Healthy Homemade Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer: Crispy & Delicious

Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets with asparagus and white rice on a plate ready to eat.

Healthy Homemade Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer

This is my first homemade chicken nugget recipe in the Air Fryer and it did not disappoint! I will prepare you in advance and say this is fairly messy but this recipe did taste exactly like a crispy chicken nugget, I was highly impressed. If you have some extra time on your hands and want to make a recipe that your kids will love, this is it!

These chicken nuggets are better (and healthier) than McDonald's or Wendy's and they combine a wheat bagel with seasonings and parmesan cheese. Air Fryer recipes are our favorite (we use our Air Fryer 3–4X per week on average) because they are healthier than fried meals, use no oil, and add that extra crisp and flavor without the extra calories or carbs.

This recipe inspiration came from Laughing Spatula.

  • Total cook time from start to finish: Less than 15 minutes
  • Family friendly: YES
  • Difficulty level: Simple and easy for all skill levels

Ingredients for Homemade Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer:

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  • *1 slice Taufayan bagel wheat
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • *1 cup panko breadcrumbs (can substitute with gluten-free breadcrumbs)
  • ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 eggs

How to Make Homemade Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer

✓ Step #1: Soak the bagel – In a bowl, combine the bagel and milk and let it sit for a few minutes. If there are any larger chunks, remove them.

✓ Step #2: Mix the meat – Add the ground chicken, pepper, and oregano to the bowl with the soaked bagel. Mix until well combined.

✓ Step #3: Prepare coating – In a separate bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and paprika.

Ingredients for Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets laid out on a countertop.

✓ Step #4: Form nuggets – Use your hands to form nugget-sized patties and place them on a plate.

Chicken Nugget patties formed on a plate, ready to go in the Air Fryer.

✓ Step #5: Freeze briefly – Freeze the patties for 5 minutes to help them hold their shape.

✓ Step #6: Preheat – Preheat the Air Fryer to 400°F (about 5 minutes).

✓ Step #7: Egg wash – In another bowl, whisk the eggs.

✓ Step #8: Bread the nuggets – Dip each chilled nugget into the egg wash, then coat with breadcrumb mixture. Add to the Air Fryer.

Breaded chicken nuggets before cooking in the air fryer

✓ Step #9: Air fry – Cook at 400°F for 10 minutes, then flip and cook another 3–4 minutes until crispy and cooked through.

Crispy homemade chicken nuggets in the air fryer

Serve with asparagus and rice. Dip chicken in a Sugar Free BBQ Sauce or a light ranch dressing.

I stored leftovers in an airtight plastic container and kept them in the fridge to enjoy the next day.

Did You Try This Recipe?

If you made these chicken nuggets, please comment, review, or rate it below! I’d love to hear how yours turned out.

Try These Next

If you liked this Air Fryer Chicken recipe, you might also enjoy:
Breaded Air Fryer Tenders, Chicken and Waffles, or Air Fryer Caesar Chicken.

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