Description
Crispy and flavorful Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets made with tender boneless, skinless chicken breasts coated in a seasoned breadcrumb mixture and air fried to golden perfection in just 15 minutes. A healthier alternative to traditional fried nuggets, perfect for a quick snack or meal.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 16 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces (about 2 large breasts)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Breading
- 6 tablespoons whole wheat Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- Olive oil spray (such as Misto), for spraying nuggets before air frying
Instructions
- Prepare olive oil and breadcrumb mixture: Pour the olive oil into one bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the whole wheat Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, and grated parmesan cheese thoroughly.
- Season and coat chicken: Season the chicken pieces evenly with kosher salt and black pepper. Add the seasoned chicken to the bowl with olive oil and mix well, ensuring every piece is evenly coated with the oil.
- Bread the chicken pieces: Working in batches, dip a few pieces of the olive oil-coated chicken into the breadcrumb mixture, pressing lightly to coat all sides evenly. Place the coated nuggets into the air fryer basket.
- Air fry chicken nuggets: Lightly spray the tops of the breaded chicken nuggets with olive oil spray. Set the air fryer to 400°F and cook for 8 minutes, turning the nuggets halfway through to ensure even, golden crispiness.
Notes
- Cut chicken pieces uniformly to ensure even cooking.
- You can substitute whole wheat breadcrumbs with regular breadcrumbs if unavailable.
- Using an olive oil spray helps achieve a crispier crust without excess oil.
- Cooking times may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model—check nuggets near the end for desired crispiness.
- This recipe can be doubled or halved easily depending on serving needs.