Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Crispy homemade chicken nuggets coated with seasoned flour, breadcrumbs and egg, then cooked in the air fryer until golden outside and juicy inside. A quick family-friendly chicken recipe that is perfect with tomato sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
- 120 g panko breadcrumbs
- 3 chicken breast fillets about 600 g, cut into bite-size pieces
- ½ cup plain flour
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 egg beaten
- Black pepper freshly ground, to taste
- Sea salt flakes to taste
- Tomato sauce for serving
Instructions
- Combine the plain flour, garlic powder and smoked paprika on a plate.
- Season the chicken pieces with sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper.
- Place the beaten egg in a bowl and the panko breadcrumbs on another plate.
- Coat each chicken piece first in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess, then dip it into the beaten egg and finally coat thoroughly with the panko breadcrumbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 200°C.
- Arrange the chicken nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary so the nuggets are not overcrowded.
- Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway through, until the coating is crisp and golden and the chicken is thoroughly cooked.
- Serve immediately with tomato sauce for dipping.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Suggestions
Serve these chicken nuggets immediately while the coating is hot and crisp. Tomato sauce is the classic dipping option, but they also work well with other Dips. For a complete meal, serve them with a fresh Salad, potatoes or vegetables.Recipe Notes
Cut the chicken breast into pieces of roughly equal size so they cook at the same rate. Coat each piece completely with flour, egg and panko breadcrumbs. Press the breadcrumbs lightly onto the chicken to help create an even, crispy coating. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leaving some room between the nuggets allows hot air to circulate around them and helps the coating become crisp. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in two batches.Variations
Add chilli powder or cayenne pepper to the flour for spicy nuggets. Onion powder, dried herbs or additional smoked paprika can also be used to change the seasoning. For extra crunch, lightly spray the breaded nuggets with cooking oil immediately before air frying.Storage Advice
Store cooked chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the Airfryer at 180°C for several minutes until thoroughly hot and crisp. Reheating in the air fryer gives a better result than using the microwave because the breadcrumb coating stays crisper.Wine Advice
A fresh Sauvignon Blanc works well with the crisp breadcrumb coating and mild chicken. A lightly oaked Chardonnay is another suitable choice, particularly when the nuggets are served as part of a larger meal.Nutrition values
Serving: 205 gr | Calories: 39 kcal | Carbohydrates: 32 g | Protein: 42 g | Fat: 9 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Sodium: 430 mg | Sugar: 2 g