Looking for a quick and healthy low fat recipe for Chicken Nuggets your kids and their dad will love? This easy gluten free recipe makes crispy, homemade Chicken Nuggets in the air fryer in 30 minutes! That's faster than frozen, and better for your health. Our dietitians created a reduced fat recipe to make a chicken breading with no added sugar. We coat plump, lean chicken breast nuggets in a blanket of gluten-free crushed corn flakes. Crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside, four big nuggets have only 3 grams of fat! That's much healthier than frozen chicken nuggets.
Don't have an air fryer? You can easily bake all of our healthy air fryer recipes in your oven!
This low fat recipe makes chicken nuggets healthy because our homemade nuggets are cooked in an air fryer, resulting in a crispy coating with a low three grams of fat per serving. That's significantly less fat and oil than deep-fried chicken. This recipe uses lean, boneless, skinless chicken breasts for high-quality protein and a gluten-free cornflake coating with no added sugar for crunch and flavor.
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For fresh, from-scratch nuggets, cook at 400°F (200°C) for about 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure they are golden and crispy on all sides.
For the best results, pat the chicken pieces completely dry before starting. Use a 3-step breading process:
Yes, you can cook frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer. They typically take 12-15 minutes at 400°F (200°C). There is no need to thaw them first, and you should flip them halfway through cooking.
The key to crispy nuggets is a dry coating, a preheated air fryer, and a light spritz of cooking spray. Using a crunchy coating like crushed cornflakes or panko breadcrumbs provides the best texture.
Recipe yields 4 servings
Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
Cut chicken into 1½-inch pieces. In a bowl combine flour, paprika, pepper and salt. Roll chicken pieces in the flour mixture to cover on all sides, shaking off excess flour. Set aside.
In a small bowl lightly beat egg whites and buttermilk. In another bowl, place the cornflakes. Dip each chicken piece into egg mixture then coat with cornflakes, covering completely.
Spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Place in a single layer in the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes or until crispy and golden, flipping over halfway through. Serve immediately.
If you don't have an air fryer, you can bake these chicken nuggets in a conventional oven. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place the breaded nuggets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until golden and cooked through.