Parmesan Chicken Nuggets in an Air Fryer

Whip up these Parmesan chicken nuggets in your air fryer for a delightfully crispy exterior and a soft, juicy interior. It’s a simple recipe that promises big flavor.

What Are Chicken Nuggets?

Before we dive in, let’s define what chicken nuggets really are. Often associated with fast-food chains where they’re heavily processed, real chicken nuggets are simply breaded, bite-sized chicken pieces. They can be made from ground chicken or whole chicken breast, using a variety of coatings. Unlike the pancake batter-like coatings at fast food spots, we’re using traditional breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan for a gourmet touch.

The Secrets to Perfect Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

Success with chicken nuggets in an air fryer boils down to two key factors:

1. Generous Seasoning: Don’t hold back on seasoning. This recipe uses both salt and freshly ground pepper, with Parmesan cheese adding an extra layer of flavor. Feel free to experiment with other spices to tailor it to your taste.
2. Pre-Coating in Fat: Before breading, coat the chicken pieces in fat or oil. This ensures they come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Remember, while air fryer breaded foods might not get as golden as their oil-fried counterparts, this method will still yield a crispy and satisfying crunch.

Cooking Times and Temperatures

For optimal results in the air fryer, follow these guidelines:

• Temperature: 355°F (180 C).
• Cooking time: 20 minutes.

Start with the nuggets in a preheated air fryer, turn them halfway through, and shuffle them around occasionally to ensure even cooking. It’s okay if they overlap slightly, especially in the latter half of cooking.

Parmesan Chicken Nuggets in an Air Fryer

"Easy, crispy Parmesan chicken nuggets made in an air fryer."

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2.2 lbs chicken breast 1 kg
• ⅔ cup flour 100 g
• 5 eggs
• 2 cups breadcrumbs 200 g
• 1 cup grated Parmesan 50 g
• salt
• pepper
• 1 tbsp fat or oil 20 g

Instructions

 

• Clean the chicken breast and cut it into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3 inch or 4-6 cm wide, according to taste.
  
• Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add the fat, and mix everything together.

  This is necessary to ensure that the chicken nuggets are crispy and delicious when cooked in the air fryer.
  
• Prepare for traditional breading: mix the grated Parmesan with the eggs.

  Place flour on one plate, the beaten, seasoned eggs and grated Parmesan on another, and the breadcrumbs on a third. Set out a fourth plate for the finished chicken nuggets.
  
• Bread the pieces one by one. First coat them in flour, then dip them into the Parmesan egg mixture, and finally roll them in the breadcrumbs.
  
• Preheat the air fryer. Place the chicken nuggets in the basket, and cook at 355 F (180 C) for 20 minutes. Turn the nuggets halfway through cooking, and occasionally move the pieces around in the second half. If you follow these steps, even a larger quantity can be cooked at once, with the nuggets partially stacked on each other.
  
• The chicken nuggets are ready. Serve fresh with your favorite sauce and side dish!
  

Keyword crumbly, fried food, fried meat, crispy, cheesy

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