Skip the drive-thru and make the best homemade ground chicken nuggets in the air fryer! This easy recipe requires only a handful of simple ingredients, like breadcrumbs and pantry staple spices. Ready in less than 30 minutes, these crisp and tender all white meat chicken nuggets are a perfect family-friendly meal for any night of the week!
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There is no good mood food quite like crispy chicken nuggets! Iconic bites of moist chicken coated with a crunchy breading are the ultimate crowd pleasers for any age. And these homemade ground chicken nuggets made in an air fryer are a sure hit with kids and the young at heart!
Nuggets were always my go-to choice whenever we'd hit the fast food drive-thru when I was younger. But I try to eat and feed my family more wholesome options nowadays, and usually avoid deep fried foods. This tried-and-true air fryer recipe lets you enjoy those chicken nuggets you crave with no artificial fillers and minimal oil! And right from the comfort of home.
Here we combine ground white meat chicken breasts with egg and a few classic spices for a simple but flavorful filling. The nuggets are quick and easy to shape - and kids love to help with this step! Then roll them in breadcrumbs so they get that delightful crunchy outside you know and love.
In only 20 minutes the nuggets air fry perfectly golden and crisp, with moist and tender meat on the inside. From start to finish this recipe likely takes less time than it would for you to get in the car and drive to a local fast food chain!
Serve scratch-made chicken nuggets with your favorite dipping sauces like ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or classic fry sauce. They are a yummy and fun weeknight or weekend dinner alongside comfort food side dishes!
You can also make these for meal prepping in lunches, but you might want to double the batch... Freshly air fried chicken nuggets are sure to disappear fast! Just like my other kid friendly air fryer chicken tenders with corn flakes recipe. So good!
Recipe ingredients
- Ground Chicken: Choose all white meat ground chicken breast to make lean and juicy nuggets.
- Egg: This is by far the best binder for nuggets that are firm but not too dense.
- ½ cup Breadcrumbs: Use either homemade or store bought breadcrumbs. I like the flavor of homemade and getting to choose exactly what kind of bread I use. However, packaged breadcrumbs are obviously much more convenient.
- Spices: In this ground chicken nuggets recipe we use a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. The result is a delicious savory flavor that's way better than any fast food nugget!
- Oil: Use a high-heat cooking spray oil, or a bit of high-heat liquid oil to grease the air fryer basket.
Frequently asked questions
You know I have got to go with the air fryer on this one! Air frying homemade chicken nuggets is faster than oven baking. And because the air fryer circulates air all around the food, they cook more evenly.
The egg acts as the binder to hold the ground chicken meat together. Then the breadcrumb coating keeps everything in nugget form while air frying, like a tasty protective shell.
The outside of the nuggets will be golden brown and crisp when the nuggets are done cooking. Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to be sure... The chicken needs to be at least 165 degrees before it is considered safe to eat.
Sure, you can! Use favorite gluten-free breadcrumbs for the same tasty chicken nugget crunch without gluten.
Yes, flip and shake the nuggets halfway through the cooking time. This makes sure they cook evenly on all sides.
Leftovers
I usually store chicken nuggets leftovers in the air tight container in the fridge. They will stay fresh for up to 4 days. The best way to reheat is in the air fryer, at 400 degrees for about 2 minutes.
You can also freeze cooked nuggets. Use freezer safe plastic ziplock bag or a glass or plastic container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 6-7 minutes.
Also try my Buffalo chicken meatballs made with ground chicken! Or air fryer chicken breast cubes, great for burritos or salads. So good!
Hope you will like this ground chicken nuggets in air fryer recipe as much as we do. Rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.
Recipe
Air fryer chicken nuggets with ground chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray or oil for greasing
Instructions
- Combine ground chicken, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Shape the mixture into nuggets and coat with additional breadcrumbs.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Grease air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil.
- Place nuggets in the basket, not touching, and cook in batches if needed.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Serve hot with dipping sauces.
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