Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Crispy, juicy, better-than-fast-food chicken nuggets made in the air fryer with a seasoned flour dredge, an egg-buttermilk dip, and a crunchy panko-Parmesan coating. Quick, kid-friendly, and perfect for dipping.
Servings: 4
Cost: $10
Equipment
- chef's knife
- cutting board
- 3 mixing bowls
- whisk
- kitchen tongs
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken tenders or chicken breasts cut into 1-inch nugget pieces
Seasoned flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne optional (use less/omit for kids)
Egg and buttermilk Mixture
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 3 Tablespoon buttermilk or milk + a splash of vinegar/lemon
- Pinch of salt + pepper
Crunchy coating
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- Olive oil or cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Set up the dredging station, Bowl 1: whisk seasoned flour ingredients. Bowl 2: whisk egg + buttermilk, season lightly with salt/pepper. Bowl 3: mix panko + Parmesan.
- Toss chicken pieces in the seasoned flour (shake off excess).
- Dip in egg/buttermilk. Press into panko-Parmesan so it really sticks.
- Place breaded nuggets on a tray and spray/drizzle lightly with oil.
- Arrange nuggets in a single layer (don’t crowd).
- Cook at 395°F for 4 minutes, flip, then cook 3–4 minutes more until golden and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F on an instant read thermometer.
Notes
- Pat the chicken dry before breading for the best coating adhesion and crispiness.
- Press the panko-Parmesan mixture onto each piece so it sticks well - this is key for that crunchy crust.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches for maximum crunch.
- Cook until nuggets are golden and the chicken reaches 165°F internally; larger nuggets may need 1-2 extra minutes.
- A light spray/drizzle of oil helps the nuggets brown evenly and crisp up.
Nutrition
Calories: 426kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 1241mg | Potassium: 562mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 417IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 365mg | Iron: 4mg