can cook them from frozen and add 3-4 minutes extra to the cook time.
Frozen chicken nuggets will last for about 3 to 4 months before they get freezer burnt.
Reheating Chicken Nuggets
Simply place the nuggets in the basket of your air fryer and select the “Reheat” setting. Allow the chicken nuggets to reheat for about 3 to 5 minutes or until entirely warmed through.
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