With basically no prep & 8 minutes of cooking you can make delicious Air Fryer 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 love them.
Serve with a side dish like French fries, sweet potato fries, tater tots or mac and cheese - or make it a healthier meal with your favorite veggie. And don't forget a tasty dipping sauce: ketchup, bbq sauce, chipotle ranch dressing, or why not honey mustard sauce? The opportunities are endless!
Why you will love this recipe
- It's the best way to cook frozen chicken nuggets - bye bye soggy chicken nuggets, hello 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
- Minimal prep & simple clean-up - most air fryers go in the dishwasher!
What you need to make them
Ingredient notes
- Frozen chicken nuggets: This recipe is for pre-cooked chicken nuggets. Some good brands are Tyson and Perdue. You can also use veggie nuggets!
- Vegetable oil is optional, and can be swapped for cooking spray
How to make them
- Brush the air fryer basket it lightly with oil
- Spread out the frozen nuggets in one layer
- Air fry 4 minutes at 400°F (200°C), then flip the nuggets
- Air fry 4 more minutes, then serve
Tips & tricks
- Preheat your air fryer to avoid soggy chicken nuggets
- Use just a tiny bit of oil for maximum crisp
- 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
- Pre-packaged frozen food should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) - use a meat thermometer * to be sure
- 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 8 minutes at 390°F (200°C), flipping them once halfway.
Air fry 6-8 minutes at 390°F (200°C), flipping them once halfway.
Yes, you definitely can, if you have the space.
Frozen fries will take a bit longer than chicken nuggets, so start by air frying the 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
Looking for more quick & easy air fryer recipes?
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon
- Air Fryer Chicken Strips
- Air Fryer Toast
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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 (may contain affiliate links)
- Pastry brush* (optional)
Notes
Tips & tricks
- Preheat your air fryer to avoid soggy chicken nuggets
- Use just a tiny bit of oil for maximum crisp
- 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
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator 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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