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Easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Meal Prep for Perfect Lunchboxes

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These air fryer chicken nuggets are quick, easy, and perfect for meal prep. With a crispy double-dredge coating and simple ingredients, they stay crunchy in lunchboxes and are a crowd-pleaser for all ages.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 680 grams)
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Cooking spray (avocado oil spray recommended)
  • Honey mustard, ketchup, or BBQ sauce for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, about 1.5-inch chunks. Pat them dry with paper towels.
  2. Set up a dredging station with three shallow bowls. In the first bowl, combine flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. In the second bowl, beat the eggs until frothy. In the third bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
  3. Double-dredge each piece: coat in flour (shake off excess), dip in egg, coat in panko mixture, then dip back in egg and coat again in panko. Place breaded nuggets on a baking sheet.
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes.
  5. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange nuggets in a single layer without overcrowding (about 10-12 per batch). Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray.
  6. Air fry at 375°F for 8 minutes. Flip each nugget gently with tongs, spray the other side, and cook for another 4-6 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  7. Transfer cooked nuggets to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining batches.
  8. For meal prep, let nuggets cool completely on the wire rack before packing in airtight containers.

Notes

For extra crispy nuggets, do not skip the double-dredge. Let nuggets cool completely on a wire rack before storing to maintain crispiness. If breading falls off, ensure chicken is patted dry and flour step is not skipped. For gluten-free, use almond flour and gluten-free panko. For dairy-free, omit Parmesan and add 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken nuggets, meal prep, lunchbox, crispy chicken nuggets, homemade nuggets, easy chicken recipe

Find it online: https://clunkcook.com/easy-air-fryer-chicken-nuggets-meal-prep-for-perfect-lunchboxes/