Easy 15-Minute Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

These easy air fryer chicken nuggets take just minutes to throw together and only about 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer. They come out perfectly crispy on the outside yet juicy and tender on the inside thanks to my secret ingredient!

You Will Love This

• They're SO juicy on the inside! While most chicken nuggets are coated in a mixture of all-purpose flour and egg, I find that coating the chicken breast in a mixture of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Kosher salt, and black pepper actually allows the coat to stick better and makes the nuggets more moist and juicy! Don't worry it's not a ton of mayo - just 3 tablespoons in the entire recipe and the nuggets won't taste like mayo at all!
• The crispy coating is made with a combination of Panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and spices to give the chicken nuggets a crunchy crust AND a ton of flavor! It's the easiest way to get that signature crispiness that your kiddos love with real, whole ingredients.
• If you loved this air fryer recipe, be sure to check out my air fryer pizza rolls, air fryer baked potatoes, and my air fryer potato wedges.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Chicken Breast - Boneless, skinless chicken breast is the best option for these chicken nuggets. Though you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs. I like chicken breast though because it creates more consistent nuggets for pickier eaters. You can cut the chicken however you like but try to keep the pieces a uniform size so that they cook evenly.
• Mayonnaise - Any mayonnaise will work for this recipe - I love Duke's mayo - but stick with full fat though for the best flavor and texture.
• Dijon Mustard - I love the tangy flavor of Dijon mustard, so it's my go-to for this, but you can use spicy brown mustard, whole grain mustard, or even honey mustard. 
• Panko Breadcrumbs - Panko breadcrumbs have a light texture which allows them to get super crispy. You can use regular breadcrumbs or Italian seasoned breadcrumbs but the texture will be slightly different.
• Parmesan Cheese - I love adding Parmesan to the breading because it's so much flavor. The nuggets won't taste cheesy but they will have a more robust flavor. For this recipe, I use the grated Parmesan like the kind you top pizza with.
• Herbs & Spices - Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and paprika are the primary herbs and spices in this recipe. If you don't have Italian seasoning, mix together your favorite dried herbs instead.
• Olive Oil Spray - The olive oil spray is going to help the crust of the chicken nuggets get super crispy. You can skip it if you don't have any but the nuggets won't get quite as crispy.

Instructions

In a shallow bowl, combine mayo with Dijon mustard and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Coat chicken in the mayo mixture.

In another shallow bowl, combine Panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and a couple large pinches of salt and pepper.

Dredge chicken in the breadcrumb mixture, gently pressing it into each piece of chicken. Place chicken about an inch apart on the air fryer tray/basket. Spray with olive oil cooking spray.

Air fry for 8-10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the breadcrumbs are dark golden brown.

Tips

• When you're breading the chicken nuggets, try to use one hand for the wet ingredients and one for the dry ingredients. This will ensure that you don't get your hands super messy and that none of the breading is wasted.
• In order to ensure that the chicken nuggets brown evenly and cook all the way through, layer them in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray.
• Don't forget your favorite dipping sauce! These chicken nuggets are delicious with ranch dressing, ketchup, or BBQ sauce but they also taste great with homemade honey mustard sauce, homemade burger sauce, or creamy Greek dressing.

Variations

These chicken nuggets can be customized to your family's taste. Some of our favorites include:

• a pinch of cayenne pepper
• onion powder
• smoked paprika
• dried rosemary
• dried sage

Why use mayonnaise instead of the traditional flour and egg breading?

There are a few good reasons to use mayonnaise instead of the traditional flour and egg. First, mayo is a little thicker than egg mixture and so the bread crumbs stick to it really well. Second, it adds more flavor than flour and egg. And third, it helps keep the chicken juicy and ensures that it doesn't dry out.

Can you bake these air fryer chicken nuggets?

Yes! If you don't have an air fryer, these chicken nuggets can be made in the oven. Place the nuggets in a single layer on a baking tray and bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the coating is dark golden brown and crispy.

What can I serve chicken nuggets with?

• oven-baked French fries
• air fryer tater tots
• air fryer potato wedges
• air fryer green beans
• cheesy pizza fries
• roasted baby potatoes

Make-Ahead, Storage, Freezing, and Reheating

• Make-Ahead: These chicken nuggets are great for making ahead. While they taste best fresh from the air fryer, leftovers can also be reheated easily for quick lunches or dinners.
• Storage: Store chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator or inside Ziploc bags for up to a week.
• Freezing: To freeze chicken nuggets, fully cook them and allow them to cool. Then place them inside freezer-safe bags. Keep them in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
• Reheating: These chicken nuggets can be reheated in the oven on a sheet pan at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes or until warmed through. To reheat frozen chicken nuggets, set the oven to 375 degrees and place the nuggets on a sheet pan. Cook the nuggets for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through.

Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Questions?
Leave a comment below!
Liked the recipe?
Leave a comment below!
Made this dish?
Leave a comment and star rating below!

Print

Recipe