Pat the chicken pieces dry then place in a gallon-sized ziptop bag with the flour. Seal and shake the bag so the chicken is evenly coated.
In a shallow bowl (I use a pie dish) beat the egg and milk together. In a second shallow bowl, stir together the panko, breadcrumbs, paprika, and salt. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper as a landing area and keep it nearby.
Coat the chicken pieces: Working a few at a time, dip each piece of floured chicken into the egg mixture, then into the breadcrumb mixture, patting it gently as needed to adhere. Shake off excess.
Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pieces.
If you’d like to keep the chicken warm between batches, turn a regular oven to 250°F. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil, then add chicken pieces in a single layer so that they are not touching. Generously spray the top of the chicken nuggets.
Air fry the chicken nuggets at 400°F for 7 to 9 minutes, pulling out the air fryer basket and flipping the pieces over once halfway through. (The chicken should register at least 165°F on an instant read thermometer and the outsides will be golden brown and crisp.) Repeat with remaining chicken nuggets, keeping them warm in the oven between batches as desired. Enjoy hot.
Notes
TO STORE: Refrigerate chicken nuggets in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.
TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in the oven at 350 degrees F, in the air fryer, or in the microwave.
TO FREEZE: Lay cooked chicken nuggets in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer the frozen nuggets to an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen.