Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

Homemade air fryer chicken nuggets are a quick, family-friendly dinner made with real chicken breast, a short pickle-juice marinade, and a crisp seasoned coating. They cook fast in the air fryer and stay juicy inside without needing a pot of oil.

For another easy air fryer chicken dinner, try our crispy air fryer chicken tenders, or serve these nuggets with air fryer sweet potato fries.

Why This Chicken Nugget Recipe Works

• 30-minute marinade adds flavor quickly
• Air fryer creates a crisp coating with less oil
• Chicken breast stays tender and juicy
• Easy to freeze for another meal

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

Marinate the chicken pieces in pickle juice, drain, then dip into a milk-and-egg mixture. Toss with seasoned flour and panko, spray lightly with oil, and air fry in a single layer. Finish at a higher temperature for extra crispness.

Freezing and Reheating

Freeze cooked nuggets in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight or reheat from frozen at a moderate air-fryer temperature until hot, then finish at a higher temperature if needed for crispness.

Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe Card

Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

Juicy chicken breast nuggets with a crisp seasoned coating and quick pickle-juice marinade.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Servings: 5 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Chicken

• 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup pickle juice
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 large egg

Coating

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tbsp powdered sugar optional
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp fine salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• cooking spray as needed

Method

 

1. Marinate the chicken pieces in pickle juice for 30 minutes, then drain.
2. Whisk milk and egg in a shallow bowl. In another bowl, combine flour, panko, powdered sugar if using, paprika, chili powder, pepper, salt, and baking powder.
3. Dip chicken into the egg mixture, let excess drip off, then coat thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture.
4. Preheat the air fryer to 360°F. Spray the basket, arrange nuggets in one layer, and spray their tops.
5. Air fry for 6 minutes. Flip, spray again, raise the temperature to 400°F, and cook 2 to 4 minutes more, until crisp and the chicken reaches 165°F.

Notes

Cook in batches for the crispiest coating. Crowding the basket traps steam.

Adapted from Tastes Better From Scratch. Seasoning and coating adjusted for Wasfat Ummi.

Featured photo: Tyson / Unsplash.