Description
These Copycat Air Fryer Chick Fil A Nuggets offer a deliciously crispy and tender chicken treat made at home with a simple breading and air frying technique, replicating the famous fast-food favorite with less oil and mess.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 – 2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Breading
- 2 cups flour
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
Wet Mixture
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup milk
Other
- Spray olive oil (for coating before air frying)
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Cut the boneless skinless chicken breasts into bite-size pieces and sprinkle them evenly with garlic salt, seasoned salt, and pepper to season.
- Beat Egg: In a medium bowl, break the egg and whisk it until it becomes a lemon yellow color and frothy in texture, indicating it’s well aerated.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Add the milk to the beaten egg and stir well to combine for the dipping mixture.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Place the flour and powdered sugar into a large Ziploc bag, seal it, and shake to evenly mix the dry coating ingredients.
- Coat Chicken: Dip the chicken pieces into the egg and milk mixture, then transfer several pieces at a time (around 20) into the bag with flour and powdered sugar.
- Shake to Coat: Twist the top of the bag to keep it sealed and gently shake to coat the chicken pieces evenly with the dry breading mixture.
- Prepare for Air Frying: Place the breaded chicken pieces in a single layer inside the air fryer basket and spray all pieces thoroughly with spray olive oil to ensure crispiness.
- Set Air Fryer: Preheat or set the air fryer temperature to 375°F (190°C), and set the cooking time to 12 minutes.
- Flip and Spray: Halfway through cooking (at about 6 minutes), turn the chicken pieces over and spray the other side with olive oil to promote even browning and crisping.
- Serve: When the nuggets are golden brown and cooked through, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately for best flavor and texture. Enjoy your homemade Chick Fil A style nuggets!
Notes
- Ensure chicken pieces are cut uniformly for even cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary.
- Spray olive oil generously for the best crispy texture.
- Adjust seasoning according to taste preferences.
- Use a meat thermometer to check that chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safety.
