These air fried homemade chicken nuggets are the ultimate kid-friendly dinner – and adults love them too! A short marinade in buttermilk is the secret to getting them ultra crispy.
These nuggets are made with chicken breast, a buttermilk coating, and a few simple seasonings. They turn out beautifully tender, yet are super crispy on the outside. Plus, they are super easy to make. The kids love them, and I love that I know what all the ingredients are (unlike the store-bought kind).
p.s. If you are looking for directions for air frying frozen chicken nuggets, check out this post: How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in air fryer.
What do you need?
Chicken breast
I usually use boneless, skinless chicken breast to make this recipe. It needs to be cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces. You could substitute chicken thighs if you prefer.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is a key ingredient in making the crispy coating. Plus the lactic acid in buttermilk helps to make the chicken extra tender.
If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by mixing 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar with 1 cup of milk. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes before adding the chicken.
Flour
Use all-purpose white flour. Gluten-free flour should also work for this recipe. However, I haven’t actually tested it yet! If you try making it with gluten-free flour please let me know in the comments how it turns out!
Seasonings
This recipe uses chicken seasoning for simplicity, but you can make your own seasoning from salt, black pepper, sugar, and paprika.
Olive oil spray
Choose an oil spray that spritzes rather than an aerosol spray, and try to avoid using generic cooking spray (as both of these can damage the non-stick coating of your air fryer basket).
How to make crispy air fried chicken nuggets
- Marinate the chicken in buttermilk. Cut the chicken into 1-2 inch pieces, then place in a large bowl with the buttermilk. Mix well, cover with cling film, and leave to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or overnight).
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F/ 190°C.
- Batter the chicken. Mix the flour and seasonings together in a large (gallon size) zip-lock bag. Drain the chicken pieces, then add to the bag with the flour mixture. Seal the bag and shake until the chicken is completely coated.
- Prepare the air fryer basket by brushing or spritzing with olive oil. Place the chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket and spritz (or brush) with oil.
- Air fry chicken nuggets for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping and re-spritzing the nuggets halfway through the cooking time.
- Check the temperature. Cook the nuggets in the air fryer until they are golden brown and have reached at least 165°F/ 74°C in the center of the largest nuggets (use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature).
Serving ideas
- Serve them as a snack with your favorite dipping sauce – try BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, or this homemade Chick-fil-A sauce.
- With potato wedges or waffle fries and a side of slaw.
- In a wrap with salad and a drizzle of mayo.
- KFC-style with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy.
Storing and reheating
Store any leftover chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the fridge and use within three days.
To reheat your chicken nuggets in the air fryer, place them in the basket and air fry for 4-5 minutes until they have reached 165°F/ 74°C in the center.
Crispy Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 large chicken breasts (boneless, skinless. Cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1 cup buttermilk (Note 1)
- 1½ cups all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons chicken seasoning
- Olive oil spray
Directions
- Add the chicken pieces and buttermilk to a large bowl, mix. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight).
- Add the flour and seasoning to a large (gallon-sized) zip-lock bag and shake to mix. Strain the chicken pieces (discard the buttermilk) and add them to the bag. Seal the bag and shake until the chicken is completely coated.
- Spritz the air fryer basket with oil spray, or use an air fryer liner. Place the chicken pieces onto the chicken basket and spritz well with oil.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F/ 190°C. Air fry chicken nuggets for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping and spraying the nuggets halfway through cooking.
- The nuggets are cooked when they are golden brown, crispy, and have reached 165°F/ 74°C in the center [Note 2].
Notes
- You can make a buttermilk substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk and allowing it it sit for 5 minutes before using.
- Check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
