Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
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After rigorous testing, I’m happy to report that these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets have finally been approved by the harshest critic- my seven-year-old daughter. With good ingredients and a fast cooking time, these nuggets are not only kid approved, but come with the same convenience as the frozen nuggets in the grocery store. These nuggets are crispy, simple, and built for real-life parenting.
Since becoming a mom, I’ve discovered that one of the major food groups for kids is chicken nuggets. After cycling through countless frozen options, I wanted a fresh, homemade version that was just as convenient as store-bought—but made with better ingredients.
After plenty of trial and error (and tiny taste testers), this homemade chicken nugget recipe is entirely freezer-friendly and a perfect dinner for picky eaters. You can count on these to be reliable and delicious every time you make them.
Why You’ll Love These Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- These nuggets are healthier than store-bought and way easier on the wallet. You know exactly what’s going into them—and what’s not.
- The air fryer gets them perfectly crispy on the outside while keeping the insides tender and juicy—no deep frying needed.
- Kid-approved! My 7-year-old gave these the thumbs up, and if that’s not a solid endorsement, I don’t know what is.
- They freeze beautifully and reheat fast—quicker than the boxed kind. I always keep a stash in the freezer for easy lunches or last-minute dinners.
Ingredients You’ll Need
I use this same panko breading for my Air Fryer Fried Fish and Air Fryer Zucchini Chips—it’s super flavorful, browns beautifully, and sticks like a charm to whatever I’m coating.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts- Chicken breast is lean, and cooks up tender and juicy in the air fryer. I like to cut the nuggets into chunks around 1-inch in size, but no bigger than 1 1/4-inches. Make sure the nuggets are roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
- All purpose flour- the flour is essential to the breading. It will coat the raw chicken in order to get the egg to stick, which will then make the breading stick to the nuggets!
- Seasoned salt- I love using a seasoned salt like Lawry’s. It adds a ton of flavor to the flour and the breadcrumbs.
- Large eggs – these are for dipping the nuggets into after coating them in flour. The egg wash will keep the breadcrumbs from falling off in the air fryer.
- Seasoned panko bread crumbs- I prefer panko crumbs for this chicken nugget recipe. The panko covers the chicken nicely, and the big crumbs have extra surface area to get good and crispy while air frying. I choose seasoned breadcrumbs for extra flavor.
- Parmesan cheese- this will add flavor, but more importantly, it will keep the crumbs stuck together and make the chicken nuggets golden brown.
- Olive oil – the olive oil is added to the breading to make the crumbs nice and crisp, golden brown, while air frying. You can use avocado oil or melted butter as a substitute.
- Cooking spray– I use an olive oil spray. This keeps the nuggets from sticking to the air fryer, and it helps brown the breadcrumbs. You can also use an avocado oil spray.
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Step 1:
In one bowl (or a zip-top bag), mix the flour with one teaspoon of the seasoned salt.
In a second bowl, whisk the eggs together until well beaten.
In a third bowl, combine the panko, Parmesan cheese, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon of seasoned salt. Stir to combine. Add in the olive oil and stir until the crumbs are evenly coated.
Step 2:
Working in batches, toss the chicken pieces in the flour mixture until fully coated. Shake off the extra.
Dip the floured pieces of chicken into the whisked eggs, letting the excess drip off.
Then coat the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to help the crumbs stick.
Place the coated nuggets to the side. Repeat breading process until all the nuggets are coated.
Step 3:
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
Once preheated, spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
Step 4:
Arrange the nuggets in a single layer (you may need to cook in batches). And spray the tops of the nuggets with cooking spray.
Air fry at 400°F for 6–8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the nuggets are golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F). Serve warm with homemade air fryer french fries and your favorite dipping sauce. I like my smoky blueberry BBQ sauce or a tangy Cranberry Mustard sauce.
Tip: I also like to add these nuggets to pasta bakes like my chicken parm casserole and baked broccoli alfredo.
Can I Bake This Chicken Nugget Recipe?
Yes! If you want to make baked chicken nuggets, line a sheet pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
Line up your homemade chicken nuggets on the sheet pan and spray the tops with cooking spray. Bake in a 425°F oven for 10 minutes, then flip and continue cooking for 3-5 more minutes until they’re golden brown and read 165°F on a meat thermometer.
Storing and Freezing
- Storing in the fridge: Let the nuggets cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing cooked nuggets: Once the nuggets are completely cool, lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (about 1–2 hours). This keeps them from sticking together and makes reheating much easier. Then transfer to a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 2 months.
Reheating
- From the fridge: Reheat in a 400°F oven for 10–15 minutes, or toss them in the air fryer at 400°F for 3–5 minutes.
- Cooking Frozen Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer: No Need to Thaw First! Simply place the frozen nuggets directly into the air fryer at 400°F and cook for 4–6 minutes, until they are hot and crispy. I don’t even bother spraying the basket first.
Freezing Tips
- I prefer to freeze the nuggets after they’ve been air fried—just like the ones you’d buy at the store. They reheat faster and more safely this way.
- Always let the nuggets cool completely before freezing.
- To avoid clumping, freeze them in a single layer first. Once they’re frozen solid, move them to a bag or container.
Variations
- You can use unseasoned panko breadcrumbs if you can’t find the seasoned kind. Add one teaspoon of Italian seasoning and an extra 2 tablespoons of Parmesan to the breadcrumbs for the same layer of flavor.
- If you can’t find seasoned salt, use coarse Kosher salt instead!
- To make these nuggets spicy, add some chili powder or cayenne to the breading mixture!
- For gluten free air fryer chicken nuggets, use gluten free panko breadcrumbs, and a gluten free flour for the coating. Read the labels on your seasonings to ensure those are gluten free.
FAQs
For this recipe, the nuggets cook for 6-8 minutes in a preheated air fryer. If you forget to preheat the air fryer, add an additional 2 minutes to your cooking time. The nuggets are done when they reach 165°F on an instant-read meat thermometer.
Since the nuggets have been cooked through before freezing, frozen chicken nuggets only need to cook 3-4 minutes in the air fryer. Just long enough to warm them through and crisp the breading.
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Homemade Chicken Nuggets (In The Air Fryer)
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into 1-inch chunks (see note)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1¼ teaspoons seasoned salt (I like Lawry’s), divided
- 3 large eggs
- 1¾ cups seasoned panko breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- In one bowl (or a zip-top bag), mix the flour with 1 teaspoon of the seasoned salt.
- In a second bowl, whisk the eggs together until well beaten.
- In a third bowl, combine the panko, Parmesan cheese, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon of seasoned salt. Stir to combine. Add in the olive oil and stir until the crumbs are evenly coated.
- Working in batches, toss the chicken pieces in the flour mixture until fully coated. Shake off the extra.
- Dip the floured chicken into the egg, letting the excess drip off. Then coat the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to help the crumbs stick. Place the coated nuggets to the side. Repeat this process until all the nuggets are coated.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Tip: if you forget to preheat, just add 2 extra minutes to the cooking time.
- Once preheated, spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Arrange the nuggets in a single layer, but do not overcrowd the air fryer. Work in batches if necessary to keep the nuggets crispy.
- Spray the tops of the nuggets with cooking spray and air fry at 400°F for 6–8 minutes, flipping halfway through. The nuggets are done when they're golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- I like to cut the nuggets into chunks around 1-inch in size, but no bigger than 1 1/4-inches. Make sure the nuggets are roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
- To freeze your chicken nuggets: After air frying, let the nuggets cool completely. Then, arrange them in a single layer on a sheet pan and freeze. Once solid, transfer the nuggets to a freezer-safe container and store for up to 2 months.
- Cooking frozen nuggets in the air fryer: Add the frozen nuggets to the air fryer and reheat at 400°F for 3-5 minutes.
