Need chicken nuggets quickly because they’re one thing your kids will always eat? I definitely know about that and that’s why I’m more than willing to admit that Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets are a staple in our house. You can cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer to golden perfection in minutes, giving you all the crunchy breading your family loves!
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets
Whether you’re whipping up a quick snack or an easy meal for the kids, this method keeps things simple, fast, and delicious. I will stand by my belief that the air fryer is the best way to cook frozen foods in general. You get the best texture and flavor, especially with these nuggets. This works with chicken tenders too!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: If you have 10 minutes, you can whip up a batch of air fryer chicken nuggets. And for the batch size, you can cook as many as will fit in your air fryer basket! It’s perfect for busy evenings or last-minute snacks.
- Minimal cleanup: Forget about scrubbing a greasy pan or dealing with a stovetop splatter. With an air fryer, cleanup is a breeze. Most air fryers only require a quick wipe down or a rinse of the basket, and that’s it. Less time cleaning means more time enjoying your meal—you can’t beat that!
- Convenient and family-friendly: Frozen nuggets are a lifesaver when you’re short on time or ingredients. They’re easy to store and ready whenever you need them. There’s no need for thawing or extra prep. Plus kids love them, and adults won’t say no either. Pair them with a side of dipping sauces or a quick salad, and you’ve got something everyone at the table can enjoy.
Ingredients and Equipment
You’ll just need two things for for this recipe:
- 1 package frozen chicken nuggets
- Nonstick cooking spray or oil sprayer
I don’t often use nonstick cooking spray in the air fryer but I use it in this recipe to help add extra crispiness to the nuggets. You don’t have to do this though. Also, I usually use Tyson chicken nuggets but you can use your favorite brand!
To make this recipe as easy as possible, you’ll only need a couple of basic items from your kitchen.
It’s so simple to pop the frozen chicken nuggets in air fryer basket and go! Shake them in the middle of cooking and then you’ll be ready to serve them. (And yes, this method also works to make Tyson dino nuggets – ask me how I know!)
Step by Step Instructions
The cook time on this recipe is about 8 minutes. You can make as many as fit in your air fryer basket. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of your air fryer basket.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. If your air fryer does not have a preheat setting, you can just set it to cook for a few minutes. Preheating your air fryer helps the chicken nuggets cook more evenly.
- Place enough chicken nuggets to fill the basket, making sure the nuggets aren’t touching.
- Spray the chicken nuggets with LIGHTLY nonstick cooking spray. This will help them be extra crispy.
- Set the air fryer to cook for 8 minutes. Halfway through the cook time, remove the basket and flip the chicken nuggets using tongs.
- Remove the nuggets from the air fryer basket and serve with your favorite dipping sauces!
Dips & Serving Suggestions
Here are some of my family’s favorite dipping sacues. Changing up your sauces can give your chicken nuggets more variety!
- Ranch Dressing
- Ketchup
- Spicy Mayo
- Honey Mustard sauce
- BBQ sauce
- Cheese Sauce
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Teriyaki glaze
- Hot sauce
- Bacon Aioli
- Horseradish Aioli
- Garlic Dipping Sauce
One of my favorite things to do with frozen chicken nuggets is topping sweet potato fries with them. It’s the best quick dinner! Cut your chicken nuggets into smaller pieces and put them on top of the fries, then top with your favorite dipping sauce!
Leftovers & Reheating
The great thing about making chicken nuggets in the air fryer is that it’s easy to make just the amount that you need. But if you have extra leftover, it’s also great for reheating nuggets!
To store chicken nuggets, make sure they have cooled completely. Then put them in an airtight container and you can keep them in the fridge for 3-4 days. I don’t recommend putting them back in the freezer.
To reheat leftovers, reheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place a single layer of fries in the air fryer basket and air fry for 3-5 minutes or until crispy!
Tips & Tricks
- For a fun way to serve your chicken nuggets, create a sauce sampler platter for variety, especially if you’re feeding a group. Everyone gets to pick their favorite, and it makes basic nuggets feel more fun and customizable.
- Air fryer cooking times can vary from model to model. Keep an eye on your chicken nuggets as they near the end of the cooking time. Some air fryer models may need more cooking time. If you’re cooking fewer or smaller nuggets, they might not take as much time.
FAQs
How long do you cook frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer?
It takes about 8 minutes to cook these. Cooking times do vary based on your air fryer model but in generally it should take 8-12 minutes.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer?
Preheating helps you get crispier results, so I highly recommend it!
Can you cook chicken nuggets and fries in the air fryer at the same time?
You definitely can! I actually have a double basket air fryer too for when I want to whip up chicken and fries (my son’s favorite meal) but you can do it all in one air fryer basket!
Here’s what I would do: Heat the air fryer to 400°F. Put the nuggets and fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer. You’ll probably cook for about 20 minutes total but it will depend on your air fryer. Check the nuggets around 7-8 minutes and use the tongs to turn the nuggets and move the fries around a bit.
Your nuggets will probably be ready at about the 10 minute mark but you can leave them in longer. Once they’re done, remove them from the basket and continue cooking the fries until they’re done.
You can also learn how to cook Air Fryer Frozen French Fries and Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries on their own too!
More Frozen Food Air Fryer Recipes
If you like making frozen foods in the air fryer, try some of our other favorites. You can make a couple of these for an easy party tray or for game day!
- Air Fryer Corn Dogs
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Strips
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
- Air Fryer Bagel Bites
- Air Fryer Tater Tots
- Air Fryer Frozen Potato Skins
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 1 package Frozen chicken nuggets
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
- Place enough chicken nuggets to fill the air fryer basket, making sure the nuggets aren’t touching.
- Spray the chicken nuggets with LIGHTLY nonstick cooking spray.
- Set the air fryer to cook for 8 minutes. Halfway through the cook time, remove the basket and flip the chicken nuggets using tongs.
- Remove the nuggets from the air fryer basket and serve with your favorite dipping sauces!
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