Description
Crispy and delicious Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets made with tender chicken breasts coated in olive oil and a flavorful mixture of whole wheat Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, panko, and parmesan cheese. Ready in just 15 minutes, these nuggets are a healthy and easy alternative to traditional fried chicken nuggets.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 16 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into even 1-inch bite sized pieces, from 2 large breasts)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Coating
- 6 tablespoons whole wheat Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- Olive oil spray (as needed for spraying)
Instructions
- Prepare the coating mixture. In one bowl, combine the whole wheat Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, panko, and grated parmesan cheese thoroughly to create an even blend for coating the chicken.
- Season and coat chicken with olive oil. Season the cut chicken pieces with kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Place the chicken pieces in a separate bowl with 2 teaspoons of olive oil, mixing well to ensure all chicken pieces are evenly coated with the olive oil.
- Coat chicken pieces with breadcrumb mixture. Working in batches, dip each olive oil-coated chicken piece into the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere the coating evenly to all sides of the chicken.
- Preheat and prepare air fryer basket. Arrange the coated chicken nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Lightly spray the tops of the coated chicken nuggets with olive oil spray to promote crisping.
- Air fry the chicken nuggets. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 8 minutes, turning the chicken nuggets halfway through cooking to ensure even browning and crispiness. Cook until golden brown and cooked through.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, double coat the chicken by dipping it again in olive oil and breadcrumbs before air frying.
- Ensure chicken pieces are cut evenly to promote uniform cooking.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Olive oil spray helps achieve a golden, crispy crust without excess fat.
- Leftover nuggets can be stored in the refrigerator and reheated in the air fryer for best crispness.