These homemade chicken nuggets are made in the air fryer, so they're crispy without being greasy! Not only will kids love this recipe, you'll love it too because it's so easy to make.
If you're a parent, you probably buy and cook a LOT of chicken nuggets. Even if you start their toddler years resolving not to rely on nuggets and mac and cheese, they inevitably sneak into their diet—so you want to make sure the nuggets you give them are the best of the best. There’s no better way to do that than by making these homemade chicken nuggets!
Why You’ll Love These Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- Crispy air fryer recipe. Air frying is a healthier alternative to deep frying, but it also produces crispier results than the oven. Chicken nuggets in the air fryer are the best!
- No artificial additives. Many store-bought chicken nuggets contain preservatives, fillers, and other ingredients you’d probably rather skip. When you make them at home, you can feel good about the ingredients.
- The texture your kids want. Fast food chicken nuggets aren’t made with pieces of chicken breast, so when you cut up a chicken breast and try to make nuggets with them, your kids are going to protest—it’s not what they expected! Using ground chicken closer replicates that fast food chicken nugget texture.
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Ground chicken – Although I haven’t tested it, I believe ground turkey would also work as an alternative.
- Breadcrumbs – Regular unflavored breadcrumbs, not Italian.
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Egg
- Cooking spray
- Honey mustard dipping sauce – For serving.
How to Make Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- Prepare. Place the ground chicken in one bowl, mix the breadcrumbs and seasonings in another, then add 1/4 cup of the breadcrumbs to the bowl with the chicken. Beat the egg in a shallow dish.
- Make the chicken mixture. Mix the breadcrumbs and ground chicken together.
- Form the nuggets. Pat 2 tablespoons of the ground chicken mixture into a patty.
- Dredge. Dip the nugget in the beaten egg, followed by the breadcrumbs. Repeat with the remaining chicken and coating.
- Bake. Arrange the nuggets in the basket of an air fryer and spray with cooking spray. Air fry at 385ºF for 8 minutes, then flip, spray the other side, and cook for 4 minutes more.
- Serve. Transfer the air fryer chicken nuggets to a plate and serve.
Tips for Success
- Don't overwork the ground chicken. Overworking the chicken can result in tough, dry nuggets. Just mix until the ingredients are combined and avoid squeezing or compacting the mixture too much.
- Use a fork for dipping. Using a fork instead of your fingers to dip the nuggets will help keep your hands clean.
- Cook in batches. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken nuggets in batches to ensure they all have enough room for air to circulate. If you crowd them, they won’t get crispy.
What to Serve With Chicken Nuggets
- Sauces. This honey mustard dipping sauce is perfect, as is this vegan barbecue sauce.
- Fries. For a kid-friendly combo, serve these nuggets with baked fries.
- Simple veggies. Carrot sticks, microwave broccoli, and crispy roasted potatoes would be perfect.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Store leftover homemade chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Freezer: Place the chicken nuggets in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Place the chicken nuggets on a baking sheet and bake at 375ºF until heated through. You can also reheat them in the air fryer.
More Chicken Recipes
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
These homemade chicken nuggets are made in the air fryer, so they're crispy without being greasy. An easy recipe your kids will love!
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (not Italian flavor)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 egg
- Cooking spray
- Honey mustard dipping sauce for serving
Instructions
- Place the ground chicken in a mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the breadcrumbs, salt, pepper and spices. Remove 1/4 cup of this mixture and add it to the bowl with the chicken. Set aside.
- In a separate shallow dish, beat the egg until smooth and set aside.
- Mix the chicken and breadcrumbs together until fully combined.
- Scoop about 2 tablespoons of chicken into your hands and form them into a small disk/patty. Dip both sides of the nugget in the egg mixture, then transfer it to the breadcrumbs and coat.
- Place the nugget in the basket of an air fryer and repeat with the remaining ingredients.
- Heat the air fryer to 385ºF. Give the nuggets a quick spray with cooking spray then place in the air fryer for 8 minutes. Once done, flip each nugget, spray again and cook another 4 minutes.
- Serve immediately with your dipping sauce!
Nutrition
Calories: 383kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 185mg | Sodium: 1538mg | Potassium: 894mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 81IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 3mg
