Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets with Chick-fil-A Copycat Sauce

These homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are a fun and kid-friendly snack! They’re served with a Chick-fil-A Copycat Sauce for bites that are crunchy, tangy, and all-around delicious.

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womans hand dipping a chicken nugget into a creamy sauce.

If you’re craving chicken nuggets but not the excess deep fryer oil or long baking times, make these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets instead! They’re coated in a simply seasoned panko and breadcrumb coating, then air fried until crisp. Each nugget is crunchy on the outside and moist and tender on the inside.

While the homemade chicken nuggets come together quickly, they can also be made ahead and frozen for later. It’s a budget-friendly solution for when the cravings hit.

This recipe is a fun and simple snack for after school or family dinners. The nuggets are especially delicious when dipped in the homemade Chick-fil-A Copycat Sauce! Serve with french fries on the side and dig in.

ingredients for homemade chicken nuggets in individual bowls.

Ingredients and substitutions

Chicken thighs – I prefer to make homemade chicken nuggets from cubed boneless chicken thighs because they’re more flavorful than chicken breasts. However, if all you have are chicken breasts at home, go ahead and use them!
Kosher salt
All purpose flour – Although I haven’t tested it, this recipe should work just as well with a gluten free flour blend or almond flour.
Egg – The nuggets are dipped in a beaten egg to help the panko breading stick.
Panko breadcrumbs – Regular or gluten free breadcrumbs work too.
Parmesan cheese
Paprika – You can use smoked paprika or chili powder to give the nuggets more heat.
Garlic powder
Olive oil spray
Mayonnaise – Used as the base of the Chick-fil-A sauce. Replace storebought mayo with my homemade mayonnaise to upgrade the flavor!
Mustard – Yellow or dijon mustard works.
Barbecue sauce
Honey

3 images showing the process of chopping chicken nuggets and dredging the nuggets in breadcrumbs, flour, and eggs.

How to make air fryer chicken nuggets

To prep the chicken thighs, cut off and discard any excess fat and chop the thighs into 1-inch pieces. Pat them all dry with a paper towel and season with salt.

Make the dredge in three separate bowls; flour in one, a beaten egg in the second, and the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese and seasonings in the third.

To dredge the chicken nuggets, first dip them in the flour, then the egg, and lastly, the panko mixture. Lay the coated pieces in an even layer in the air fryer basket and spray them with olive oil.

4 images showing the process of air frying chicken nuggets and stirring a cream orange sauce together in a bowl.

Air fry the chicken nuggets until they’re golden brown and crispy. Repeat until you run out of nuggets.

Tip: Keep the air fryer nuggets on a baking sheet in a 250ºF oven to keep them warm as you finish the rest of the batch.

To make the copycat Chick-fil-A sauce, stir all of the sauce ingredients together until combined. Serve on the side of the crispy nuggets and enjoy!

a platter of breaded chicken nuggets next to a small bowl of creamy orange dipping sauce.

More dipping sauce ideas

If you don’t want to serve the nuggets with Chick-fil-A sauce or prefer to have a platter of dipping sauces, go ahead and choose from this long list:

Barbecue sauce: A classic!
Ketchup: Another classic.
Honey mustard: Mix honey and mustard together for a sweet and tangy dip.
Ranch dressing: This lightened-up version tastes just as good as the original.
Aji sauce: A Peruvian-style herb sauce.
Honey: My childhood favorite! It’s sticky and sweet.
Creamy Chipotle Sauce: easy to make with only 7 ingredients!
Buffalo sauce: Heat Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (or your favorite hot sauce) and a tablespoon or two of butter together.
Sweet chili sauce: Sweet, tangy, and a little spicy.
Lemon basil aioli: Light, herbaceous, and fresh!

Frequently asked questions

What is Chick-fil-A sauce?

This sauce was originally concocted when an employee of the Chick-fil-A franchise mixed barbeque and honey mustard together during the 80s. Since then, it’s become a popular french fry and burger sauce at the restaurant. It has an addictive tangy, smoky, and creamy taste.

How do you make frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer?

If you’ve prepared the batch of nuggets but kept them in the freezer for later, go ahead and cook them as normal from frozen. They may need a few extra minutes in the air fryer to cook through.

How do you know when chicken nuggets are cooked through?

The nuggets should only take about 10 minutes to air fry and you’ll know they’re cooked through when the outside becomes golden brown and crispy. If you aren’t sure, use an instant read thermometer. The internal temperature will read 165ºF when they’re safe to eat.

Can I bake the chicken nuggets instead?

Sure! Lay the dredged nuggets on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 400ºF for 10 minutes, then flip and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Storing and freezing

Store: Refrigerate the leftover chicken nuggets in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.

Freeze: Lay the dredged or cooked nuggets in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer the frozen tenders to an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Reheat: Warm the leftovers in the oven at 350ºF, in the air fryer, or in the microwave.

Looking for more air fryer recipes?

These fun snacks are all easy to make and cook in the air fryer:

If you try these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets let me know what you think! Rate and review this recipe in the comments below. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me on Instagram @lenaskitchenblog!