Description

These Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Nuggets are homemade, perfectly seasoned, and ultra-crispy without deep frying. Made with simple ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes, they’re a family-friendly favorite that’s perfect for dipping, snacking, or serving with your favorite sides!

Ingredients

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup buttermilk (or regular milk + 1 tsp lemon juice)
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Olive oil spray (for air frying)

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Instructions

Marinate the chicken:
Place chicken pieces in a bowl with buttermilk. Toss to coat and let sit while you prep the coating (or refrigerate for up to 30 minutes for extra tenderness).
Prepare the coating:
In a shallow bowl, mix together panko, Parmesan (if using), garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Coat the nuggets:
Remove chicken from buttermilk, allowing excess to drip off. Dredge each piece in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3–5 minutes.
Air fry:
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil. Arrange nuggets in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Spray tops with oil. Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and internal temp reaches 165°F.

Serve:
Serve hot with ketchup, ranch, honey mustard, or your favorite dipping sauce!

Notes

For extra crunch, double-coat the chicken (dip in milk again and re-coat in crumbs).
Make them spicy by adding cayenne to the breadcrumb mix.

Leftovers? Reheat in the air fryer for 3–4 minutes at 375°F to keep them crispy.