Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
on Apr 25, 2025
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Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets 🤤! Ahh, the chicken nugget 🐓. It’s considered a major food group by kids, along with macaroni and cheese and pizza 🍕. But let’s be real… just because we’ve upgraded from juice boxes to oat milk lattes doesn’t mean we’re too good for a nugget – at least I’m not 😏.
You already know I’m on a mission to health-ify all the guilty pleasures—because if I’m going to eat healthy, I at least want to feel like I’m not missing out on life’s greatest processed hits. And trust me, these nuggies? They HIT. We’re talking 9 grams of protein 💪 per nugget, zero mystery meat, and none of that “processed to the point of outliving a cockroach” vibe. Just real ingredients, real flavor and your Air Fryer doing God’s work yet again.
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, my Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets go from prep to plate in just 30 minutes. There’s no mystery meat here! With just 3 wholesome ingredients—chicken breast, eggs, and melty mozzarella 🧀—they’re basically a blank canvas for your favorite seasonings. Want spice? Toss in some chili flakes. Craving Italian vibes? A little oregano goes a long way.
Cooked in the air fryer with a light spritz of avocado oil 🥑 (aka, the Bentley of cooking oils), they’re good for your cholesterol AND your waistline. Oh, and did I mention they reheat like a dream? Perfect for lazy weeknights, lunchbox surprises, or whenever your inner kid demands a nugget 😤.
Ingredients
- Chicken: Obviously 😉! For this recipe, I like to simmer two boneless, skinless chicken breasts in broth for added depth of flavor. (Although, water will work fine.) Simmering the chicken makes it fork tender, easy to shred, AND it takes significantly less time than roasting.
- Mozzarella: I love to grate my own mozzarella using a rotary grater. Why? Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking additives that can leave your nuggets feeling meh 😏. Look for a fresh ball of buffalo mozzarella for a mild, clean, melt-in-your-mouth flavor.
- Egg: This small but mighty ingredient is the tie that binds it all together. Plus, it gives you an extra hit of protein 💪. Slightly whisk one egg before adding it to the other ingredients for best results.
Nonna’s Tip 🔥
For juicy, tender nuggets, reduce the cook time. But if you’re after that extra crunch, a few more minutes will give you crisper edges. Just keep in mind that it will be at the expense of some internal moisture. Since the chicken is thoroughly cooked, it’s safe to experiment and find your sweet spot.
Variations and Substitutions for Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Instead of cooking the chicken breast, pick up a rotisserie chicken 🍗! Break down the meat and shred the amount you need for the nuggets, saving yourself 20 minutes in the process!
- Feel free to play with the flavor profiles! For example, adding Italian seasoning and parm 🧀 or ranch seasoning will give these nuggies an instant flavor boost.
- For some great plant-based 🌱 alternatives, try making my air fryer nuggets with tempeh or jackfruit. Their texture mimics the texture of the shredded chicken really well. For the cheese, you’ll want to sub for your favorite plant-based mozzarella.
- If you don’t do eggs 🚫🥚, you could aways use chia seeds as a binder. Put a small amount, about a tablespoon, in a bowl and just cover with water. Once they’ve softened, you can use them in the recipe as an egg substitute.
- Name a better duo than nuggets and sauce…I’ll wait 👯♀️! There are sooo many options for dipping! For instance, you really can’t go wrong with marinara, BBQ, sweet and sour, Mac sauce, honey mustard, or ranch.
Best Served With
- You’ll love Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets with my creamy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes 🥔 and Easy Gravy Recipe.
- For a high-fiber and low carb side, enjoy with my Red Cabbage Slaw.
- Kiddos will love my healthy nuggets with homemade Mac and Cheese 🧀.
- Dip in your choice of BBQ, plum, sweet and sour, or Mac sauce. When paired with my🥫 Marinara Sauce Recipe, it’s a quick and easy take on chicken parm.
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Ingredients
- 2 small chicken breasts , cooked
- 1 egg
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese , grated
Instructions
- Cook the chicken breast in boiling water (or broth) for about 15 minutes. Take it out and shred it.
- Let it cool a bit before adding it to a bowl with the grated cheese and one egg. Mix well until fully combined.
- Next, divide into 11-13 equal balls and shape into nuggets.
- Once shaped, spray the chicken nuggets with avocado oil spray and air-fry at 400F for 8-10 minutes or until golden.
- Note: if you cook them less, the meat will be more juicy and tender. If you cook them longer, the outside will be crispy, but the meat inside will be a bit more dry. You will have to experiment and cook to your liking.
- Enjoy with plum, bbq, sweet and sour, or Mac sauce. We like to serve them with our Red Cabbage Slaw for lunch or dinner.
Notes
- Meat alternative: Save yourself 20 minutes of prep and pick up a rotisserie chicken! Break down the meat and shred the amount you need for the nuggets.
- Seasonings: Feel free to play with different flavor profiles! Add in Italian seasoning and parm or ranch seasoning for an instant flavor boost.
- Plant-based alternatives: Try making these air fryer nuggets with tempeh or jackfruit. Their texture mimics the texture of the shredded chicken really well. You’ll also want to substitute mozzarella for your favorite plant-based cheese.
- Egg substitute: For an egg-free option, you could aways use chia seeds as a binder. Put a tablespoon of seeds in a bowl and just cover with water. Once soft, you can use them as an egg substitute.
- Dipping sauces: There are so many options for dipping! Opt for marinara, BBQ, sweet and sour, Mac sauce, honey mustard, or ranch.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Common Questions
I’m one step ahead of you! There’s no breading in this chicken nugget recipe, so you’re good to go!
Yes, although you may need to adjust the cooking time since the recipe calls for cooked chicken.
Yes, your favorite plant-based mozzarella is a 1:1 substitute.
It depends on your model, but preheating for 3-5 minutes can help you achieve a crispy, golden crust.
Certainly! You can prep the nuggets and store them in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking.
Of course! Freeze the fully cooked nuggets in a single layer, or layered between sheets of parchment paper. To reheat, pop them in the air fryer at 375F for 8-10 minutes, no thawing necessary.
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So yummy! 😋
Thank you! ❤️
If you bake them in the oven for how long what temperature? 🤍🤍🩷🖤🖤
Hi, Olivia! You can bake them in the oven at 400 °F for about 12–15 minutes.
This easy recipe is a game-changer! Of course my kiddos are obsessed with nuggies and I always hesitate to buy them because frozen ones have so many additives. Thank you for this recipe! ❤️
Quick, easy, and delicious! The perfect healthy fix when you’re craving nuggets. Definitely a new favorite!