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!
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!
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🥬 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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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!
🍶 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.
⏲ 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!
🥣 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!
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets
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
🍳 Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and Potatoes
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Easy Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos Recipe
Patty
Thanks for the tips, I usually throw my nuggets in and hope for the best lol