Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Delicious and crispy Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Nuggets made with ground chicken, coated in a flavorful seasoned panko breadcrumb crust, and finished with a sweet and tangy honey BBQ sauce. Perfect as a quick snack or a family-friendly meal, these nuggets are air fried to golden perfection with less oil for a healthier option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings (approx. 20 nuggets)
- Category: Snack
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 500g (17.5oz) ground chicken
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 80g (2.8oz) cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 large egg
- 1.5 teaspoons paprika (not smoked)
- Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 45g (1.5oz) panko breadcrumbs
- 4 tablespoons honey BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Mix Chicken Base: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, baking soda, water, grated cheddar, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Prepare Coating: In a separate bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs with paprika, salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.
- Form Nuggets: Shape the chicken mixture into 20 evenly sized nuggets.
- Coat Nuggets: Spread the breadcrumb mixture on a flat surface and coat each nugget evenly, ensuring full coverage.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for about 2 minutes.
- Prepare Air Fryer Basket: Use a grill pan insert or line the basket with parchment paper to prevent sticking, and spray lightly with a low-calorie cooking spray.
- Air Fry Nuggets Part 1: Place half of the nuggets spaced apart in the air fryer basket. Spray the nuggets with cooking spray and air fry for 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway through for even browning, until golden and cooked through.
- Air Fry Nuggets Part 2: Remove cooked nuggets and repeat the process with the remaining nuggets.
- Coat with BBQ Sauce: Brush all nuggets generously with honey BBQ sauce or toss them in a bowl with the sauce until evenly coated.
- Final Air Fry: Return the coated nuggets to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2 minutes to warm and set the sauce.
- Serve: Remove from air fryer and serve hot with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Ensure nuggets are spaced well in the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation and even cooking.
- Flipping the nuggets halfway through cooking helps achieve uniform crispiness.
- The optional cayenne pepper adds extra heat; omit if you prefer milder flavors.
- Using parchment paper with holes or a grill pan insert helps prevent nuggets from sticking and eases cleanup.
- You can substitute honey BBQ sauce with your favorite dipping sauce if desired.
- For best results, serve immediately to enjoy maximum crispiness.
