Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Bites

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These Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Bites are ultra crispy, tender and juicy with a simple panko breading and minimal oil. The only oil is a light spritz of spray oil on the panko crumbs before toasting them. The breading for the chicken is made extra crispy by toasting the panko crumbs first. While panko crumbs are crispy on their own, toasting them for 5 minutes turns them golden brown and gives them an extra crunch. These homemade chicken nuggets are also kid friendly and make a delicious appetizer or game day snack!

Crispy breaded chicken nuggets on a platter with BBQ for dipping.

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Table of Contents

Ingredients and substitutions
How to make homemade chicken nuggets in the air fryer
Seasoning variations
Frequently asked questions
Storage, freezing and reheating
Key recipe tips
More crispy air fryer chicken recipes
📖 Recipe

Ingredients and substitutions

Below is a quick overview of the ingredients and recommended substitutions. Scroll to the recipe card at the end for full details.

Ingredients to make breaded chicken bites arranged individually on a wooden surface.

Chicken - You'll need 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast for this recipe, cut into roughly 2-inch pieces. This is about 2 large chicken breasts. You can also use 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, if you prefer.
Flour - The chicken bites are tossed with a ¼ cup of flour. It's just a light dusting but it absorbs moisture and helps the egg wash stick to the chicken. The recipe calls for whole wheat flour to make it a little more wholesome, but you can substitute white flour.
Egg - You'll need to whisk together two eggs for the egg wash. Dipping the floured chicken in the egg helps the panko breading stick to the chicken.
Panko crumbs - I used white panko crumbs for the crispy breading, but you can also use whole wheat. (White was all I could find around here). To get them extra crispy, toast the crumbs in the oven first.
Seasonings - A simple mix of smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper is used to season the panko crumbs. The smoked paprika adds a smoky flavor. For a non-smoky flavor, you can just use regular paprika. You can also substitute with other dried herbs and spices (suggestions are included below).

How to make homemade chicken nuggets in the air fryer

First, you'll need to toast the panko crumbs.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spread out the panko crumbs. Lightly spray them with oil.

Bake for 5 minutes on 400F, or until the crumbs are golden brown. (Stir them around half way through so they brown evenly and be sure to keep an eye on them so they don't burn). Remove from oven and let cool.

Add the flour and chicken pieces to a large ziplock bag and toss until the chicken are fully coated with a light dusting of flour.

Whisk together the eggs in a shallow bowl.

In a separate shallow pie or large rimmed plate, mix together the toasted panko crumbs and seasonings.

Dip the floured chicken pieces in the egg wash, letting any excess egg drip off, and then coat them in the panko crumb mixture. (I use my fingers to lightly press the crumbs into the surface of the chicken).

Floured chicken, whisked eggs and panko seasoning arranged in separate dishes.

Chicken pieces being coated in panko crumbs.

Place the chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. (You'll need to air fry in two batches so place the remaining breaded chicken in the fridge).

Air fry on 400F for 6 minutes. Flip the nuggets over and air fry for another 5-6 minutes.

Repeat with remaining chicken. (Note that the second batch may cook faster as the air fryer is now heated up).

Breaded chicken pieces in an air fryer basket.

Air fried chicken nuggets in an air fryer basket.

Seasoning variations

If you're not a fan of the smoky flavor, use regular paprika instead of smoked paprika.
For an extra smoky flavor, add some chipotle seasoning.
To make the nuggets spicy, add chili powder, a pinch cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.
For a savory flavor, add some dried herbs like oregano, basil or parsley.
Everything but the bagel seasoning would also be a delicious option.

Close up view of air fried chicken nuggets.

Frequently asked questions

Can traditional bread crumbs be used instead of panko crumbs?

For a crispy coating, I recommend using panko crumbs. These are Japanese-style bread crumbs that are larger than regular bread crumbs with a flaky, coarse texture. Regular bread crumbs are soft with a fine texture, so they will not get as crispy.

Do the panko crumbs need to be toasted first?

This isn't absolutely necessary, but toasting them will result in an extra crunchy breading.

Can chicken thighs be used in place of chicken breast?

Yes! You can substitute 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the breasts.

What type of air fryer was this recipe tested in?

This recipe was tested in a 5.8 quart Cosori basket style air fryer.

Overhead view of air fryer chicken bites arranged closely together.

Storage, freezing and reheating

Leftover chicken bites should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and should last for 3-4 days.

The breading will soften in the fridge, so to reheat, just air fry on 350F for 6-7 minutes, or until the chicken is warmed through and the breading is crispy again. Be careful not to reheat the chicken bites for too long as they will dry out.

To freeze, arrange the cooked chicken nuggets in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in the freezer for a few hours. Once frozen, transfer the nuggets to a freezer bag and store in the freezer.

To reheat from frozen, air fry on 350F for about 12 minutes or until the breading is crispy and the chicken is heated through.

Key recipe tips

Seasoning. Since nuggets are meant for dipping, these are not overly seasoned. If you like extra seasoning, feel free to add more.
Size of nuggets. The chicken was cut into 2-inch pieces. Larger pieces will take longer to cook.
Coating with flour. You only need a light dusting of flour on the chicken. Instead of dipping each chicken piece in flour, I find it's easier to add all of the chicken pieces and flour to a large ziplock bag and toss them around until the chicken is evenly coated. Just shake off any excess flour before dipping the pieces into the egg wash.
Breading process. I usually use one hand to dip the chicken pieces in the egg wash and keep the other hand dry to coat the chicken in the panko crumbs. If you use the same hand, your fingers will get clumpy with egg and panko crumbs.
Preheat air fryer. I didn't preheat my air fryer for this recipe, but if your air fryer requires it, you should do so before adding the nuggets. This may reduce the cooking time slightly.
Air fry in a single layer. For quick and even cooking, make sure you air fry the chicken bites in a single layer and avoid overcrowding the air fryer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, this will require at least two batches.
Flip the nuggets. Make sure you turn the chicken nuggets over half way through air frying to ensure they cook and brown evenly.
Don't overcook. The chicken nuggets are ready when their internal temperature reaches 165F. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness so you don't overcook them as they will dry out.

Close up view of a chicken nugget with a bite taken out of it.

More crispy air fryer chicken recipes

If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below!

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