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Crispy Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Nuggets (Easy & Juicy)

Julia
Crispy air fryer honey BBQ chicken nuggets made with cornflakes for extra crunch. Easy, juicy, and perfect for busy weeknight dinners or snacks.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 4
Calories 623 kcal

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INGREDIENTS
  

  • 1 pound chicken breast, boneless skinless, or tenders
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, divided into two parts
  • ½ teaspoon salt, divided into two parts
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper, divided into two parts
  • 1 ½ cups crushed cornflakes
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • cooking spray
  • ½ cup barbecue sauce
  • 2 tablespoon honey
  • parsley, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS
 

  • Season the chicken: Season chicken pieces with salt, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper.
  • Prepare coating: Set up bowls with flour mixture, beaten eggs, and crushed cornflakes.
  • Coat chicken: Dip chicken in flour, then eggs, then cornflakes, pressing to coat well.
  • Air fry: Preheat to 200°C (400°F), cook 5–6 minutes, flip, cook another 5–6 minutes until golden.
  • Make sauce: Mix barbecue sauce and honey.
  • Serve: Toss or drizzle sauce over nuggets and garnish with parsley.
  • Enjoyed this recipe? Leave a quick 5-star rating and review to let me know!

NOTES

  • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Cook in batches so the chicken gets crispy instead of steaming.
  • Crispy texture tip: The chicken is perfectly crispy at first, but once you coat it in sauce, it will lose a good amount of that crispiness. This is totally normal.
  • Sauce tip: You can simmer the sauce gently over low heat for about 5 minutes to thicken it slightly. Or keep it simple and just mix everything together — both options work great
  • Serving idea: I like to make it both ways — some pieces plain and crispy, and some tossed in the sauce. That way you get the best of both worlds.
  • Add the sauce right before serving. This keeps the coating crunchy and not soggy.
  • Don’t overcook the chicken. It cooks fast and can dry out quickly if left too long.
 
 

NUTRITION

Calories: 623kcalCarbohydrates: 109gProtein: 35gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 154mgSodium: 1469mgPotassium: 699mgFiber: 5gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 1941IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 27mg
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