Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets (Chick-fil-A Copycat)

Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are so delicious and easy to make!

Using the air fryer is a great way to make chicken nuggets because it saves a ton of fat and calories by avoiding deep frying. Our favorite nuggets are from Chick-fil-A, so I wanted to make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets as close to the CFA recipe as possible! Serve them with delicious homemade Chick-fil-A Sauce on the side!

Why go to the fast-food restaurant for your chicken nugget craving? They cost more and are much less flavorful as well as healthier since they are cooked in the air fryer. If you love Chick-fil-A, these air fryer Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets is one of the most delicious recipes you can make. Just marinate them, bread them, and toss them in your air fryer tray and they are done in less than 10 minutes.

This copycat recipe is not only healthier but actually tastes better than the fast-food nuggets. They are made with real chicken breast marinated in a special milk and pickle juice mixture for intense flavor.

Ingredients needed:

**scroll down for full ingredients list and printable directions**

These are the simple ingredients needed for this air fryer chicken nuggets recipe.  

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Chopped into one-inch pieces.
• Eggs: Large eggs at room temperature.
• Milk: We used whole milk, but you can use your own favorite.
• Pickle juice
• All-purpose flour
• Corn starch
• Seasoning: We used smoked paprika, black pepper, kosher salt, onion powder, powdered sugar, and garlic powder. 

How to make Air fryer Chick-Fil-A Nuggets from scratch?

**scroll down for full ingredients list and printable directions**

• Prepare the chicken: Put chicken pieces in a small bowl or gallon-sized Ziploc bag with pickle juice and milk. Toss and cover the bowl or zip up the baggie and put it in the fridge for at least 45 minutes or overnight.
• Add eggs: After the chicken has finished marinating, add whisked eggs and mix thoroughly. 
• Preheat air fryer: Then, set the fryer to 375 degrees F while you coat chicken pieces in the flour mixture. 
• Make the breading mixture: Combine flour and the rest of the ingredients in a large shallow bowl or a different gallon-size Ziploc bag. Stir or shake it well until it is combined. 

• Coat the chicken: After, spoon half the chicken pieces into the bag or bowl with a slotted spoon and mix well. Use another slotted spoon to remove the chicken nuggets and put them on a sheet pan while you continue mixing the rest of the chicken until they are all thoroughly coated with flour mixture. 
• Place the chicken: Immediately, mist the air fryer basket with olive oil spray before placing the chicken in a single layer. Leave enough space for the hot air to get through. Then also spray the top of your chicken with cooking oil. 

• Cook the chicken: Lastly, air fry the chicken pieces for 7-8 minutes or until they are crispy and golden brown, flipping halfway. 

• Serve: Finally, serve your delicious air-fried homemade chicken nuggets with Chick-fil-A sauce or your your favorite dipping sauce. 

How to serve:

This copycat Chick-fil-A nuggets recipe is a great snack served with Chick-Fil-A sauce or your favorite dipping sauces. Try one of these serving ideas:

• Serve these delicious chicken nuggets with a side of french fries or sweet potato fries for a nice lunch or snack. 
• Another delicious way to serve these nuggets is chopped on top of a bed of rice or cauliflower rice and sprinkled with teriyaki or soy sauce. 
• Add chicken to this Asian salad for a healthy and scrumptious dinner. 
• These also go great with a heaping scoop of macaroni and cheese and Chick-fil-A copycat coleslaw. 

Frequently asked questions:

Why do you put pickle juice in this recipe?

The pickle flavor is just barely noticeable in these chicken nuggets but it is an important part of the marinade for another reason; The acid in the pickle juice makes the meat more tender. And the salt from the juice acts as a brine, making it even more tender. 

Is this air fryer chicken nugget recipe healthy?

With only 280 calories, 6 grams of fat, and a whopping 34 grams of protein, these air fryer chicken nuggets are much healthier than those in the restaurant because these are not deep fried. Using the air fryer for this recipe cuts half the fat and calories! 

How to store leftovers:

• Store: If by chance you have leftover chicken nuggets, which is unusual, you can save them in your fridge in an airtight container for three or four days. 
• Freeze: Why not make extra and freeze them for easy thaw and heat nuggets later. You can keep them in the freezer for up to 90 days.
• Reheat: When you are ready to serve these delicious Chick-fil-A nuggets, just heat them in the air fryer at 400 degrees F for five minutes. 

Recipe tips:

• Make sure the internal temperature of the largest chicken nugget is at least 165 degrees F.  
• Use buttermilk if you do not have any pickle juice.
• Fry these chicken nuggets in small batches for extra crispiness. 
• The powdered sugar gives these nuggets a subtly sweet flavor but you can substitute it with a sugar substitute like Splenda.

What type of Air Fryer should I use for this recipe?

There are many Air Fryers to choose from, but I love my PowerXL Vortex Air fryer! Here are some other great options:

• Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven, 6 Quart: 6-in-1, Broil, Roast, Dehydrate, Bake, Non-stick and Dishwasher-Safe Basket, Stainless Steel
• COSORI Air Fryer 5.8QT - Large Hot Electric Oven Oilless Cooker with 8 Quick Setting Recommendation

If you like using the air fryer as much as I do, checkout these other recipes:

• Air Fryer Fish
• Air Fryer Pork Ribs
• Air Fryer Asian Chicken Wings (crispy & sticky)
• Air Fryer Potato Chips
• Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp

5 from 10 votes

Print

Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets (Chick-fil-A copycat)

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

8 mins

marinade time:

30 mins

Total Time

48 mins

 

Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are so delicious and easy to make!

Course: Main Course, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer chicken nuggets

Servings: 6

Calories: 350 kcal

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken breasts boneless skinless - cut into bite size pieces
• ⅔ cup dill pickle juice
• ⅔ cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 ⅔ cups flour
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• ¼ cup powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Add chicken pieces to a medium bowl, add milk and pickle juice. Mix well, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight to marinate the chicken.
2. When ready to air fry, whisk 2 eggs and add the beaten eggs to the bowl with chicken. Mix well.
3. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
4. In a shallow bowl or large Ziplock bag, combine flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Stir to combine.

5. Using a slotted spoon, add half of the chicken pieces into the flour mixture, toss until fully coated.

6. Transfer the coated chicken to a separate plate or cutting board. Repeat with the remaining chicken pieces.
7. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange the chicken inside in one layer, cook in batches if needed. Spray the chicken with oil as well.
8. Air fry for 7-8 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy on the outside, make sure to flip it halfway. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

• 6 total servings.
• Nutritional information per serving: 280 calories, 22g carbohydrate, 6g fat, 34g protein. WW points: 6 points per serving.