Parmesan Pork Nuggets (air fryer, keto, carnivore)
This is one of my new favorite recipes! It’s so fast and easy and everyone absolutely loves it!
The recipe is really flexible too. You can use a variety of seasonings to yield very different results. Or you can keep it basic with salt and pepper and it’s absolutely delicious (that’s my favorite).
There is one caveat though: You really need to use pork tenderloin for best results. Yes, other cuts of pork will work, but they will not yield results that are quite as tender and flavorful.
I have been buying my pork tenderloin at Costco, where it is very affordable. If you have a BJ’s, Sam’s Club or Costco, that would be my recommendation for where to buy your pork tenderloin. At my regular grocery stories, they are very expensive or come pre-marinated in undesirable ingredients.
This feels like a fancy meal and is certainly suitable for serving to guests, but it’s also simple and fast enough for busy weeknights. My husband can attest to the fact that it heats up really well too.
One note: regarding the image of this dish…I apologize that this is not a professionally styled food photo. I was in a hurry to feed my hungry family and simply snapped a quick pic of my plate. But I think this photo is good in a way because you can tell how absolutely delicious the pork nuggets are! They are tender and juicy inside and crispy and flavorful outside. No editing, no photography tricks, just yumminess!
Parmesan Pork Nuggets (air fryer, keto, carnivore)
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese the kind in the green can works best
- 1/2 tsp. salt or to taste
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper or to taste
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder optional, can use different herbs and spices
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning optional, Greek seasoning or Mexican blends are also good
- coconut or avocado oil spray as needed for air fryer
Instructions
- Trim any visible fat and sinew from tenderloin. Pat dry with paper towels.
- Cut into desired size pieces – I usually make mine about an inch and a half cubes. Whatever you like is fine. Smaller pieces give you more surface area for the seasoning and will cook faster. The opposite is also true. Just try to make them all about the same size.
- Crack the egg into a pie plate or deep dish and beat well. Add the pork nuggets to the egg and coat each piece well.
- To another pie plate or deep dish, add the Parmesan cheese and seasonings. Mix well.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Pick up each piece of pork, allow the excess egg to drip off and then coat thoroughly in the cheese mixture. Lay pork in the air fryer so the pieces do not touch. Spray tops with the oil spray. Cook for 11 minutes. You may need a little more or a little less depending on your air fryer. You want them crispy and brown on the outside and about 145 degrees internal temperature.
- Enjoy!