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Learn to air fry chicken nuggets! Chicken nuggets in air fryer take 8-12 minutes at 400F (200C), and don’t forget to flip them halfway through cooking time. They’ll turn out crispy, just like chicken nuggets baked in the oven. Make a Tyson chicken nuggets air fryer recipe, Perdue chicken nuggets air fryer recipe, Kirkland chicken nuggets from Aldi, Kidfresh, or use your favorite brand for an easy weeknight dinner.
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We’re all about quick today. Air fryer nuggets are perfect when you come home and you’re hungry but you just don’t have the energy to make food. There’s no digging out a recipe and measuring stuff with these simple frozen chicken nuggets air fryer instructions.
Making chicken nuggets is one of the easiest things ever. To make air fryer breaded chicken nuggets, just plop them in the air fryer basket and cook them. Serve them with some dip, and your kids will gobble them up!
Cooking frozen raw chicken nuggets in air fryer is such a time saver! It takes a long time to blend and shape the chicken, and then bread and brown homemade nuggets. You’ll love frozen air fryer chicken nuggets when time is short!
➕ How to Air Fry Chicken Nuggets
Here are step-by-step directions for how to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer:
- Place 8 ounces of frozen chicken nuggets (about 12 nuggets) in an air fryer basket or tray.
- Spread them out in a single layer, leaving space between the nuggets. Don’t stack them; you want air fryer air circulation on all sides of the nuggets to make them extra crispy. (If your air fryer is small, you may need to cook them in multiple batches.) Time to air fry!
⏲️ How Long to Cook Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer
How long do you cook frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer? What is the frozen chicken nuggets air fryer time? Air fry chicken nuggets for a total of 8-12 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200C). Flip the nuggets halfway through cooking time.
Use the top rack position (closest to the heat element) if you have an air fryer oven. There is no need to preheat the air fryer or use an oil spray. My air fryer oven took 10-12 minutes, while my small air fryer took 8.
Some chicken nuggets are fully cooked. If the packaging doesn’t specify this, assume the nuggets are raw or only partially cooked.
If this is the case, check with a meat thermometer to ensure the nuggets reached at least 165F (74C). Add more cooking time if needed. Allow the nuggets to cool for a couple of minutes before serving with your favorite dipping sauce.
You can make air fryer chicken nuggets in a Ninja Foodi, Kalorik air fryer oven, Philips, Nuwave, Pampered Chef, Actifry, Instant Pot Vortex, Cosori, Breville, or another air fryer. However, cooking times may need to be adjusted depending on the air fryer you use.
🌡️ Can you reheat chicken nuggets?
To reheat chicken nuggets, use my how to reheat McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets instructions. Leftover chicken nuggets can be kept in a covered airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep any dipping sauce separate.
My air fryer oven took 3-4 minutes at 400F (200C) to reheat nuggets. My small air fryer with an air fryer basket only took 2 minutes. It’s important to think of air fryer recipes as a loose guide, since there’s variation in how air fryers cook.
🧂 Chicken Nuggets Dips
What are some good sauces for chicken nuggets? Try one of these:
- Ketchup
- BBQ sauce
- Sweet and sour sauce
- Vegan honey mustard
- Ranch dressing
- Buffalo sauce
- Guacamole
- Sweet chili sauce
- Chick Fil A sauce
- Keto cheese sauce
Watch How to Make It!
Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer Recipe (Time and Temp)
Ingredients
- 8 ounces frozen chicken nuggets (227g; about 12 nuggets)
- dipping sauce
Instructions
- Place frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer basket or tray. Spread them out in a single layer, leaving space between the nuggets.
- Air fry chicken nuggets for a total of 8-12 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Flip the nuggets halfway through cooking time. Use the top rack position if you have an air fryer oven. There is no need to preheat the air fryer or use cooking spray.
- Check with a meat thermometer to ensure the nuggets reached at least 165°F (74°C). Add more cooking time if needed. Allow the nuggets to cool for a couple of minutes before serving with dipping sauce.
Equipment
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Items with flour, like chicken nuggets, typically get the bump to level 3. Chicken nuggets usually provide far more calories from added fats and refined carbs than filling protein. Many find them easy to overeat as a result. In the case of Great Value chicken nuggets, you get 135 calories from fat and 68 calories from carbohydrates per 5-piece serving. Only 36 calories come from protein. The “healthiest” nuggets, at least in terms of nutrient density and minimizing intake of ultra-processed food, will usually be homemade chicken nuggets. Homemade nuggets can use simple ingredients such as boneless skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs, whole grain panko breadcrumbs, and spices like onion powder and garlic powder. You can also limit the high sodium content typical of most store-bought and fast food chicken nuggets. Here are a few side dish ideas for chicken nuggets that are full of flavor:- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Keto Fried Green Beans
- Potatoes from a Can
- French Fries in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables (try Brussels sprouts!)
- Wildflower Bread Chopped Salad (Copycat Recipe)
- Air Fryer Radishes (Keto, Low Carb, Gluten-free)
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
📋 Air Fried Nuggets Calories
One serving of air fryer chicken nuggets has 240 calories, 17 grams net carbs, and 9 grams protein. This is for a 5-piece serving of Great Value chicken nuggets. Air fried chicken nugget calories and other nutrition info will vary by brand and portion size.
For example, 5 Kidfresh chicken nuggets is only 130 calories. They’re fairly low calorie because they’re made with chicken breast (a lean protein). Additionally, they have “70% less fat than the leading brand of breaded chicken nuggets” and are low in saturated fat.
FAQs
How to make refrigerated chicken nuggets in air fryer?
Make air fryer refrigerated chicken nuggets by cooking for 3-5 minutes at 400F (200C). Make sure the nuggets are in a single layer, with space between them for air circulation.
How do you make crispy frozen chicken nuggets?
The fastest and best way to make frozen chicken nuggets crispy is to air fry them. Oven baking chicken nuggets takes longer than air frying, and microwave nuggets don’t crisp up well.
How to make air fryer vegan chicken nuggets?
You can make air fryer veggie nuggets using the air fryer time and temp in the recipe below. Note: you will need to adjust the cooking time if your vegan nuggets are larger or smaller than regular chicken nuggets.
Is it safe to eat uncooked frozen chicken nuggets?
Though the breading on frozen chicken nuggets may appear cooked, the chicken underneath may be raw. You need to cook uncooked chicken nuggets to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent food poisoning. Some chicken nuggets are fully cooked, and will specify this on the packaging.
Are Tyson chicken nuggets precooked?
At the time of writing, Tyson chicken nuggets are fully cooked. Check the package label for the most current information.
👩🏽🍳 More Easy Chicken Air Fryer Recipes
Are you looking for more ways to cook chicken in an air fryer? If you like air fryer frozen chicken nuggets, I highly recommend my Ninja Foodi Breaded Chicken Breast recipe. You can cut the chicken breasts into different shapes to make air fryer homemade chicken nuggets or air fryer chicken strips instead!
However, crispy chicken bites aren’t the only way to enjoy this delicious poultry. Here are some other air fryer chicken recipes to add to your repertoire:
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders (Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Strips)
- Dino Buddies Air Fryer Instructions (Air Fryer Tyson Fun Nuggets)
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast (Easy Dinner Idea!)
- Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
- Frozen Chicken Wings in Air Fryer (Buffalo Wings Recipe)
- Trader Joe’s Chicken Shawarma (Air Fryer)
- Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
Don’t miss this post on the Best Frozen Foods for the Air Fryer while you’re here!
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂