Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe to Try Now!

Chicken is so good in almost EVERY WAY!

We love to experiment with different chicken recipes, one of our favorites being air fryer chicken nuggets. Thanks to the air fryer, we can now recreate my childhood favorites and even modify some of my Mom’s old recipes by reducing calories while keeping the same amazing flavors. When I was a kid, we used to have either baked, roasted, or fried chicken, especially during the summer when sweet corn was a staple side dish.

My mother was an expert at making some of the best fried chicken I’ve ever tasted, and I still remember how thrilled she was when she got her first deep-fat fryer. The chicken was amazing! Growing up on a dairy farm meant that I was always running and working all day, which gave me the freedom to eat whatever I wanted.  Let me tell you, I could put some fried chicken away!!! I didn’t even have to think about calories.  Now, if I even watch a commercial for fried chicken, I gain weight.  What the heck happened to that skinny 13-year-old girl!!! 

When I discovered I was a stress eater

One of my first memories of discovering that I'm a stress eater was when my sister and I went to pick up some fried chicken for dinner.  It was a busy summer day.  My Dad was bailing hay for us and some local Amish neighbors, and my Mom was very busy and didn't have time to fix dinner, so, she asked us to go pick something up.

My Dad had just given my sister a brand-new Mustang for her graduation present.   We were driving home (very fast), and she lost control of the car.  We spun out and went off the road.  I was holding the "21-piece" bucket of fried chicken when we stopped in someone's yard.  I jumped out of the car and said, "Everything is fine, let's go!".  Well, the car wasn't fine, the entire driver's side was smashed in.  Did I mention this was a brand-new Mustang!!!!

My sister was really worried.  I mean, how do you tell your Dad you just crashed the car?!?!  I was just a little kid, so there really wasn't anything for me to worry about, but, I immediately got into the car and started eating the chicken!  Like REALLY EATING chicken!  By the time (about 30 minutes) my Dad got there, I had eaten ALL 21 pieces!  I did leave the bucket, and who would have liked cold chicken anyway?  So, not only was everyone unhappy about the car...but they didn't have dinner!  I went to the barn and hung out with the horses. . . I wasn't hungry and wanted to give everyone a chance to cool off.  🙂

Learning to change eating habits

Amy grew up eating anything she wanted without worrying about gaining weight. She was always busy outside playing with friends, rollerblading, swimming, you name it, she was outside having fun. So, it wasn't easy for either of us to learn how to eat less and healthier. But we find it to be a fun challenge. We both love chicken nuggets, strips, and anything chicken, especially when it's fried. We are always looking for new ways to cook chicken and to eat healthy. Check out how we took control of our lifestyle.

Chicken Nuggets

Making homemade Chicken Nuggets using an air-fryer is a healthier option than deep-frying them in oil.  Another advantage to air frying is the easier cleanup.  The air fryer nuggets are deliciously crispy and require only a light spray of olive oil. These nuggets have a satisfying crunch. While they may not compare to the ones I had on that summer day in the Mustang, they are still a tasty alternative to deep-fried or restaurant-bought nuggets. Moreover, I can indulge in more of them without having to worry about running a marathon after dinner!

Serve the nuggets with a nice creamy salad, and it's a great meal that's low in calories and can be ready in less than 20 minutes!  Or, you can check out our oven-baked French Fries.  They are so crunchy, and I think, they have more flavor than regular fries but so much lower in calories.

Some Tips for the Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

• Buy whole chicken breasts and cut them into bite-sized pieces yourself. This will save some money. Usually, whole chicken breast is less expensive then chicken tenders.
• Remember to cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket. 
• For a golden crust and a nice crunch, lightly spray the meat with olive or butter spray.
• Be sure to flip the chicken over to ensure it is even cooking.

We love using the air fryer! It's easy to clean up and gives food a nice crunch. However, we still won't give up our oven or grill, but we will definitely use the air fryer more often, depending on what we're cooking (or how hungry we are for fried chicken).

More Recipes

We have some fantastic lower-in-calorie recipes that we love, including Garlic Parmesan Chicken Nuggets, Buffalo Chicken Taquitos, Chicken Taquitos,  Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers, Shrimp and Snow Peas, Sesame Chicken Wings, Spicy Cheesy Chicken, and Homemade Guacamole.  We would be thrilled to receive your feedback on these mouth-watering recipes. We hope that you enjoy them as much as we do.