First, if you’re making your own breadcrumbs, start by preparing them. Take about four slices of bread and place them into the basket of your air fryer. Set the time for about 5 to 7 minutes at 350°F, flipping halfway through. This will ensure your bread gets nice and crispy. Once done, blend it in a food processor for perfect, fresh breadcrumbs.
Next, take your air fryer basket and brush half of the olive oil onto the bottom. This will prevent the nuggets from sticking as they cook. Set the basket aside for later.
Now, prepare your dipping stations. Grab three small bowls and fill the first with ½ cup of all-purpose flour. In the second bowl, whisk together the remaining ½ cup of flour, milk, and seasonings including kosher salt, ground black pepper, and ground paprika. The third bowl should be filled with your fresh breadcrumbs.
Take your pieces of chicken and dip each nugget into the first bowl of flour. Make sure each piece is coated well.
From the flour, move the coated nugget into the second bowl with milk and the seasoning mixture. Toss gently to coat.
Finally, roll each piece in the breadcrumbs, ensuring they are thoroughly covered before placing them in the oiled air fryer basket. Be cautious not to overcrowd the basket; you may need to cook in batches.
Brush the tops of the nuggets with the remaining olive oil for added crispiness.
Select the chicken setting on your air fryer, ensuring the temperature is set to 380°F. Cook the nuggets for 7 minutes on one side, then flip them and cook for an additional 7 minutes. If you prefer them extra crispy, feel free to add an extra minute on each side.
Once they're done, remove the nuggets from the air fryer and serve them hot. Enjoy your delicious, homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets!
