In a shallow bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, flour, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Set the mixture aside to use later when coating the chicken pieces.

Crack the eggs into a separate bowl and whisk them with a fork until smooth. This step helps the breading cling properly to each piece of chicken.

Slice the chicken breasts into bite-sized nuggets, aiming for pieces about 2 inches long and ½ inch thick. Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces to ensure they cook through at the same time.

Dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture, then roll it in the breadcrumb mix. Gently press the crumbs onto each nugget so the coating stays in place.

Lightly brush or mist the bottom of your air fryer basket with olive oil to prevent sticking. Place the breaded nuggets inside in a single layer, leaving space between each one for proper air circulation.

For extra crispiness, lightly mist or brush the tops of the nuggets with olive oil. While optional, this step helps the nuggets crisp up and develop a nice golden color.

Set your air fryer to 400°F and cook the nuggets for 8 minutes. Check for doneness by cutting into a piece or using a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F. If needed, cook for an additional 2 minutes.

If you're making a full batch, cook the nuggets in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding the basket.

Serve right away with dips like ketchup, ranch, or honey mustard—whatever you love most.