Air Fryer Hidden-Veggie Chicken Nuggets (Nut-Free, Dairy-Free)

• 1 lbground chicken — or finely chopped chicken thigh
• 1 cupgrated zucchini — squeezed very dry
• 1/2 cupgrated carrot — squeezed dry
• 1/2 tspgarlic powder
• 3/4 tspfine sea salt
• 1/2 cupall-purpose flour — or 1:1 gluten-free blend
• 2eggs — beaten
• 1.5 cupspanko or gluten-free breadcrumbs
• 2 tbspolive oil — for the crumbs

Method

1. 01

   Squeeze the grated zucchini and carrot dry in a clean towel — really wring them. Wet vegetables make soggy nuggets that won't hold together. Mix with the chicken, garlic powder, and salt.

2. 02

   Toss the breadcrumbs with the olive oil until they look like wet sand — this is what browns them without a deep fry. Set up three bowls: flour, beaten egg, oiled crumbs.

3. 03

   With damp hands, shape tablespoons of the chicken mix into nuggets. Dredge each in flour, then egg, then crumbs, pressing to coat.

4. 04

   Air fry at 400°F for 14 minutes, flipping at 8, until golden and cooked through (165°F). Cool a few minutes — the inside is molten straight out.