Air Fryer Chick-Fil-A Nuggets (Printer-Friendly)

Tender chicken marinated in buttermilk, coated with a flavorful mix, and air fried to golden crisp perfection.

# What You’ll Need:

01 - 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

02 - 1 cup buttermilk

03 - 1 large egg

04 - 1/4 cup dill pickle juice

05 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

06 - 3 tablespoons powdered sugar

07 - 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch

08 - 2 1/2 teaspoons table salt

09 - 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

10 - Olive oil spray

01 - Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and set aside.

02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg, and dill pickle juice until smooth.

03 - Add chicken pieces to the marinade, coating thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight for optimal tenderness.

04 - Combine flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, salt, and black pepper in a large resealable plastic bag and shake to blend evenly.

05 - Transfer chicken from marinade into the flour mixture in batches, sealing the bag and shaking gently to evenly coat each piece.

06 - Preheat air fryer to 390°F (199°C) to ensure proper cooking temperature.

07 - Spray the air fryer basket liberally with olive oil spray to prevent sticking.

08 - Place coated chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer without overlapping. Spray each piece generously with olive oil spray.

09 - Cook for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through and applying additional olive oil spray. Ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

10 - Remove cooked nuggets, then repeat the air frying process with remaining coated chicken pieces.

01 - Spraying both the basket and chicken with olive oil spray facilitates a crispy, golden crust.

02 - Avoid overcrowding the basket; cook in batches to ensure even crispness.

03 - Marinating overnight tenderizes the chicken and enhances moisture retention.

04 - Check doneness by confirming the chicken's internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).