Cooking frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer is THE way to go. You get perfectly crispy, cooked chicken nuggets in a matter of minutes. No preheating, no uneven cooking, and no need to flip. The outside coating actually gets crispy and the inside is always perfectly tender. You will never go back to making them in the oven (or the microwave) again!
Ingredients Needed for Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Need
This one is a short list! Here’s all you need:
An Air Fryer (or convection oven) If you don’t have one yet, I promise this is one of the most used kitchen appliances in our house. An air fryer oven doesn’t have to cost a fortune either; there are lots of options to choose from. Store-bought frozen chicken nuggets – see below for a list of our favorites. You can find them in the frozen foods section of all major grocery stores. You can then use the nuggets to serve alongside sweet potato fries, toss on a salad, serve with a side of mac and cheese, pizza slices, the possibilities are endless!
How Long to Cook Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer
Time can vary depending on the size of the chicken nuggets and whether or not they are pre-cooked and then frozen. For your typical, fully-cooked frozen chicken nuggets, we usually do 9-10 minutes. This includes the Tyson chicken nuggets, Banquet frozen nuggets, air fryer Dino nuggets, and “Just Bare” lightly breaded chicken breast chunks. If the chicken nuggets don’t come in the package already pre-cooked, add another 6-7 minutes to the time. For veggie nuggets, reduce time to 7-8 minutes.
What Temperature is Best?
We like to cook our frozen chicken nuggets at 375-degrees F in the air fryer. Most other recipes say to cook them at 400 degrees F but I have found that the chicken nuggets get a little too dry at that high of a temperature. At 375 the chicken nuggets are still perfectly cooked through and also have a nice, crispy coating.
Our Favorite Frozen Chicken Nuggets
Our very favorite chicken nuggets, hands down, is the Just Bare Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks. I’m not joking, they taste just as good (if not better) than Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets, especially when you cook them in the air fryer! They can be a little pricey but if you think of how much you are paying for chicken nuggets at a restaurant, you will actually save money. The fun nuggets are easy to make. Kirkland brand also has an option that tastes very similar to the Just Bare brand. There are some good gluten-free brands out there as well. Literally any type of chicken nuggets will work in the air fryer.
Making Homemade Chicken Nuggets
If you’d like to make your own homemade nuggets in the air fryer, you an use bite-sized pieces of boneless skinless chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breast. Make a coating with flour, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper and other spices. You can also use panko breadcrumbs to coat the chicken. Then use the air fryer to airy fry chicken nuggets. Try our recipe for Oven Fried Chicken as a guideline.
Sauces to Serve with Chicken Nuggets
You can never go wrong with a simple BBQ sauce or honey mustard sauce (or ketchup if you are my kids) when it comes to dipping your chicken nuggets. Or combine mayo, ketchup and a little hot sauce and pickle juice for a delicious dip. Here are some more of our favorite dipping sauces:
What if I Don’t Have an Air Fryer?
Most frozen chicken nugget or chicken strips packages will have instructions for oven cooking. It is always best to go by the package instructions, but if you got rid of the box or are just looking for general cooking times you can start by cooking at 400-degrees for 13-15 minutes. These nuggets are an excellent source of protein and because they’re made in the air fryer, it cuts down on the amount of salt and sodium used to make them.
Homemade Chick-Fil-A Sauce
Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
Red Robin Campfire Sauce Recipe
Homemade Ranch Dressing
Tips for Perfectly Crispy Nuggets
For no-fail air fryer chicken recipes that always taste delicious, just follow these simple tips:
Don’t thaw the chicken nuggets first in the fridge. Remove from the freezer and place directly into the air fryer appliance. It is better to air fry in batches than to stack your chicken nuggets when cooking a large amount. Stacking will cause uneven cooking and will take longer. It is easiest to cook in batches in a single layer. You can increase the temperature by 25 degrees for extra crispy nuggets but know that you will run the risk of drying out the chicken on the inside. Just check the recipe card below or the instructions on the package. You can use cooking spray or oil spray but it isn’t necessary. The nuggets shouldn’t stick to the air fryer basket because of their coating. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
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How to Cook Frozen Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer
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