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Home » Recipes » 30Min. or Less

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets

August 9, 2022 by Harry & Johan 1 Comment

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Last Updated on September 18, 2023 by Harry & Johan. This post may contain affliate links, see privacy policy

Making frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer is so much better than in an oven! They're quicker to make and come out super crispy every time! Use the tips in this post to make perfectly cooked frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer every time!

close up of a hand dipping a chicken nugget into ketchup

There are so many great foods that can be made in the air fryer but sometimes it's the simpler recipes that still are the best!

Making frozen chicken nuggets just got easier and quicker. Easier and quicker than throwing in your oven? Yup! With an air fryer, there's no preheating, no oil, and no time wasted! And the chicken nuggets come out crispier too!

Serve these air fryer chicken nuggets with my Air Fryer Corn on the Cob recipe or my Frozen French Fries in the Air Fryer recipe! A great way to get food on the table fast! You might also want to check out how to make Frozen Egg Rolls in the air fryer!

Jump to:
  • 🥬 Ingredients
  • 📖 How to Make Frozen Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer?
  • ❓ FAQ
  • 🍶 Substitutions
  • ⏲ Equipment
  • 🥣 Storage
  • ❗️ Top tips
  • Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets
  • 🍳 Related Recipes

🥬 Ingredients

You just need frozen chicken nuggets for this recipe and your desired dipping sauces and sides! Serve these air fryer frozen chicken nuggets with my Air Fryer French Fries or Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges.

frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket with a cloth to one side and two bowls of sauces to serve the nuggets with

To make frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer, you'll need:

  • Frozen chicken nuggets of choice. You can use pretty much any brand of chicken nuggets here, they will all work in the air fryer!
  • No oil is needed for this recipe! You're more than welcome to spray the chicken nuggets with some oil before air frying but I find that frozen chicken nuggets don't really need this. They crisp up really well in the air fryer!

See the recipe card for precise quantities and instructions on cooking.

📖 How to Make Frozen Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer?

Arrange the chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. There should be some small spaces between each nugget for airflow. If you need to make two batches, rather do so instead of overcrowding the air fryer.

frozen chicken nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer before being cooked

Air fry the chicken nuggets at 400 °F (200 °C) for 8 minutes.

chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket after being flipped halfway through cooking

Flip the chicken nuggets and air fry for a further 4-5 minutes until golden and crispy.

a plate with cooked chicken nuggets on with a small bowl of tomato ketchup for dipping the nuggets, a striped cloth to the side

Remove the chicken nuggets and allow them to cool for 2-3 minutes before serving as they will be very hot!

Hint: Cooking times for frozen chicken nuggets will vary depending on the thickness and brand of the chicken nuggets used. You can easily test for doneness with one chicken nugget once the nuggets are golden brown and crispy and they should be done.

❓ FAQ

How long do you cook frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer?


Air fry the chicken nuggets at 400 °F (200 °C) for 8 minutes.

Flip the chicken nuggets and air fry for a further 4-5 minutes until golden and crispy.

How do you cook Tyson frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer?


Air fry your Tyson frozen chicken nuggets for a total of 12-13 minutes at 400 °F (200 °C), flipping halfway through. You can cook any brand of chicken nuggets in your air fryer, they're the perfect air fryer food!

a plate full of chicken nuggets with a small bowl of ketchup, another bowl of lighter orange sauce and fresh chopped greens to the side

🍶 Substitutions

Here are some substitution suggestions that you can make based on what you have in your pantry or your dietary preferences! 

  • Vegan/Vegetarian - use vegan chicken nuggets or veggie nuggets to make this recipe vegan and vegetarian-friendly! The cooking times should be reduced by 1-2 minutes, just test for doneness with one nugget.
  • Using an oil sprayer - I find that there is no need to spray these chicken nuggets with oil before air frying. However, if you prefer to spray your frozen chicken nuggets, you can use a light spray of olive oil, canola oil, or avocado oil.

If you're looking for a homemade recipe for chicken nuggets to make them in your air fryer too, check out this recipe for homemade air fryer chicken nuggets from Healthy Fitness Meals.

close up of the chicken nuggets arranged on a plate around a bowl of ketchup for dipping

⏲ Equipment

This recipe has been developed and tested using a Cosori Max XL Large Cooker. It has a capacity of 5.8 quarts. 

I love making quick lunch and dinner recipes in the air fryer - it uses so little oil and all the food comes out crispy and delicious every time! Cleaning up is a breeze, and I can stick it in the dishwasher too!

Making frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer is the best way to make them! Super quick and easy and the cleaning up afterward is a breeze!

close up of the cooked chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket with some greens garnished over them

🥣 Storage

Store any leftover chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the microwave, oven, or air fryer for a few minutes before serving. 

These chicken nuggets do not stand up well to refreezing - make the number of chicken nuggets you need each time to avoid waste. 

❗️ Top tips

  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket affects the cooking - make sure to arrange the chicken nuggets in an even, single layer with small spaces between them so that the air fryer can crisp them up nicely!
  • You don't need to preheat your air fryer for this recipe, the chicken nuggets will come out crispy without preheating. If you like your nuggets extra crispy, preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 °F (200 °C).
  • I recommend allowing the chicken nuggets to cool down for 2-3 minutes after air frying. The air frying gets them super hot and they are even hotter on the inside!

Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a comment below and follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram!

featured image for the air fryer frozen chicken nuggets

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets

Making frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer is so much better than in an oven! They're quicker to make and come out super crispy every time! Serve with your favorite dipping sauces!
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 0 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Cooling time 3 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Package frozen chicken nuggets of choice (no need to thaw the nuggets for this recipe)

Instructions
 

  • No need to preheat the air fryer for this recipe. If you want super crispy chicken nuggets then you can preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 °F (200 °C) before putting the nuggets in.
  • Arrange the chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. There should be some small spaces between each nugget for air flow. If you need to make two batches, rather do so instead of overcrowding the air fryer.
    1 Package frozen chicken nuggets of choice
  • Air fry the chicken nuggets at 400 °F (200 °C) for 8 minutes.
  • Flip the chicken nuggets and air fry for a further 4-5 minutes until golden and crispy.
  • Remove the chicken nuggets and allow them to cool for 2-3 minutes before serving as they will be very hot!

Notes

Storage
Store any leftover chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the microwave, oven or air fryer for a few minutes before serving. 
These chicken nuggets do not stand up well to refreezing - make the amount of chicken nuggets you need each time to avoid waste. 

This recipe was tested with these air fryers:

Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart

COSORI Pro Air Fryer 5.8QT

🍳 Related Recipes

  • Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and Potatoes
  • Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
  • Easy Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos Recipe
air fryer frozen food Pinterest graphic

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Patty

    August 19, 2022 at 10:18 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for the tips, I usually throw my nuggets in and hope for the best lol

    Reply

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Recipe Key

    GFGluten FreeVGVegan3030Min. Or LessVVegetarian
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