Kid-Friendly Air Fryer Pork Nuggets

Instructions

1. Place pork tenderloin on a cutting board. Cut into small bite-sized pieces (about 1-inch square); transfer pieces into a large bowl. Add buttermilk, egg, paprika, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Mix well to combine. Cover bowl and set aside to marinate for 1 hour or, for best results, marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat oven to 400°F or an air fryer to 375°F.
3. Once pork has marinated, place panko breadcrumbs, traditional breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning and olive oil in a large plastic freezer bag. Seal the bag shut; shake mixture well to combine.
4. Place 1/3 of the pork pieces into the bag and reseal. Shake thoroughly (this is a great job for little helpers!) until pork pieces are fully coated.
5. Open the bag, and by hand carefully transfer pork pieces one at a time onto a parchment-lined baking sheet or into an air fryer basket. Repeat this step with remaining pork pieces until all pieces are coated.
6. Bake pork nuggets in preheated oven for 20 minutes OR air fry for 20 minutes. Cook pork until internal temperature reaches 145°F, followed by a 3-minute rest.
7. Serve pork nuggets with your favorite dipping sauce or your kid’s favorite condiment, if desired.