Today I offer you an easy and delicious recipe: air fryer fried chicken, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, ready in a few minutes without having to fry in oil! A great option for kids who usually love chicken breast cutlets. I prepared these nuggets by manually cutting a whole chicken breast, breading them the old-fashioned way: first in flour, then in beaten eggs, and finally in breadcrumbs. I placed them in the air fryer close to each other without overlapping, added a drizzle of oil, and cooked at 356°F for about 15 minutes, turning them halfway through. The result? Golden and crispy chicken nuggets, perfect as a light main course or to enjoy for a warm appetizer or a quick dinner. Great on their own on a bed of lettuce or accompanied by mayonnaise and ketchup, as kids love! Remember, if you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake them in the oven at 392°F.
Before moving on to the recipe, here are some other tempting ideas for the air fryer
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Cheap
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Air Frying, Electric Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Energy 238.89 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 15.57 (g) of which sugars 0.76 (g)
- Proteins 26.39 (g)
- Fat 8.33 (g) of which saturated 2.13 (g)of which unsaturated 2.04 (g)
- Fibers 0.80 (g)
- Sodium 518.66 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 110 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 12.35 oz chicken breast (whole)
- all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- breadcrumbs
- 1 drizzle extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- pepper
Tools
- 1 Air Fryer
Preparation
Prepare the chicken:
Take the chicken breast and, with a smooth-bladed knife, cut it into pieces. They shouldn’t be too small: about 1-1.5 inches in length and 0.4 inches thick are just fine.
Move on to breading:
Take each piece of chicken and pass it first in flour, then in beaten eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper, and finally in breadcrumbs.
A trick for a nice crispy breading? Press the chicken pieces well with the palm of your hand both in the flour and in the breadcrumbs: this way the breading will adhere perfectly.
Cooking in the air fryer (or oven):
Arrange the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, side by side, without overlapping.
Drizzle them with a bit of oil (as you see in the photo) and cook at 356°F for about 15 minutes.
If you prefer to bake them in the oven, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 392°F in a preheated oven. The result will still be crispy and delicious!
A little trick for perfect browning:
Halfway through cooking, open the air fryer (or oven) and turn the chicken pieces well, so that they cook evenly and become golden and crispy on both sides.
When they’re ready, all you have to do is bring them to the table and enjoy your light and tasty fried chicken.
NOTES
These fried chicken pieces are a light and quick alternative to classic fried chicken. The air fryer allows you to achieve a crispy coating with very little oil. If you prefer, you can add some paprika or other spices to the breadcrumbs for an extra touch of flavor. They’re perfect to serve as a main course, perhaps with a nice fresh salad or oven-baked fries. Kids love them too!
If you liked the recipe or have questions, feel free to comment here or on social media Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and X.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I prepare the fried chicken in advance and reheat it?
Yes, you can prepare them in advance and store them in the fridge for a day. When serving, I recommend reheating them in the air fryer or oven for a few minutes: they will return to being crispy as if just made! Avoid the microwave as it may make them soggy.
