These quick and easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with flavor. They’re perfect for a delicious and healthy lunch or weeknight dinner.
FREE EASY KETO DINNERS EBOOK
Jump to:
- ❤️ Why You'll Love These Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- 🛒 Ingredients for Keto Chicken Nuggets
- 🔪 How to Make Keto Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer
- ☑️ Storage Instructions
- 🍴 What Sides to Serve with Gluten-free Nuggets
- 💡 Tips for Making Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets
- 🔄 Substitutions and Additions
- What Dipping Sauces Go With These Chicken Nuggets?
- What If I Don't Have An Air Fryer?
- Can I Freeze Uncooked Nuggets?
- Why Aren't My Chicken Nuggets Crispy?
- 🍽️ More Keto Air Fryer Recipes
❤️ Why You'll Love These Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Tender chunks of chicken
- Coated in a savory gluten-free breading
- Air fried to crispy perfection
- Quick and easy to make
- Kid friendly
These Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are everything you love about crispy, golden nuggets but made easier and healthier with the air fryer. The nuggets come out perfectly cooked with a tender inside and a lightly crispy outside, and they’re ready in no time! Whether you're making them for a family dinner or just a quick bite, these nuggets always hit the spot.
The light, gluten-free coating gives these nuggets just the right amount of crunch, making them a great choice for anyone avoiding gluten or following Keto. Perfect for game day, family dinners, or even meal prep, they pair perfectly with any side dish or with your favorite dipping sauce, for an extra burst of flavor!
If you prefer chicken tenders, this recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Tenders will give the same delicious flavor and irresistible crunch.
🛒 Ingredients for Keto Chicken Nuggets
- Chicken
- Pork panko (ground pork rinds)
- Almond flour
- Parmesan cheese
- Egg
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic salt
- Ground black pepper
- Olive oil (for spraying)
*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
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🔪 How to Make Keto Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer
Preheat air fryer @400°F for 5 minutes.
Cut the chicken into bite size pieces and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, add in the pork panko, almond flour, parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, garlic salt and ground black pepper.
Whisk to combine and set aside.
Beat the egg in a separate mixing bowl, then dip each piece of chicken into the egg, allowing any excess to run off.
Dip the chicken into the breading mixture, lightly covering all side. Don’t press into the breading, you are just looking for a light coating.
Add each breaded nugget into the air fryer basket that’s been sprayed with olive oil. Generously spray the nuggets with olive oil.
Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping and respraying with more olive oil. The nuggets are cooked when they reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F, when checked with a meat thermometer.
☑️ Storage Instructions
The best way to store the chicken nuggets is to let them cool completely, then put them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
If you want to store them longer, you can freeze them for up to 2 months. Then just reheat them in the air fryer when you're ready to eat!
🍴 What Sides to Serve with Gluten-free Nuggets
One of the many great things about this low carb chicken nugget recipe is it's so versatile that it goes with many Keto side dishes. If you're looking for some inspiration, give these a try:
- Easy Keto Coleslaw
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- Avocado Fries
- Cheesy Roasted Asparagus
- Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
- Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
- Eggplant Fries
- Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Mashed Cauliflower
💡 Tips for Making Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets
- Always start by preheating the air fryer. This ensures even cooking and helps achieve a crispy texture.
- Try to cut the chicken into uniform bite-sized pieces for even cooking.
- Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel before breading. This helps the coating stick better.
- Avoid placing too many nuggets in the air fryer at once. This ensures they cook evenly and get crispy all around.
- Keep an eye on them. Depending on the size of your chicken pieces, you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly for the best results.
🔄 Substitutions and Additions
- Chicken breast: Use chicken thighs or turkey breast pieces if you prefer.
- Parmesan cheese: Swap with pecorino Romano or nutritional yeast for a dairy-free option.
- Herbs: Add dried herbs like oregano, thyme, or Italian seasoning to the breading for a pop.
- Spices: Experiment with cayenne pepper or chili powder for a spicy kick or onion powder for added flavor.
- Egg: If you don’t have eggs, you can replace them with mayonnaise as a binding agent and additional moisture without the need for eggs.
What Dipping Sauces Go With These Chicken Nuggets?
You can serve them with anything from sugar-free BBQ or one of these easy homemade sauces:
- Zesty Dipping Sauce
- Bang Bang Sauce
- Avocado Lime Cilantro Ranch Dressing
- BBQ Sauce
- Ranch Dressing & Dip
- Blue Cheese Dressing
What If I Don't Have An Air Fryer?
No worries! You can bake these nuggets in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are cooked through and crispy.
Can I Freeze Uncooked Nuggets?
Yes, you can freeze the breaded chicken nuggets. Place them on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. Cook them directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Why Aren't My Chicken Nuggets Crispy?
Make sure that you’re spraying enough oil on the nuggets and not overcrowding the air fryer basket. Preheating the air fryer can also help give them that crispy texture.
🍽️ More Keto Air Fryer Recipes
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
- Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
- Jalapeño Poppers
- Pork Tenderloin
- Zucchini Fries
- Buffalo Wings
FREE 20 EASY KETO RECIPES EBOOK
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast
- ½ cup ground pork rinds, I used Pork Panko
- ⅓ cup super fine almond flour
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 whole egg, beaten
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Olive oil, for spraying
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer @400°F for 5 minutes.
- Cut the chicken into bite size pieces and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, add in the pork panko, almond flour, parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, garlic salt and ground black pepper. Whisk to combine and set aside.
- Beat the egg in a separate mixing bowl, then dip each piece of chicken into the egg, allowing any excess to run off.
- Dip the chicken into the breading mixture, lightly covering all side. Don’t press into the breading, you are just looking for a light coating.
- Add each breaded nugget into the air fryer basket that’s been sprayed with olive oil. Generously spray the nuggets with olive oil.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping and respraying with more olive oil. The nuggets are cooked when they reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F, when checked with a meat thermometer.
*Make sure to scroll up and read the post for substitutions, additions and helpful tips for making this recipe.
*Nutritional data is provided as a courtesy and is accurate to the best of my knowledge. You can verify it using the nutrition calculator of your choice. All data is based on net carbs, without sugar alcohol: Swerve, Erythritol, Monk Fruit or Allulose.
© Copyright for Keto Cooking Christian LLC. Please use the share buttons to share on social media, but please do not copy/paste the recipe.
Rate this Recipe
Mark Bradley
Looking forward to making these. Like that they are simple. Have grand chilcren coming so will be good
Keto Cooking Christian
Hope you and your grandkids enjoy them! Simple and delicious is always a win.
J
After you flip the nuggets then spray with oil again, how much more cooking do they usually take?
Keto Cooking Christian
You will flip them half way through the suggested cooking time, typically after about 5 minutes.