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Get ready for the best chicken nuggets! With basically no prep & 8 minutes of cooking you can make delicious Air Fryer * Frozen Chicken Nuggets. Perfectly cooked with a light crisp, and ready to serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
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Having a bag of frozen chicken nuggets in the freezer is a great way to quickly get dinner or a snack on the table - and both kids and adults will love it.
Serve with French fries, sweet potato fries or tater tots - or make it a healthier meal with your favorite veggie. The opportunities are endless!
Why you will love this recipe
- The best way to cook frozen chicken nuggets - say bye bye to soggy chicken nuggets and hello to crispy goodness!
- Crispy on the outside - soft and tender on the inside
- Crispier than baked or fried stove-top
- Healthier than fried
- Quicker than in the oven
- Super easy and done in 8 minutes - preheating is the only prep required
What you need to make them
Ingredient notes
- Frozen chicken nuggets: This recipe is for pre-cooked chicken nuggets (use any brand you like: Tyson, Trader Joe's, Applegate, Weaver, Banquet, Perdue, Earth's Best, Fast Fixin', Pilgrim's and Quorn will all work great)
- You can also follow this guide to cook pre-cooked veggies nuggets
- Vegetable oil can be skipped, but adds some nice color. You can also use cooking spray.
How to make them
- Preheat the air fryer * for 5 minutes, then bring out the air fryer * basket and brush it lightly with vegetable oil
- Spread out the frozen nuggets in one layer
- Air fry for 4 minutes at 400°F (200°C), then flip the nuggets
- Air fry for 4 more minutes, and then serve!
Tips & tricks
- Preheat your air fryer * for best results - if not preheating you might end up with soggy chicken nuggets, and they can take longer than 8 minutes
- Don't defrost the chicken nuggets - cook them straight from frozen
- Use just a tiny bit of oil or they might end up soggy
- Cook frozen chicken nuggets in one layer for an even cook and the crispiest result. If making more nuggets, cook them in batches.
- Turn them halfway for an even cook
- Cooking time can vary with different air fryers
- Cook time can also vary with the brand as chicken nuggets differ in shape and size - you might want to cook a test batch first to get the timing right
- If the chicken nuggets are not done after 8 minutes - either not heated through or not crispy enough for you - just add more time in 2 minute increments
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days - but remember that they are at their best just after frying
- Reheat chicken nuggets in the air fryer * for 4 minutes at 300°F (150°C), turning once halfway
- Reheat chicken nuggets in the microwave in 30 second inrements
Recipe FAQ
For more answers to your air fryer * questions, check out my complete Air Fryer FAQ.
Air fry for 8 minutes at 390°F (200°C), flipping them once halfway.
Air fry for 6-8 minutes at 390°F (200°C), flipping them once halfway.
Yes, you definitely can, if you have the space. Frozen French fries will take a bit longer than chicken nuggets, so start by air frying the French fries for 6 minutes before adding the chicken nuggets.
For best results, still make sure to have everything spread out in a single layer.
No, you need to cook the chicken nuggets in a single layer. If not, you will end up with soggy chicken nuggets.
No - it's better if you don't! The air fryer cooks them perfectly straight from frozen. This also goes for frying them using a deep fat fryer or baking them in the oven.
More quick & easy air fryer recipes
Do you love to cook things like frozen chicken nuggets in air fryer *? Then you will love these recipes!
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Fries
- Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks
- Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Rib Eye
And don't miss my complete guide to cooking frozen foods in air fryer.
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Recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets
Print RateIngredients
- 12 frozen chicken nuggets pre-cooked
- vegetable oil small amount for brushing air fryer basket
Instructions
- Bring out the air fryer basket and brush with a small amount of oil. Then spread out the chicken nuggets in a single layer.
- Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 8 minutes, flipping the nuggets halfway.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce!
Equipment needed for this recipe
- Pastry brush* (optional)
Notes
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Frozen chicken nuggets: this recipe is for pre-cooked chicken nuggets
- You can also follow this guide to cook pre-cooked veggies nuggets
- Vegetable oil can be skipped, but adds some nice color. You can also use cooking spray.
Tips & tricks
- Preheat your air fryer for best results - if not preheating you might end up with soggy chicken nuggets, and they can take longer than 8 minutes
- Don't defrost the chicken nuggets - cook them straight from frozen
- Use just a tiny bit of oil or they might end up soggy
- Cook frozen chicken nuggets in one layer for an even cook and the crispiest result. If making more nuggets, cook them in batches.
- Turn them halfway for an even cook
- Cooking time can vary with different air fryers
- Cook time can also vary with the brand as chicken nuggets differ in shape and size - you might want to cook a test batch first to get the timing right
- If the chicken nuggets are not done after 8 minutes - either not heated through or not crispy enough for you - just add more time in 2 minute increments
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days - but remember that they are at their best just after frying
- Reheat chicken nuggets in the air fryer for 4 minutes at 300°F (150°C), turning once halfway
- Reheat chicken nuggets in the microwave in 30 second inrements
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
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