Air Fryer Homemade Chicken Nuggets
If your family loves chicken nuggets, this air fryer homemade chicken nugget recipe is about to become a weeknight favorite. Instead of waiting in the drive through line, you make the nuggets in your own kitchen with ingredients you choose, and the air fryer handles the crisping in about 10 minutes.
The nuggets turn out juicy, salty, crispy, and full of flavor. That is exactly why kids and adults both reach for them, and why they work just as well for a family dinner as they do for a party platter or a lunchbox.
This recipe makes 30 nuggets from 2 pounds of ground chicken. That is enough for a hungry family, with a few extras left to freeze for another night. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce, whether that is ranch, honey mustard, ketchup, or barbecue sauce.
This version is adapted from the original Air Fryer Homemade Chicken Nuggets recipe at Simply Low Cal.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These nuggets solve a very common dinner problem. They taste like the nuggets your family already asks for, but you control what goes into them.
- Made fresh at home. You skip the preservatives found in many fast food nuggets while keeping the familiar taste and crunch.
- High in protein. Each nugget has about 6 grams of protein, which helps the meal actually keep everyone full.
- Quick and easy. Prep takes about 20 minutes and the air fryer does the rest in 10 minutes.
- Weeknight friendly. There is no deep frying, no splattering oil, and no long list of steps to memorize.
- Great for making ahead. Cooked nuggets freeze well, so a double batch pays off on the next busy night.
They are also a smart way to serve a meal that feels fun without feeling heavy, especially when you pair them with a simple side and a dip everyone likes.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Everything here is easy to find at a regular grocery store. Here is what each ingredient does in the recipe.
- 2 pounds ground chicken: the base of the nuggets. If you do not have ground chicken, you can make your own by pulsing boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a food processor.
- 2 large eggs: one goes into the chicken mixture to help it hold together, and one goes into the batter to help the coating stick.
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt: seasons the chicken mixture from the inside out.
- 1 cup cornstarch: gives the nuggets a lighter coating and helps them crisp up.
- 1 cup water: thins the batter so it clings evenly and helps the breading adhere to the chicken.
- 1 ½ tablespoons onion powder and 1 ½ tablespoons garlic powder: the savory backbone of the seasoning blend.
- 1 tablespoon paprika: adds warm color and a mild, rounded flavor.
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground pepper: a gentle bite that balances the salt.
- 1 cup all purpose flour: the base of the wet batter that coats every nugget.
Step By Step Instructions
The method is simple, but the order matters. Follow these steps and the nuggets will hold together and crisp evenly.
- Blend the chicken. In a food processor or mixer, blend the chicken, 1 egg, and the salt until the chicken resembles a paste.
- Shape the nuggets. Form the chicken into tablespoon sized nuggets, then dredge them in the cornstarch to coat them fully. Set them aside.
- Mix the batter. In a mixing bowl, mix the flour, the seasonings, the remaining egg, and the water. Mix well until a smooth batter forms.
- Dip each nugget. Place a nugget on a fork and dip it into the batter. Let the excess batter drip off so the coating stays even.
- Prep the air fryer. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray, then preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Arrange in a single layer. Place the chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on the size of your fryer, you may need to air fry in batches.
- Air fry for 10 minutes. Cook until the nuggets are fully cooked through, flipping the chicken halfway through the cook time.
- Cool and serve. Allow the nuggets to cool before eating, then serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
The cornstarch step is what gives these nuggets their lighter, crispier shell, so it is worth the extra minute. If you are cooking in batches, keep the finished nuggets in a warm spot while the rest of the batch cooks.
Expert Tips
- Make your own ground chicken. Pulse chopped chicken breasts in a food processor until they reach the consistency you want. Stop before the meat turns into a puree so the nuggets keep a little texture.
- Do not overcrowd the basket. Nuggets that touch each other steam instead of crisping. Cook them in several batches, and the texture will be much better.
- Press the breading on. Press the coating into each nugget all the way around so it sticks and the nuggets turn out crispy.
- Double or triple the recipe. Extra nuggets can go straight into the freezer for future meals, which saves time on the nights when cooking is the last thing you want to do.
- Keep the pieces even. Tablespoon sized nuggets cook at the same rate, so they all finish at the same time instead of drying out.
Variations
The basic recipe is a great starting point, and the seasoning blend is easy to change once you know how the batter behaves.
- Add a little heat. Stir cayenne pepper into the spice mix for a warmer, spicier nugget.
- Swap the seasoning blend. Cajun seasoning, ranch seasoning, and Italian seasonings all work well in place of the onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and pepper blend.
- Change the dip. Serve the nuggets with an array of dipping sauces so everyone at the table can pick a favorite.
If you change the seasoning, taste the batter before you dip the first nugget. A quick taste tells you whether you want a little more salt or a little more spice.
Storing & Freezing
These nuggets are excellent leftovers, and they freeze beautifully, which makes them a smart recipe to double.
- In the refrigerator: Store cooled nuggets in an airtight container in the fridge for about 4 days. Reheat them under the broiler until they are warm and crisp again.
- For the freezer: Cool the nuggets completely first. Freeze them in a single layer on a cookie sheet so they do not stick together, then transfer the frozen nuggets to a freezer safe zip top bag or container.
- How long they keep: Frozen cooked nuggets keep for up to 2 to 3 months.
- Best way to reheat: Warm them in the air fryer so they come out nice and crispy instead of soft.
If you like to plan ahead, the source notes that uncooked nuggets can also be frozen for 1 to 2 months and cooked straight from frozen.
More Main Dish
If your family enjoyed these nuggets, there are more easy dinners to try. Crispy Chicken Nuggets With Tangy Dipping Sauce is a great next step when you want a bold dip to go with the crunch. For a side that disappears fast, make Crispy Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Fries in the same air fryer while the nuggets cook.
Ingredients
Here is the full ingredient list for the nuggets and the batter.
- 2 pounds ground chicken
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup water
- 1 ½ tablespoons onion powder
- 1 ½ tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground pepper
- 1 cup all purpose flour
Instructions
- In a food processor or mixer, blend the chicken, 1 egg, and the salt until the chicken resembles a paste.
- Form the chicken into tablespoon sized nuggets. Dredge the nuggets in the cornstarch to coat them fully, then set them aside.
- In a mixing bowl, mix the flour, the seasonings, the remaining egg, and the water. Mix well until a smooth batter forms.
- Place a nugget on a fork and dip it into the batter. Let the excess batter drip off.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray, then preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Place the chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. You may need to air fry in batches, depending on the size of your fryer.
- Air fry for 10 minutes, or until the nuggets are fully cooked through. Flip the chicken halfway through the cook time.
- Allow the nuggets to cool before eating. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Recipe details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Prep time | 20 minutes |
| Cook time | 10 minutes |
| Total time | 30 minutes |
| Yield | 30 nuggets |
| Servings | 30 nuggets |
| Air fryer temperature | 400°F |
Nutrition information comes from the original recipe and is calculated per nugget.
| Nutrient | Per nugget |
|---|---|
| Calories | 88 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Protein | 6 g |
| Fat | 3 g |
| Saturated fat | 1 g |
| Sodium | 158 mg |
| Cholesterol | 23 mg |
See the additional source.
FAQs
How do you make homemade chicken nuggets in an air fryer?
To make air fryer homemade chicken nuggets, blend 2 pounds of ground chicken with 1 large egg and 2 teaspoons of kosher salt to form a paste. Shape tablespoon-sized nuggets, roll them in 1 cup of cornstarch, then dip them into a batter made from 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of water, 1 large egg, 1 and a half tablespoons each of onion powder and garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of paprika, and 1 and a half teaspoons of ground pepper. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, spray the basket with cooking oil, and arrange the nuggets in a single layer. Air fry for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until fully cooked and golden brown.
How long do you cook homemade chicken nuggets in an air fryer?
Homemade chicken nuggets should be cooked in the air fryer for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. To ensure even cooking and crispiness, flip the nuggets halfway through the cooking time. You may need to cook them in batches if your air fryer basket is small, as the nuggets must be arranged in a single layer without overcrowding.
Can you freeze homemade air fryer chicken nuggets?
Yes, you can freeze both cooked and uncooked homemade air fryer chicken nuggets. For cooked nuggets, cool them completely, freeze them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, and then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 to 3 months. Uncooked, breaded nuggets can be frozen for 1 to 2 months and cooked directly from frozen in the air fryer, adding an extra 2 to 3 minutes to the cooking time.
How do you keep air fryer chicken nuggets crispy?
The key to crispy air fryer chicken nuggets is the double-dredge method: first roll the formed chicken nuggets in cornstarch, which absorbs surface moisture, then dip them in a seasoned flour batter. Press the breading firmly onto each nugget before cooking. Additionally, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the nuggets in a single layer without overcrowding to allow hot air to circulate properly, which prevents steam from making the coating soggy.
Air Fryer Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Air Fryer Homemade Chicken Nuggets If your family loves chicken nuggets, this air fryer homemade chicken nugget recipe is about to become a weeknight favorite. Instead of waiting in the drive through line, you make the nuggets in your own kitchen with ingredients you choose, and the air fryer handles the crisping in about 10 minutes.
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 30 Nuggets 1x
Ingredients
2 pounds ground chicken
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 cup cornstarch
1 cup water
1 ½ tablespoons onion powder
1 ½ tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 ½ teaspoon ground pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
1-In a food processor or mixer, blend: In a food processor or mixer, blend the chicken, 1 egg and salt until chicken resembles a paste.
2-Form the chicken into tablespoon sized nuggets: Form the chicken into tablespoon sized nuggets. Dredge the nuggets in cornstarch to fully coat. Set aside.
3-In a mixing bowl, mix the flour,: In a mixing bowl, mix the flour, seasonings, egg and water. Mix well until a smooth batter form.
4-Place a nugget on a fork to: Place a nugget on a fork to dip into the batter. Let excess batter drip off.
5-Spray the air fryer basket with a: Spray the air fryer basket with a cooking oil spray, then preheat the air fryer to 400° F.
6-Place the chicken nuggets in the air: Place the chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket, in a single layer. You may need to air fry in batches, depending on the size of your fryer.
7-Air fry for 10 minutes, or until: Air fry for 10 minutes, or until fully cooked through. Flip the chicken halfway through the cook time.
8-Allow nuggets to cool before eating: Allow nuggets to cool before eating. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Method: bake
Nutrition
- Calories: 88kcal
- Sodium: 158mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 23mg
