Description
These Air-Fryer Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken Nuggets are a healthy, crispy, and kid-friendly snack or main course option. Made with tender chicken breast pieces coated in a flavorful sweet potato crust and air-fried to perfection, they offer a nutritious alternative to traditional fried nuggets and are perfect for a quick homemade meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and finely shredded
- ½ cup almond flour or breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg, beaten
- Cooking spray or olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the ideal temperature for crisping the nuggets evenly.
- Prepare Coating Mixture: In a shallow bowl, thoroughly mix the shredded sweet potato, almond flour (or breadcrumbs), garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper to create a flavorful coating.
- Coat Chicken Pieces: Dip each piece of chicken into the beaten egg so it is fully coated. Then press the chicken piece into the sweet potato mixture, ensuring every side is evenly coated for maximum crispiness.
- Arrange Nuggets: Place the coated chicken nuggets in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Be sure not to overcrowd them to allow even air circulation. Lightly spray the nuggets with cooking or olive oil spray to assist browning.
- Air Fry the Nuggets: Cook the nuggets for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cook time to promote even crisping. Cook until the coating is crispy and an internal temperature of 165°F is reached.
- Serve: Remove the chicken nuggets from the air fryer and serve warm with your choice of dipping sauce such as honey mustard, BBQ sauce, or a yogurt-based dip.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, make sure to firmly press the sweet potato coating onto each chicken piece before air frying.
- These nuggets pair well with honey mustard, BBQ, or yogurt-based dips.
- To keep the recipe gluten-free, use almond flour or certified gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Use cooking spray or olive oil spray to help achieve a golden, crispy crust without extra calories from frying oil.
