Description
Brined in pickle juice, these tender and juicy air fryer chicken nuggets are easy, delicious, and incredibly addicting. Perfect for a quick snack or meal any time of day.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenderloins
- 1 cup flour
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1 TBSP onion powder
- 1 TBSP garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 2 cups pickle brine from a jar of dill pickles If you aren’t brining your chicken you can ignore this ingredient
Instructions
- Place your chicken into a deep container with a lid or a gallon-size zip-top bag. Slowly pour the pickle brine over it until the chicken is fully immersed. Pop it into the fridge and let it brine for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400º F.
- Take the chicken out of the fridge. With tongs transfer the tenderloins to a paper towel-lined plate or cutting board then gently pat them with more paper towels to remove excess moisture and brine. Cut them into 1-inch pieces.
- Set up a breading station with a dish for flour one for the beaten eggs and another for seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Toss the chicken bites into the flour followed by the egg and then the breadcrumbs.
- When the air fryer reaches 400º F spritz the air fryer basket with a bit of non-stick cooking oil. Transfer the nuggets into the basket spritz the tops with cooking oil.
- Air fry the chicken nuggets for 6 minutes flipping halfway through. Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer at 6 minutes aiming for 160-165º F. Continue air frying in 2 minute increments if needed until ready.
- Carefully transfer cooked nuggets from the air fryer basket to a plate. Repeat until all chicken nuggets are cooked.
Notes
- Be sure to check out the post above for tips storage and freezing suggestions and serving ideas!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Air Fryed
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 215 kcal
- Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Protein: 25 g