Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets (Printable Version)

Juicy chicken pieces with a golden panko crust air fried to crispy perfection.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces

→ Marinade

02 - ½ cup low-fat buttermilk
03 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
04 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
05 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
06 - ½ teaspoon paprika
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Coating

09 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil or cooking spray
11 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
12 - ½ teaspoon paprika
13 - ¼ teaspoon salt

# How To Make It:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Add chicken pieces, toss to coat, cover, and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours for tenderness.
02 - Combine panko breadcrumbs, olive oil (or spray with cooking spray), Parmesan cheese if using, paprika, and salt in a shallow dish. Stir until evenly blended.
03 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
04 - Drain excess marinade from chicken pieces. Thoroughly coat each piece in the panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
05 - Place coated chicken pieces in a single layer inside the air fryer basket without overcrowding. Cook in batches if necessary.
06 - Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until nuggets are golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
07 - Serve immediately with your preferred dipping sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Crispy on the outside, tender inside, without a single drop of frying oil or the lingering smell.
  • Takes less than half an hour from raw chicken to golden nuggets on the table.
  • Kids devour them, adults feel good about serving them, and everyone gets seconds.
02 -
  • Overcrowding the basket turns nuggets soggy, I learned this the hard way during a dinner party.
  • Flipping them halfway is the difference between pale and golden, set a timer so you do not forget.
  • If your panko looks dry, mist it lightly with cooking spray before coating for extra crispiness.
03 -
  • Press the panko coating firmly onto each piece, loose crumbs fall off and burn in the basket.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check doneness, guessing leads to dry chicken or undercooked centers.
  • Mist the coated nuggets lightly with oil spray before air frying for an even deeper golden color.
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