Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe

Try these easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets when you need a quick meal or snack that will delight the whole family!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 569kcal

Pat the chicken pieces very dry with paper towels.
In a shallow bowl, stir together the panko, cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir in the olive oil, then use your fingers to massage it into the breadcrumbs so that it coats it evenly.
In a second shallow bowl, add the flour. In a third shallow bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth.
Working with 5 to 6 pieces of chicken at a time, dredge the chicken in the flour, then the egg, then the panko. Set aside on a plate. Repeat until all of the chicken is breaded.
Place half of the chicken in the basket of an air fryer, leaving about ¼-inch of space in between each piece. Air fry at 400°F for 8 - 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches at least 165°F. Serve your favorite dipping sauce.

Cut the chicken into equal-sized pieces. Cutting all the chicken into 1-inch chunks will ensure the nuggets all cook at the same speed.
Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Chicken is cooked when its internal temperature reaches 165°F, so I test a few pieces in each batch to make sure they are properly cooked.
Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer. Leave about ¼ inch between each nugget so there’s plenty of hot airflow around the chicken for even cooking and browning. Do not let the chicken overlap. I was able to cook all the chicken in two batches in my 6-quart air fryer. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to work in more batches.