These air fryer buffalo chicken nuggets are made healthier using our air fryer but still have that classic crunchy outside covered in tangy and spicy buffalo sauce.
Looking for a healthier alternative to chicken nuggets that’ll still please your picky eaters?
These air fryer buffalo chicken nuggets are made with simple ingredients–chicken breast, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, an egg, and your favorite buffalo sauce–and cooked in an air fryer.
They’re a healthier alternative to your everyday traditional fried chicken nuggets, and come out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
And covered in buffalo sauce, they’re the perfect combination of spicy and savory!
Whether you’re hosting a game day party, or just craving some delicious comfort food, these air fryer buffalo chicken nuggets are sure to be a hit with everyone!
Ingredients for air fryer buffalo chicken nuggets
For chicken:
- Chicken breast – Boneless skinless chicken breast is lean and a great canvas for any flavor!
- All-purpose flour and cornstarch – These will help create a crispy crust on the outside of the nuggets.
- Buttermilk and egg – These will help the dry ingredients stick to the nuggets.
For sauce:
- Frank’s red hot sauce – This is my favorite brand of hot sauce, but feel free to use yours!
- Butter – Butter will add delicious flavor.
- Garlic powder – Garlic is a traditional ingredient that will add earthiness to the nuggets.
Dips!
Don’t forget the dip!
These air fryer buffalo chicken nuggets are perfect for dipping.
Some of my favorite dips for these air fryer buffalo chicken nuggets are:
- Blue cheese dip
- Ranch
- Honey mustard
- Garlic aioli
- Tzatziki Sauce
Using alternative flour
If you’re gluten-free, you can still have crispy, delicious buffalo chicken nuggets!
Just swap out the all-purpose flour for your favorite gluten-free flour!
What is an air fryer?
An air fryer is basically a tabletop convection oven.
It mimics the outcome of a deep fat fryer but without the use of oil. Hot hair is moved around via a fan that quickly and crisply cooks up the food.
The 2 most common air fryers you’ll see are basket style (that is what I have) or convection/toaster oven style.
There are pluses to both but I personally prefer my basket style.
What is the best air fryer to buy?
I prefer the basket-style air fryer as it’s a bit smaller and takes up less room than the toaster oven-style air fryer.
My biggest tip when it comes to air fryers is to make sure you pick a style that will work the most for your family and the amount of food you will be cooking.
My large basket-style air fryer can cook up to 12 wings, 2-4 servings of french fries, etc. which works well for my household.
Storage and leftovers
Any leftover air fryer buffalo chicken nuggets can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, simply place on a microwave-safe dish covered loosely with a damp paper towel and heated for 2-3 minutes or until heated thoroughly.
More air fryer recipes
- Love all things with buffalo sauce? Try my Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wontons
- Craving something sweet? Try my Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Knots
- Need some fries with that? Try my Air Fryer Pumpkin Fries
- Want some seafood? Try my Air Fryer Shrimp
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Nuggets
These air fryer buffalo chicken nuggets are made healthier using our air fryer, but still have that classic crunchy outside covered in tangy and spicy buffalo sauce.
Ingredients
For chicken:
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
For buffalo sauce:
- ⅓ cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
For chicken:
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and set it aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and cornstarch.
- In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg.
- Dip the chicken pieces (a few at a time) into the dry mix, then into the wet mix, and back into the dry mix again.
- Place the breaded chicken in a single layer in the air fryer and spray them lightly with olive oil spray.
- Cook for 8 minutes at 400 degrees F, then flip the chicken and spray them again with olive oil spray.
- Cook for an additional 5-8 minutes or until the chicken is crisp and registers 165 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.
For buffalo sauce:
- Combine the hot sauce, butter, and garlic powder in a small saucepan set over medium heat.
- Whisk to combine and then remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
- Cooling the buffalo sauce before adding it to the chicken will help keep the coating on the chicken crispy. Adding a hot sauce to the breaded chicken will result in a soggy coating.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or green onion and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 429Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 161mgSodium: 763mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 42g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.
