Description

These homemade air fryer chicken nuggets are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and way better than anything from the freezer aisle. They’re quick, easy, and made with simple ingredients. Perfect for kids and adults alike!

Ingredients

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup breadcrumbs (plain or panko for extra crunch)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Olive oil spray

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Instructions

In a bowl, soak the chicken pieces in buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours for extra tenderness).
In another bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Remove chicken from the buttermilk and coat each piece in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to stick.
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes.
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil. Arrange the chicken nuggets in a single layer.
Spray the tops of the nuggets lightly with olive oil.
Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp of 165°F).

Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

You can swap out the buttermilk for regular milk mixed with 1 tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar.
For extra crunch, use panko breadcrumbs.
These freeze well—just air fry straight from frozen at 375°F for 10-12 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Calories: 290
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 470mg
Fat: 11g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 14g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 32g
Cholesterol: 90mg