Description
These Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Nuggets are a healthier and easy alternative to traditional deep-fried nuggets, made with simple ingredients and cooked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (preferably panko)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Place the chicken pieces in a bowl with the buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- In a shallow bowl, combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Remove chicken from buttermilk, letting excess drip off, and coat each piece in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes.
- Lightly spray air fryer basket with olive oil spray. Arrange chicken nuggets in a single layer without overcrowding.
- Spray the tops of the nuggets with olive oil spray for extra crispiness.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in buttermilk overnight.
- You can substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast for a dairy-free option.
- Works well with chicken thighs too for a juicier nugget.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 6-8 nuggets)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 85mg