A tasty appetizer or main dish, these Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Nuggets are tender, spicy and absolutely delicious!
A SPICY AIR FRYER CHICKEN RECIPE
Are you ready for another air fryer recipe? I'm a huge fan Nashville Hot Chicken so I thought I'd create a recipe for Nashville Hot Chicken Nuggets but instead make them in the air fryer! These are brined, dredged and air fried to perfection. They are crispy and tender all at the same time. Serve with some pickles and slices of white bread you have yourself a tasty appetizer or dinner time meal! If you are looking for another fun recipe to make in your air fryer, then you need to try this Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Nugget recipe.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Yes. Those will work if you do not want to use chicken breasts. Just make sure that you are using the same total amount.
Olive oil spray is our go-to for spraying our basket. Vegetable oil spray, when used over time, can cause your air fryer and basket to get sticky and gunky.
This should sit in the brine for at least 2 hours. It needs time to soak up the flavors and the milk also helps tenderize the meat.
This helps get a nice crust on your chicken so it is a little bit crunchy but also tender on the inside.
Buttermilk is one ingredient that I always use in any fried recipe so I would not substitute for another milk or you won't get the same effect. You can make your own buttermilk at home. Mix together ½ cup whole milk with ½ tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let this sit for about 5-10 minutes then stir again and use.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It can also be frozen. Place in an airtight freezer container or bag and it will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight to reheat. You can place in the air fryer for about 3-4 minutes to crisp back up.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- chicken breasts
- eggs
- all-purpose flour
- kosher salt
- chili powder
- garlic powder
- paprika
- cumin
- pepper
- pickle juice
- buttermilk
- hot sauce
- cayenne pepper
- dark brown sugar
- olive oil
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN NUGGETS:
In a medium sized mixing bowl, prepare brine. Whisk buttermilk, pickle juice, and hot sauce together.
Dice the chicken. Add to the buttermilk mixture bowl. Let brine for 2 hours. (It is optional to marinate for that long, but so worth it! We recommend at least 30 minutes if in a pinch for time).
Prepare dredging station: Add ingredients for seasoned flour in a mixing bowl or large ziplock bag.
Whisk eggs and add to a second bowl.
Dredge the chicken: First, remove chicken from the buttermilk brine and dip chicken into flour, (or add to the ziplock bag and shake to coat evenly with flour).
Then dip the chicken into the eggs and allow the excess egg to drip off.
Add back to the flour bowl (or ziplock) and toss to coat. Air Fry Chicken: Spray air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray. Add the chicken to the basket in a single layer, depending on the size of the basket this may take 2 batches. Spray lightly with canola oil. Set to 400 degrees F and cook for 5 minutes. Flip, and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
While the chicken is cooking, prepare sauce: Add cayenne pepper, brown sugar, and olive oil to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
Toss chicken: Toss the chicken in the sauce.
Serve immediately with sliced dill pickles. Enjoy!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!
Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts diced
- 2 eggs whisked
- ½ cup dill pickles sandwich style
Seasoned Flour:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Brine:
- 1 Tablespoon pickle juice
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 Tablespoon hot sauce
Sauce:
- 1 ½ Tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 Tablespoon dark brown sugar
- ½ cup olive oil
Instructions
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, prepare brine. Whisk buttermilk, pickle juice, and hot sauce together.
- Dice the chicken. Add to the buttermilk mixture bowl. Let brine for 2 hours.
- Prepare dredging station: Add ingredients for seasoned flour in a mixing bowl or large ziplock bag. Whisk eggs and add to a second bowl.
- Dredge the chicken: First, remove chicken from the buttermilk brine and dip chicken into flour, (or add to the ziplock bag and shake to coat evenly with flour), then dip the chicken into the eggs and allow the excess egg to drip off.
- Add back to the flour bowl (or ziplock) and toss to coat.
- Air Fry Chicken: Spray air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray. Add the chicken to the basket in a single layer, depending on the size of the basket this may take 2 batches.
- Spray lightly with canola oil. Set to 400 degrees F and cook for 5 minutes. Flip, and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- While the chicken is cooking, prepare sauce: Add cayenne pepper, brown sugar, and olive oil to a small bowl and whisk to combine
- Toss the chicken in the sauce. Serve immediately with sliced dill pickles.
Notes
- Chicken tenderloins can be used for this.
- These can be frozen, see tips above.
- Make sure you spray your air fryer with olive oil spray so these won't stick.
- You will need to cook these in batches, you do not want to overcrowd them.
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