Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets (Printer-Friendly)

Juicy chicken pieces coated in panko, air fried to golden crispness for a flavorful, tender bite.

# 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

# Directions:

01 - Whisk together buttermilk, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Add chicken pieces and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours for enhanced tenderness.
02 - Combine panko breadcrumbs, olive oil (or use cooking spray), Parmesan cheese if desired, paprika, and salt in a shallow dish. Stir until the ingredients are uniformly blended.
03 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
04 - Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Thoroughly coat each piece in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure adhesion.
05 - Place coated chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overcrowding. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
06 - Serve the chicken nuggets immediately with your preferred dipping sauce.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • No oil splatters or greasy pans to scrub, just a quick basket rinse and you're done.
  • The buttermilk marinade keeps the chicken unbelievably tender even if you accidentally overcook it by a minute.
  • Kids devour them without realizing they're eating something homemade and actually nutritious.
  • You can prep the whole batch in less time than it takes to preheat a traditional oven.
02 -
  • Don't skip the marinating step, even 15 minutes makes a huge difference in how juicy the chicken stays.
  • If your air fryer runs hot, check the nuggets at 10 minutes because they can go from golden to overdone fast.
  • Let the coated chicken sit for a minute before air frying so the panko adheres better and doesn't fall off in chunks.
03 -
  • Press the panko coating firmly onto each piece so it doesn't fall off mid cook, I learned this after losing half the crust on my first attempt.
  • Use a instant read thermometer to check doneness instead of cutting into a nugget and letting all the juices escape.
  • Let the nuggets rest for a minute after cooking so the crust sets and stays extra crispy when you bite in.
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