Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe

Original Post: https://www.evolvingtable.com/air-fryer-chicken-nuggets/

A plate of copycat Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets are shown on a white plate on the counter.

5 from 1 vote

Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe

This crispy and tender Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets recipe is the best way to make a quick meal at home. Simply brine chicken in pickle juice and egg wash, toss them with seasoned breadcrumbs, and pop them in the air fryer.

Prep Time32

Cook Time8

Total Time40

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Author: London Brazil

Ingredients

1 ½ lbs. chicken breasts cut into bite-sized cubes
½ cup pickle juice
¼ cup milk regular or plant-based
2 large eggs
⅔ cup flour or a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend
½ cup breadcrumbs plain
1-2 Tbsp. powdered sugar optional
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. paprika
¼ cup peanut oil or avocado oil

Instructions

Whisk together pickle juice, milk, and eggs in a large bowl. Add cut chicken and toss to completely coat. Marinade for 30 minutes or up to overnight. (The chicken will get even more pickle flavor the longer it marinates. It will also absorb more salt, so be sure to adjust how much you add to the breadcrumb coating.)
In another large bowl, whisk together the flour, breadcrumbs, powdered sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika.
Using tongs, add a few of the marinated chicken pieces to the breadcrumb coating. Be sure to let any excess marinade drain off of the chicken before adding it in. Toss until the pieces are well coated. Repeat this process with the remainder of the chicken. (You may end up with some breadcrumb coating left.)
Preheat a 6-quart air fryer to 380 degrees. Brush the grate with 1 tablespoon of peanut oil and place the nuggets in a single layer. Brush the exposed surfaces of the nuggets with an additional 1 tablespoon of peanut oil and cook for 8 minutes. Flip the nuggets over halfway through cooking and brush the other side of the nuggets with 1 more tablespoon of peanut oil.
Serve immediately with ketchup, special sauce, or Chick-fil-A sauce.

Notes

Meal Prep and Storage

To Prep-Ahead: Cut the chicken and mix up the breadcrumb mixture, but don't mix. You can keep the chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator and the breadcrumbs at room temperature until you're ready to cook.
To Store: Seal leftovers in an airtight container in keep them the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
To Freeze: Place chicken in a freezer-safe, airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: Warm the chicken up in the air fryer the crispiest results.

Nutrition