Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Delicious, golden, crunchy with a corn flakes crust these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are sure to become a family favorite! They are healthy and so easy to make!
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Not only my kids, even my husband gets excited when chicken nuggets are on the menu because homemade chicken nuggets taste so good than the premade ones. They are not deep fried and you know what exactly goes into them so they are healthier than most premade ones!
What makes this Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets recipe different from others out there is the spiced cornflakes crust. They get nice and crunchy in the air fryer and folks can’t get enough of them!
Air fryer and chicken is the perfect combination and whenever the craving hits for chicken nuggets you are just 30 minutes away from making this delicious bites. I skipped marinating the chicken so it can be made quickly. They are great as a light dinner, snack, appetizer or just as munchies any time of the day!
For more delicious Air Fryer recipes, check out our Air Fryer Collection.
Ingredients
- Chicken Breast
- Flour
- Eggs
- Corn flakes
- Paprika
- Salt + Pepper
- Lemon juice
- Oil
Step By Step Process
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Cube the chicken breast into nugget sized pieces, about 2 inches big. Mix the chicken with salt, pepper and lemon juice.
- To make the cornflakes coating, take the cornflakes in a bag and crush with a rolling pin. Add it into a bowl along with flour, paprika, salt and pepper.
- For the breading station, lay out the flour, beaten eggs and cornflakes mix in separate bowls.
- Dip the chicken in the flour first to absorb moisture and shake the excess flour out, dip in the eggs, then in the cornflakes. Make sure to coat the whole chicken cube by pressing it in the cornflakes.
- Place it on the air fryer basket. Spray oil on the chicken liberally.
- Cook at 350 degree Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Turn them over and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until golden and crunchy.
- Cover to keep it warm. Cook the chicken in batches. Serve with ketchup or any dip you prefer.
These nuggets are pretty versatile when it comes to dipping. Ketchup and marinara sauce are always a safe bet, but if you want something with a bit more kick, try my spicy mayo. Greek yogurt dip or ranch dressing also work beautifully as a cooler, creamier option.
To round out the meal, serve them alongside a simple salad or your favorite air fryer roasted vegetables.
Recipe Tips
- If you want more flavor in the chicken, met it marinate from 30 minutes to an hour or two.
- Spray the chicken liberally with oil covering all sides to get that crunchy and golden texture similar to deep frying.
- Keep the fried chicken nuggets covered to keep it warm. Once you finish cooking all the batches, you can place all the chicken nuggets in the air fryer to heat it through.
How to Store, Freeze & Reheat
You can make these nuggets ahead of time, whether it’s for meal prepping or just having a quick dinner ready to go. After coating the chicken nuggets, lay them out on a parchment lined sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a zip lock bag, and they’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Not freezing them? You can keep the coated nuggets covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to cook, just transfer them straight to the air fryer basket, no thawing needed.
Got leftover cooked nuggets? Cover them with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes, and they’ll crisp right back up.
More Air Fryer Recipes For You:
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
- Best Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Perfect Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli
DID YOU MAKE IT? Please leave a comment and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! Tag us on Instagram or Facebook.
Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breast cubed
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ⅓ cup flour
- 2 eggs beaten
- oil
For The Corn Flakes Crust
- 2½ cups corn flakes
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cube the chicken breast into nugget sized pieces, about 2 inches big. Mix the chicken with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Though it's optional leaving the chicken to marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour will develop more flavor.
- To make the cornflakes coating, crush the cornflakes in a bag using a rolling pin. Add in the flour, paprika, salt and pepper to the crushed cornflakes.
- For the breading station, have the flour, beaten eggs and cornflakes mix in separate bowls.
- Dip the chicken in the flour and shake off excess, dip in the eggs, then in the cornflakes. Press the chicken in the cornflakes mix for it to stick.
- Place the chicken on the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray oil on the chicken liberally covering all sides.
- Cook at 350℉ for 10 minutes. Turn them over and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until golden and crunchy.
- Cover to keep it warm. Cook the chicken in batches. Serve with ketchup or your favorite dip.
Notes
- Freezing– After coating the chicken, place them in a parchment lined sheet and freeze them. Once frozen, transfer to a zip lock bag and freeze for 3 months.
- Cooking from frozen– Cook in a preheated Air Fryer as per the instructions above.
- Make Ahead– Keep the coated chicken nuggets covered in a container in the fridge for 3 days.
- Storage– Keep leftovers in the fridge covered for 3 days. Reheat in the Air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes until warm and crispy.
Nutrition
Save This Recipe!
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!