Air-Fryer Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken Nuggets
These Air-Fryer Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken Nuggets are a healthy and flavorful snack or meal featuring tender chicken breast coated with a crunchy sweet potato crust. Cooked in the air fryer for a golden crisp with minimal oil, they offer a guilt-free alternative to traditional chicken nuggets. Perfectly seasoned and kid-friendly, these nuggets are quick to prepare and customizable to suit your taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings (about 24 nuggets) 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
Coating
- 1 medium sweet potato, finely grated
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup almond flour or breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
For Cooking
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken and Sweet Potato: Cut chicken breast into bite-sized nugget pieces. Finely grate the sweet potato and set aside. Press out excess moisture from the grated sweet potato to ensure the crust sticks well.
- Season and Set Up Breading Stations: In a bowl, mix garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper into almond flour or breadcrumbs. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Prepare three stations for efficient coating: egg wash, grated sweet potato, and seasoned flour mixture.
- Coat the Nuggets: Dip each chicken piece into the beaten eggs, then press into the grated sweet potato, followed by the seasoned almond flour or breadcrumb mixture, ensuring full and even coverage.
- Air Fry to Perfection: Place the coated nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray with olive oil. Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 12 to 15 minutes, flipping halfway through to achieve a golden, crispy crust.
Notes
- Dry sweet potatoes well after grating to help the crust stick and crisp up.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; allow space for air circulation.
- Use a light olive oil spray to enhance color and crispiness without adding excess fat.
- Flip nuggets halfway through cooking for even browning.
- Let the nuggets rest a few minutes after cooking so the crust firms up.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 nuggets
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: air fryer, sweet potato crust, chicken nuggets, healthy snack, gluten free, kid-friendly, crispy chicken